Mountain Dew is a popular brand of carbonated soft drink owned by PepsiCo.
This citrus-flavored beverage comes in many variants and has some of the highest caffeine content for soda currently out on the market.
So, how much caffeine does Mountain Dew contain?
Mountain Dew contains 54 mg of caffeine in a 12 oz can (354 mL). This is one of the highest levels of caffeine at this serving size for carbonated soft drinks.
In this article, I will discuss in great detail how much caffeine Mountain Dew contains, how it compares with other caffeinated options, and how healthy it really is for you to consume regularly.
The caffeine content in Mountain Dew variants
Mountain Dew has crafted an impressive total of 24 different flavors to choose from.
So, if this soft drink is your choice of caffeinated beverage, you are bound to find a flavor that gets your taste buds dancing and gives you that jolt of energy you may be looking for.
Let’s look at how much caffeine some of these popular variants contain:
| Mountain Dew variants | Serving size | Calories | Caffeine |
| Original Mountain Dew | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 170 calories (711 kJ) | 54 mg |
| Diet Mountain Dew | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 0 calories (0 kJ) | 54 mg |
| Mountain Dew Amp | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 220 calories (920 kJ) | 142 mg |
| Mountain Dew Baja Blast | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 170 calories (711 kJ) | 54 mg |
| Mountain Dew Code Red | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 170 calories (711 kJ) | 54 mg |
| Mountain Dew Energy | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 25 calories (105 kJ) | 160 mg |
| Mountain Dew Kickstart | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 80 calories (335 kJ) | 90 mg |
| Mountain Dew Live Wire | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 180 calories (753 kJ) | 54 mg |
| Mountain Dew Voltage | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 170 calories (711 kJ) | 55 mg |
| Mountain Dew Zero Sugar | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 0 calories (0 kJ) | 68 mg |
These are just 10 of the 24 flavors from this popular brand.
There is at least 54 mg of caffeine in each variant of Mountain Dew, making this brand one of the highest caffeine content in soft drinks on the market.
Is Mountain Dew healthy for you to consume regularly?
Aside from its high caffeine levels, it also contains a large amount of sugar.
One 12 oz can (354.8 mL) contains 46 g (19 oz) of total sugars, which is higher than the recommended daily sugar intake for an adult in 24 hours.
The recommended limit for caffeine intake per day is 400 milligrams.
The caffeine alone in a 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) can of Mountain Dew is well below the recommended daily limit.
However, taking on the amount of sugar and calories it contains as well doesn’t make this drink one of the healthier options to consume regularly to get your dose of caffeine throughout the day.
If caffeine is what you are after, several alternatives are far better for you and can give you a greater dose of caffeine.
While also containing less sugar and calories and using natural caffeine.
Now, if it’s the taste of Mountain Dew that draws you in and not so much the caffeine boost, that’s an entirely different story.
Having a Mountain Dew in moderation is less harmful to your body than consuming multiple every day.
How does Mountain Dew compare to other beverages?
When it comes to alternatives to Mountain Dew, there are several to choose from.
Some contain much more caffeine than you may expect, making them viable candidates for your daily caffeine needs.
Coffee
Coffee, for one, is an excellent source of caffeine and is made in many ways.
However, these different ways determine how much caffeine is in the drink and how many calories it contains.
Black coffee
Black coffee consists of roasted coffee beans, ground, and then brewed with hot water. You can also serve coffee cold.
Once the ground coffee beans release their caffeine, flavor, and nutrients into the water, it is ready to serve.
Black coffee is a sure way to boost energy—a much greater boost than Mountain Dew.
In an 8 oz cup (236.5 mL) of black coffee, there is between 80 and 100 mg of caffeine and only two calories (8.3 kJ).
One tasty way to drink black coffee is to make an iced long black with this easy recipe.
Latte
This coffee made with espresso and steamed milk is a delicious way to get the caffeine you need to wake up in the mornings or for that pick-up you require in the afternoons.
On average, a 12 oz cup (354.8 mL) of latte has 128 mg of caffeine and 120 calories (502 kJ).
