Red Bull Can Sizes: Caffeine, Calories and Dimensions

Open the fridge in any store and find Red Bull in a few more variations. The slim silver-and-blue one is the OG, but there are taller, wider choices out there; size determines how much you actually drink, caffeine-wise, and whether or not it’s going to fit in your bag or cup holder. If you’ve stood in front of the fridge and wondered what the difference between these sizes is, this guide to Red Bull can sizes has it covered.

We shall run through the regular types, caffeine amounts, sizes, caloric values, and calculations for daily limits. The availability varies by country and retailer, so use this list as a guide for what usually sits on the shelf, but not something that should be taken as gospel for what’s available to you.

Available Red Bull Can Sizes

Red Bull’s FAQ states that the standard sizes are 250 ml and 355 ml, with a 473 ml can available in certain markets. The variety goes even farther in the States: 8.4 fl oz, 12 fl oz, 16 fl oz, and 20 fl ounces cans can all be bought for sale. So when people talk about Red Bull can sizes, the real answer depends on where you live.

Main Red Bull can sizes

Size (fl oz)	Size (ml)	Common nickname	Typical availability
8.4	250	Original slim can	Almost everywhere
12	355	Medium or “tall” can	Widely sold, especially in the US
16	473	Large can	Common in the US, some other markets
20	591	Extra-large can	Mainly the US, limited elsewhere

Those nicknames are from the retailers and fans, not the brand itself, and will most likely never see “tall” on a can. They’re still not bad shorthand for comparing Red Bull can sizes with your friend, though.

The Classic 250 ml (8.4 fl oz) Can

This is the legendary can that put the brand on the map. It is slender, easy to hold in one hand, and takes no longer than a few minutes. It’s basically the perfect amount of energy for many people at doses like that, a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or a quick burst of motivation before you hit the road.

It has 80 mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to a cup of homemade coffee according to Red Bull. For beginners to energy drinks or just sensitive to caffeine, this is the sensible option. It even fits in the vast majority of cupholders, bag pockets, and bike bottle cages, which is more significant than you’d think if you compared Red Bull can sizes for everyday use.

The 12 fl oz (355 ml) Can

The 12 oz can feels similar to a standard soft-drink can. It holds approximately 42% more liquid than the original and contains 114 mg of caffeine. Cans also go for deeper study sessions, afternoons at work, or on the road, knowing one little mini can will never cut it.

This format is also offered for many flavoured Editions (including seasonal ones), but this varies by market.

The 16 fl oz (473 ml) Can

The 16 oz can is the lineup’s “tallboy.” Its volume is nearly double that of the original, and it has 151 mg of caffeine. It’s typically found in the fridges of petrol stations, or being picked up from convenience stores before embarking on a long drive or doing shift work. Of the different can sizes of Red Bull, this one is most responsible for getting people to drink more than they intended, because the can feels like a single serving even though it contains almost two.

The 20 fl oz (591 ml) Can

It is the largest of the standard cans and also the most difficult to find outside of America. It contains approximately 2.4 times the original volume and has (from Red Bull US listing) 198 mg of caffeine. Others have varying amounts listed for the same can, so check your label on the one you’re holding. It is a huge drink, and it well exceeds the limit where one can is really considered the equivalent dose that many health authorities regard as an easily justifiable single dose.

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Caffeine by Can Size

The thing that most people care about is the caffeine number. Fortunately, it scales nearly directly with volume, so: about 9.5 mg/ fluid ounce. Red Bull Sugarfree and Zero have the same amount of caffeine as the original at every size, according to posted brand data.

Caffeine in each can compared with a 400 mg daily guideline

Can size	Caffeine (mg)	Share of 400 mg
8.4 fl oz (250 ml)	80	20%
12 fl oz (355 ml)	114	29%
16 fl oz (473 ml)	151	38%
20 fl oz (591 ml)	198	50%

The 400 mg number is the often-cited amount per day in healthy adults, and US FDA and European authorities set this limit. Think of it as a general guide versus your personally prescribed wardrobe. Pregnant women or teenagers, while sensitive to caffeine, are normally informed to take in less; heed your doctors. One of the smartest habits you can develop is comparing red bull can sizes by caffeine levels instead of comparing them by how big it appears to be.

Can Dimensions and Where They Fit

Size matters physically as well. Estimates below are based off of standard can design specs and will differ by market and production run.

