Are Red Bulls high in caffeine?

Red Bull Energy Drink was created in Austria in 1987, and is consistently the #1 selling energy drink with over 7 billion cans sold each year globally.

It is one of the very first energy drinks and is now distributed in more than 171 countries and employs over 12,000 people worldwide.

The incredibly popular energy drink has been a catalyst for dozens of imitations and has built a very strong brand - although the drink formulation has remained relatively unchanged.

Red Bull Energy Drink Variations

Although several flavor variations of Red Bull have come and gone over the years, their product line remains quite simple.

Click item below for further flavor details.

The caffeine per ounce remains the same regardless of the can size.

  • 8.46 fl oz (250 ml) can = 80 mg of caffeine
  • 12 fl oz (355ml) can = 114 mg of caffeine

Red Bull Energy Drink's secret to success appears to be their early inroads into bars and clubs for use in mixed drinks and its early sponsorship of extreme sports with their famous slogan: Red Bull Gives You Wings...

Science Behind Red Bull

Since Red Bull has been around a long time there are mounting scientific studies testing its effectiveness. Here are a few. 

  • Alford, C., Cox, H., & Wescott, R. (2001). The effects of red bull energy drink on human performance and mood. Amino acids, 21(2), 139-150. Study link
  • Candow, D. G., Kleisinger, A. K., Grenier, S., & Dorsch, K. D. (2009). Effect of sugar-free Red Bull energy drink on high-intensity run time-to-exhaustion in young adults. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 23(4), 1271-1275. study link
  • Astorino, T. A., Matera, A. J., Basinger, J., Evans, M., Schurman, T., & Marquez, R. (2012). Effects of red bull energy drink on repeated sprint performance in women athletes. Amino acids, 42(5), 1803-1808. study link
  • Ragsdale, F. R., Gronli, T. D., Batool, N., Haight, N., Mehaffey, A., McMahon, E. C., ... & Wilson, T. (2010). Effect of Red Bull energy drink on cardiovascular and renal function. Amino acids, 38(4), 1193-1200. study link

Where To Buy

Are Red Bulls high in caffeine?

Red Bull Energy Drink, 8.4 Fl Oz (24 Pack)
Amazon.com Price $35.99 ($0.18 / Fl Oz)
(as of 20:03 EST More InfoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Are Red Bulls high in caffeine?

Red Bull Energy Drink 8.4 Oz (24 Pack)
Amazon.com Price $35.99 ($0.18 / Ounce)
(as of 20:03 EST More InfoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Are Red Bulls high in caffeine?

Red Bull Energy Drink, Tropical, Yellow Edition, 8.4 Fl Oz (4 Pack)
Amazon.com Price $6.99 ($0.21 / Fl Oz)
(as of 20:03 EST More InfoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

See more Red Bull at Amazon.com

Ingredients in Red Bull

Water, Sucrose, Glucose, Acidifier Sodium Citrates, Carbon Dioxide, Taurine (0.4%), Glucuronolactone (0.24%), Caffeine (0.03%), Inositol, Vitamins (niacin, Pantothenic Acid, B6, B12), Flavourings, And Colours (caramel, Riboflavin).

Includes 27 grams of sugar (per 8.46 ounces) for a total of 117 calories.

Compare sugar levels of other drinks

Is Red Bull high in caffeine?

Red Bull contains 9.46 mg of caffeine per fl oz (31.98 mg per 100 ml). A 8.46 fl oz can has a total of 80 mg of caffeine.

Total Caffeine (mg)

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What the maximum amount of caffeine you should be drinking in a day looks like

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

And you thought Red Bull was bad.

It turns out that while a can of the energy drink has 80 milligrams of caffeine, a small cup of Starbucks drip coffee has more than three times that amount.

Since many beverages don't show their caffeine content, it can be tough to make sure you're not overdoing it — and the Mayo Clinic advises adults to limit their caffeine intake to 400 mg per day. More than that and you run the risk of unpleasant side effects ranging from migraine headaches to irritability, upset stomach, and even muscle tremors.

With that in mind, here's what the maximum amount of caffeine you should be drinking in a day looks like in the context of your favorite beverages, from McDonald's coffee to soda, tea, and energy shots:

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

The Mayo Clinic maintains that most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine each day. Starbucks ultra-strong coffee would put you over that limit with just two cups. In contrast, most other coffee only contains about 90-120 mg of caffeine per cup. A single small cup of Starbucks' Blonde Roast coffee, on the other hand, has 270 mg of caffeine.

5-Hour Energy

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

Energy shots might look tiny, but they can pack a surprisingly powerful caffeine punch. One 5-Hour-Energy contains 200 mg of caffeine — nearly the same amount as a cup of Starbucks.

Black tea

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

You might be surprised to learn that not all tea is designed to lull you into a relaxed, sleepy state. An average cup of brewed black tea contains about 67 mg of caffeine, still less than a can of Red Bull or a cup of McDonald's coffee but far from minimal.

Coca-Cola

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

One 12-ounce can of Coke has 34 mg of caffeine. While that might seem pretty low, if you're like us and drink a few of these in a day, it can add up. Still, a single can is the rough equivalent of about a third of a cup of regular coffee or about a seventh of a cup of Starbucks.

Lattes

Samantha Lee/Business Insider

A standard shot of espresso contains about 71 mg of caffeine, according to estimates from Consumer Reports, Caffeine Informer, and Starbucks. Most fancy coffee drinks, from lattes to cappuccinos, are made with a single shot.

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How much caffeine is in a red Red Bull?

Did you know? The 80 mg of caffeine contained in one 250-ml can of Red Bull Energy Drink is about the same amount as in a cup of coffee.

Is Red Bull stronger than coffee?

Coffee Has More Caffeine Than Red Bull An 8-ounce cup of coffee contains between 80 and 200 milligrams of caffeine, depending on the varietal and brew method. An 8.4-ounce Red Bull can has 80 milligrams of caffeine. Red Bull also has Taurine, though.

What is the highest caffeine energy drink?

Redline Xtreme tops the list of the energy drinks with the most caffeine. Drinking one 8-ounce bottle is the same as drinking three cups of coffee, and Redline will give you a significant energy boost without the inevitable sugar crash.

How unhealthy is Red Bull?

Due to its caffeine content, Red Bull can increase your heart rate. Excess intake, especially in young people, has been linked to heart palpitations, abnormal heart rhythm and even heart attacks.