Many of us enjoy grabbing an ice-cold soda for a quick boost of energy, but have you ever wondered whether the bright yellow hue and citrusy taste of Mountain Dew has caffeine? We all know that coffee, energy drinks, and certain types of teas can contain significant amounts of caffeine. But can the same be said about this popular beverage? In this blog post, we’ll examine exactly does Mountain Dew have caffeine and explore some alternatives to consider if you’re looking for something without any added stimulants.
Contents
- 1 Does Mountain Dew Have Caffeine?
- 2 What Happens If You Drink Too Much Mountain Dew?
- 3 Which Mountain Dew Has the Most Caffeine?
- 4 History of Mountain Dew
- 5 Is Mountain Dew A Good Source Of Caffeine?
- 6 Mountain Dew’s Caffeine Compared To Coffee
- 7 Mountain Dew Compare To Other Drinks
- 8 Mountain Dew’s Sugar Content: High
- 9 Ingredients of Different Varieties of Mountain Dew
- 10 Where Can You Buy Mountain Dew Online?
- 11 FAQs: Mountain Dew
Does Mountain Dew Have Caffeine?
Serving Size | Caffeine (MG) | Sugar (G) |
12 oz Can | 54 | 46 |
Does Mountain Dew have caffeine? Mountain Dew is a carbonated beverage that contains caffeine. A 12 oz serving of Mountain Dew has approximately 54 mg of caffeine, which is one of the highest amounts compared to other carbonated drinks. However, it is still much lower than the caffeine content in a typical cup of coffee (about 136 mg for a 12 oz serving). Even black tea has more caffeine than Mountain Dew, with 63 mg.

Mountain Dew surpasses only green tea and decaf coffee in terms of caffeine content. If you are specifically looking for caffeine, it would be better to opt for coffee or tea. However, if you desire an extra caffeine boost and it’s too late for coffee, Mountain Dew can be a suitable alternative. It’s important to moderate your consumption due to its high calorie content caused by added sugars and artificial flavors.
What Happens If You Drink Too Much Mountain Dew?
Drinking too much Mountain Dew can cause a variety of health issues, including an increased risk of obesity and tooth decay. Additionally, it is not recommended to have more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is the equivalent to four 12-ounce cans of regular Mountain Dew. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of your intake to avoid any negative health consequences.
Related: does chai tea have caffeine
Which Mountain Dew Has the Most Caffeine?
Different variations of Mountain Dew have varying levels of caffeine. Here is a breakdown of the caffeine content per serving size:
- Mountain Dew: 54 mg per 12 oz (or 71 mg per 20 oz)
- Mountain Dew Zero Sugar: 68 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Amp Original: 142 mg per 16 oz
- Mountain Dew Amp Game Fuel (regular and zero): 90 mg per 16 oz
- Mountain Dew Kickstart Original: 90 mg per 16 oz
- Mountain Dew Rise: 180 mg per 16 oz
- Mountain Dew Major Melon: 55 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Voltage: 55 mg per 12 oz
- Diet Mountain Dew: 54 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Baja Blast: 54 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Code Red: 54 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Live Wire: 54 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero Sugar: 68 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Baja Flash: 55 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Citrus Cherry, Pineapple Orange Mango: 68 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Kickstart Black Cherry, Orange Citrus: 69 mg per 12 oz
- Mountain Dew Major Melon Zero Sugar: 68 mg per 12 oz
According to this list, Mountain Dew Rise and Mountain Dew Amp Original have the highest caffeine content, with 11.3 and 8.9 mg of caffeine per one ounce respectively.
PepsiCo also offers a caffeine-free version of Mountain Dew, available in the US and other countries. However, it’s important to note that even though it doesn’t contain caffeine, it still has a high sugar content, with 46 grams of sugar per 12 oz, totaling to 170 calories.
History of Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew, originally invented in the 1940s by Barney and Ally Hartman, is currently produced and owned by PepsiCo. In 1958, Bill Bridgforth created a new formula for the beverage, which was further refined by the Tip Corporation in 1961. Three years later, the brand captured the attention of Pepsi-Cola, leading to the acquisition of the production rights. Mountain Dew is distributed across the United States and Canada and contains carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup (sugar in limited edition runs), concentrated orange juice, citric acid, natural flavors, caffeine, and proprietary flavors and colorings. While caffeine-free in Canada until 2012, Mountain Dew contains notable caffeine in other regions where it is sold.
Is Mountain Dew A Good Source Of Caffeine?