This will vary, however, depending on whether your latte contains a single, double, or triple shot of espresso.
Compared to the same serving size of Mountain Dew, a latte has significantly more caffeine and noticeably fewer calories.
Red Eye coffee
This coffee is made by combining drip coffee and a shot of espresso and is designed to keep you wide awake.
Red Eye coffee will give you quite a jolt from the caffeine you are consuming, so be prepared to feel a bit wired from this one.
If you are trying to stay awake for an extremely long time, you can try Black Eye coffee or Dead Eye coffee as an option.
Here is a helpful article about the differences between the Red, Black, and Dead Eye coffees.
In a standard 8 oz cup (236.5 mL) of Red Eye coffee, there is 158 mg of caffeine and zero calories, making this drastically different from the 12 oz can (354.8 mL) of Mountain Dew, containing 54 mg of caffeine and 170 calories (711 kJ).
Tea
Tea is another excellent way to meet your caffeine needs in a more natural way, as the caffeine in tea is naturally derived from tea leaves.
Black tea
Black tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant leaves and is known to be one of the highest caffeine content.
Typically, an 8 oz (236.5 mL) serving of black tea spans from 64 mg to 112 mg of caffeine and has zero calories.
That’s more caffeine and 170 fewer calories in a smaller serving size than what Mountain Dew offers.
Oolong tea
Oolong tea is made from semi-oxidized leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
In an 8 oz cup (236.5 mL) of Oolong tea, the amount of caffeine tends to range between 29 mg and 53 mg and contains only one calorie (4 kJ).
While Mountain Dew does contain slightly more caffeine, it also has significantly more calories.
Other soda brands
There are many other soda brands aside from Mountain Dew.
However, it’s clear that Mountain Dew is among the most popular in this category. Let’s look at how it compares to its competition in terms of caffeine.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is also among the most popular soft drinks around the globe. Coke Zero has a total of 32 mg of caffeine in an 8 oz serving.
It’s fair to say Mountain Dew has the advantage regarding the caffeine per serving ratio.
Pepsi
Another top soft drink brand, Pepsi, has 38 mg of caffeine in a 12 oz serving (354.8 mL) and 150 calories (627 kJ).
This makes Pepsi slightly higher in caffeine content than Coca-Cola but still no match for the amount of caffeine in Mountain Dew.
Dr. Pepper
Dr. Pepper beats out both Pepsi and Coca-Cola, in terms of caffeine, with a total of 41 mg of caffeine in a 12 oz (354.8 mL) serving with a total of 150 calories (627 kJ).
Yet, still in the lead is Mountain Dew, with 54 mg of caffeine in the same serving size.
Energy drinks
Energy drinks are known to give you that intense jolt of energy that wakes you up almost instantly when you drink them.
Let’s look at how some of the most popular brands compare to original Mountain Dew and Mountain Dew Energy:
| Comparison chart | Serving size | Calories | Caffeine |
| Mountain Dew | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 170 calories (711 kJ) | 54 mg |
| Mountain Dew Energy | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 25 calories (105 kJ) | 160 mg |
| Original Red Bull | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 160 calories (670 kJ) | 114 mg |
| Monster Energy (green) | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 210 calories (880 kJ) | 160 mg |
| Raspberry Lime Baya Energy | 12 fl oz (354.8 mL) | 90 calories (380 kJ) | 160 mg |
While the original Mountain Dew doesn’t compare to the energy drinks used in this chart, Mountain Dew Energy holds its own.
This variation of Mountain Dew contains just as much caffeine as the highest energy drink brands on this chart, with far fewer calories than any of them.
Conclusion
Mountain Dew clearly ranks among the highest in caffeine against some of the other popular soft drinks out on the market, with 54 mg in a 12 oz (354.8 mL) serving.
However, there are plenty of other alternatives for where to turn for your caffeine fix.
Whether you stick with your choice of Mountain Dew variant or switch to a different soft drink, coffee, tea, or energy drink, finding a source of caffeine is as simple as driving to your local grocery store, coffee shop, or even gas station.
