Coca-Cola vs Mountain Dew: caffeine compared
Mountain Dew (12 oz) has 54 mg of caffeine, 20 mg more than Coca-Cola (12 oz, 34 mg) — 1.6× as much per serving. Per fluid ounce, Mountain Dew is the stronger drink: 4.5 mg/oz versus 2.8 mg/oz.
| Coca-Cola | Mountain Dew | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 12 oz | 12 oz |
| Caffeine per serving | 34 mg | 54 mg |
| Per fl oz | 2.8 mg | 4.5 mg |
| Share of 400 mg/day | 8% | 14% |
| Servings to reach 400 mg | 11.8 | 7.4 |
| Hours until under 50 mg | already under | 0.6 h |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · standard (50 mg) | 11:00 PM | 10:27 PM |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · sensitive (25 mg) | 8:47 PM | 5:27 PM |
| Share of the 200 mg pregnancy limit | 17% | 27% |
One serving of each, over 16 hours
Common questions
Which has more caffeine, Coca-Cola or Mountain Dew?
Mountain Dew (12 oz) has about 54 mg versus 34 mg in Coca-Cola (12 oz): 20 mg more, or 1.6× as much.
Which is stronger per ounce, Coca-Cola or Mountain Dew?
Mountain Dew: about 4.5 mg per fl oz versus 2.8 mg for Coca-Cola. Serving size decides the total you actually drink.
How many Coca-Cola servings equal one Mountain Dew?
About 1.6 servings of Coca-Cola (12 oz) match the caffeine in one Mountain Dew (12 oz).
When should I stop drinking Coca-Cola or Mountain Dew before bed?
For an 11 PM bedtime with a 50 mg limit and a 5-hour half-life: last Coca-Cola by 11:00 PM, last Mountain Dew by 10:27 PM. Half-life varies from about 1.5 to 9.5 hours between people.
Method
Caffeine per labeled serving, from the same drink table every calculator here uses (FDA/USDA reference amounts and manufacturer labels; see caffeine content of every drink). Brewed drinks vary batch to batch, so read these as typical values. Decay uses a 5-hour average half-life with a 45-minute absorption ramp; cutoff = bedtime − 5 h × log₂(dose ÷ limit). Percentages use the FDA's 400 mg/day figure for healthy adults and the 200 mg/day limit ACOG gives for pregnancy.
Source — Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola — What is caffeine? (FAQ), checked 2026-10-13.
Source — Mountain Dew: PepsiCo Product Facts — Mountain Dew, checked 2026-10-13. 54 mg per 12 fl oz serving.