Mountain Dew’s Caffeine Compared To Coffee
Mountain Dew contains a lower level of caffeine compared to black coffee, with approximately 120 to 150 mg in a 12-ounce cup of coffee. Therefore, it is not an ideal choice for individuals seeking a strong caffeine boost. Additionally, the high sugar content in Mountain Dew further supports black coffee as a healthier option for caffeine energy.
Mountain Dew Compare To Other Drinks
Average Caffeine Content | MG of Caffeine |
Black Insomnia Coffee | 1105 |
Bang Energy | 300 |
Red Bull | 80 |
Mountain Dew | 54 |
Sprite | 0 |
Mountain Dew’s Sugar Content: High
Mountain Dew contains a high sugar content. According to Heart.org, the recommended daily sugar consumption for adults is 30-40 mg. However, a single 12-ounce can of Mountain Dew contains 46 mg, making it an unhealthy choice when consumed in excess. This can result in weight gain and other sugar-related health issues. Regular consumption of Mountain Dew can also lead to tooth decay. Additionally, one can of Mountain Dew has 170 calories, making it less than ideal for those who are trying to limit their calorie intake. If sugar is a concern, you may want to consider Mountain Dew’s zero sugar option.
Ingredients of Different Varieties of Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew offers a range of varieties with different ingredients. The common varieties include Voltage, Live Wire, Code Red, Major Melon, and Major Melon Zero Sugar. The ingredients found in different varieties of Mountain Dew include carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, concentrated orange juice, citric acid, natural flavor, sodium benzoate (to preserve freshness), caffeine, sodium citrate, gum arabic, erythritol acid (to preserve freshness), calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor), and Yellow 5. Please note that Mountain Dew may contain corn and its derivatives.

Where Can You Buy Mountain Dew Online?
Where can one purchase Mountain Dew online? One option is to utilize a Prime membership and buy Mountain Dew, along with other soda flavors, on Amazon. If you’re interested in exploring other products, consider browsing through the coffee options available from Meadow Ridge Coffee.
FAQs: Mountain Dew
Which is healthier Pepsi or Mountain Dew?
The healthiness of Mountain Dew as compared to Pepsi or any other traditional soft drink cannot be determined. Generally, sodas of similar size, such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Mountain Dew, have comparable sugar and caffeine content.
Which has more sugar Sprite or Mountain Dew?
Mountain Dew contains more sugar compared to Sprite. A 20 oz serving of Mountain Dew contains 19.25 teaspoons of sugar, while a 10 oz serving has 9.6 teaspoons. In contrast, Sprite has 16 teaspoons of sugar in a 20 oz serving.
Why does Mountain Dew keep you awake?
Mountain Dew does not directly keep you awake for extended periods of time. However, it contains caffeine which inhibits sleep by blocking adenosine receptors, a chemical that promotes sleep.
Where does Mountain Dew get its caffeine?
Mountain Dew derives its caffeine primarily from Chinese pharmaceutical plants, where synthetically produced caffeine is used in soft drinks.

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Coffee, by a long mile.
Mountain Dew contains 4.5–5.6 mg caffeine per fluid ounce.
Drip coffee contains up to 20 mg caffeine per fluid ounce.
A shot of espresso contains 45–50 mg caffeine per fluid ounce.
And that’s for Arabica beans. Robusta has even more.
The reason why Mountain Dew may give people an impression of a bigger “boost” is because you can drink a lot more of it in one sitting – but ounce per ounce, coffee is a clear winner.
Mountain Dew is one of the most caffeinated easy-to-find sodas, and one of the best (if not the best) selling soda in the US. A 12 ounce can of Mountain Dew has 54-55mg of caffeine in it. On my caffeine review site, I have what I call a DMD standard. If a drink has the same or more caffeine than a Diet Mountain Dew, then it can be counted as a Bona Fide energy drink.
FYI, Mountain Dew was originally created using a mixture of Whiskey and lemon-lime soda. In the 1940s it was originally marketed as “zero proof moonshine” and was sold with the packaging to look like it was illegal.
Simple. The high amount of caffeine is there…because the makers put it there! And it’s a selling point…you know, you can’t “Do the Dew” if you’re all tuckered out!
Most sodas have caffeine, in a range of about 20–75mg per 12oz. It is on the higher end of sodas, although not the highest, at around 55. Vault and Sundrop sodas tested at 65–75 (although I’ve never heard of them. Store/local brands?).