Calories in Energy Drink
Updated July 2026 · Source: USDA FoodData Central
☕ Calculate Calories in Any Amount of Energy Drink
Nutrition Facts
* % Daily Value based on a 2,000 kcal diet.
Nutritional Content — per 100ml
| Component | Amount | % Daily Value | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niacin (B3) | 5.5mg | 34% | |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.5mg | 29% | |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.5µg | 21% | |
| Riboflavin | 0.34mg | 26% | |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.84mg | 37% | |
| Sodium | 32mg | 1% | |
| Caffeine | 80mg/can | — | |
| Sugar | 11g/100ml | High | |
| Potassium | 0mg | 0% | |
| Magnesium | 0mg | 0% |
Calories in Energy Drink by Volume
| Volume | Calories | Sugar | Carbs |
|---|
Calorie Breakdown — per 100ml
Standard Red Bull (250ml): 113 kcal, 80mg caffeine, 27g sugar, 1000mg taurine. Sugar-free Red Bull: ~7 kcal/250ml. Monster (473ml): 204 kcal, 160mg caffeine. Caffeine content varies widely: Red Bull 80mg, Monster 160mg, some brands 200-300mg per can.
Key Compounds
Energy Drink Facts
Caffeine — The Actual Active Ingredient
The primary functional ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine — the same compound in coffee. Multiple blinded studies find that caffeine alone accounts for virtually all the performance and alertness benefits attributed to energy drinks. Taurine and B vitamins provide negligible additional benefit in non-deficient people. This means a cup of black coffee provides equivalent benefits at ~2 kcal and zero sugar, versus 113 kcal and 27g sugar in a Red Bull.
Sugar Load — Hidden Problem
A standard 250ml energy drink contains 27g of sugar — 68% of the WHO's recommended daily maximum. Teenagers often consume multiple cans, far exceeding safe sugar and caffeine limits. The combination of high sugar, phosphoric acid, and citric acid in most energy drinks makes them highly erosive to dental enamel. Energy drinks are associated with increased dental erosion rates in adolescents in multiple studies.
Cardiovascular Effects
High-dose caffeine from large energy drinks can cause transient increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Case reports exist of cardiac arrhythmias and myocardial infarction associated with very high energy drink consumption (3+ large cans). People with heart conditions, hypertension, or caffeine sensitivity should avoid energy drinks. For healthy adults consuming 1-2 standard cans daily, cardiovascular risk appears minimal but not zero.
Alcohol Mixing — Dangerous Combination
Mixing energy drinks with alcohol ('drunk and woke') is particularly dangerous. Caffeine masks the sedative effects of alcohol, allowing people to drink more before feeling drunk — while their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) continues rising. This leads to greater alcohol consumption, higher BAC, impaired judgement, and higher risk of accidents. Multiple countries have banned pre-mixed alcohol-energy drink products.
Energy Drink vs Other Drinks
Is Energy Drink Suitable for Your Diet?
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Nutrition values from USDA FoodData Central. Not medical advice.