 Approximate dimensions of each can

Can size	Approx. height	Approx. width	Fits most cup holders?
8.4 fl oz (250 ml)	About 5.3 in (13.5 cm)	About 2.1 in (5.3 cm)	Yes
12 fl oz (355 ml)	About 4.8 in (12.3 cm)	About 2.6 in (6.6 cm)	Yes
16 fl oz (473 ml)	About 6.2 in (15.7 cm)	About 2.6 in (6.6 cm)	Usually
20 fl oz (591 ml)	About 7 in (18 cm)	About 2.6 in (6.6 cm)	Often a tight fit

Fun fact: the 12 oz can is shorter than the 8.4 oz can, even though it holds less. That is because it’s slim. The width of Red Bull can sizes is as important to consider as the actual capacity when you are storing its cans in a mini fridge or a bag.

Calories and Sugar by Size

A typical 250 ml can of the original Red Bull has around 27 g of sugar and 110 calories. The bigger cans build on the latter. The figures below are rough estimates based on that figure, so look at the can label for precise amounts.

Approximate calories and sugar in original Red Bull

Can size	Approx. calories	Approx. sugar
8.4 fl oz (250 ml)	110	27 g
12 fl oz (355 ml)	160	39 g
16 fl oz (473 ml)	210	52 g
20 fl oz (591 ml)	260	64 g

For those concerned about sugar, Red Bull Sugarfree and Zero are available in many of the same sizes with very few calories. A very simple way to reduce a surprising amount of sugar without impacting your caffeine consumption is when choosing red bull can sizes.

How many cans get to the cap?

And it is here that can size fundamentally alters the maths. Discounting coffee, tea or other sources – this is how many as-5.4oz cans of Red Bull it takes to get close to 400 mg caffeine:

Caffeine totals for multiple cans

Cans	Caffeine total	Against 400 mg
5 × 8.4 fl oz	400 mg	Right at the limit
3 × 12 fl oz	342 mg	Below
2 × 16 fl oz	302 mg	Below
2 × 20 fl oz	396 mg	Just under
3 × 16 fl oz	453 mg	Over

Two things stand out. To start with, two full-sized cans take up to half of your daily intake, and five regular-sized cans still yield the same. Second, most people don’t think of a 20 oz can as two drinks, but that’s what the caffeine indicates. Therefore, all those comparing Red Bull can sizes should care about the caffeine number on the label.

Pack Formats You Might See

Cans are also sold in multipacks, which is relevant for bulk purchases. Your usual retail formats are the small multipacks for the 8.4 oz can, a 12-can pack of the 20 oz can, and you get the original bundler, which is really just a standard carton of 8.4 oz or 12 oz cans offered in any way between twenty to forty-eight count, depending on your selection. Red Bull can sizes may vary between retailers and countries. If you are going to do a mass purchase, look at the millilitre price, as bigger cans are not always cheaper per drink.

Which Size Should You Choose?

A quick way to determine if this is for you:

• Short pick-me-up or a trial: the 8.4 oz (250 ml) can.
• Work/Study Day: 12 oz (355 ml) can
• Long Drive or Shift: The 16 oz (473 ml) can, if you can handle the 151 mg.
• A rare heavy-duty use: the 20 oz (591 ml) can, preferably for sharing or sipping hours-long.

When in doubt, start small. You can always pop a second one, but once you go big you can’t come back; of all Red Bull can sizes, the original is still the go-to for figuring out how your body reacts.

Flavours and Special Editions

In addition to the original, Red Bull also markets numerous flavoured Editions, some of which are limited editions and seasonal selections. There are also Sugarfree and Zero versions. Most editions are sold in 8.4 oz and 12 oz cans, with some offered in 16 oz, though not all flavors are available in all sizes. Caffeine per Can: This follows a similar pattern to the original. If they do not have a flavour you like in your desired size, then check other retailers as stock is very random.

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Conclusion

Knowing what all the Red Bull can sizes are will help you decide which kind of drink is right for the situation. The slim 250 ml can is the standard; there is a 355 ml can with some extra dose, and then you have up to three times as much caffeine in one of their 473 ml and 591 ml cans as that tiny can would suggest. Caffeine is a volume-scaled drug, and a larger can means a larger single dose, not just an extended drink.

Before you reach for one, consider the reason, read the label, and be mindful of your total caffeine consumption throughout the day. Now that you have all the Red Bull can sizes compared, you can choose a can for your day, your bag, and your body.

FAQs About Red Bull Can Sizes