5-hour ENERGY
How much caffeine is in 5-hour ENERGY shot?
Data checked against the source on 2026-10-03 by Oleksii Y.
One 1 Regular Strength shot of 5-hour ENERGY shot has 200 mg of caffeine, according to 5-hour ENERGY.
How 5-hour ENERGY shot compares
- One 1 Regular Strength shot has as much caffeine as about 2 cups of brewed coffee, which has 94.8 mg per 8 fl oz cup.
How much will be left at bedtime?
1 × 1 Regular Strength shot of 5-hour ENERGY shot
Left at 11:00 PM (8 h later), average metabolism
≈ 66 mg
Range 31–100 mg (fast to slow metabolism)
To be at 50 mg or less by bedtime, have 200 mg by 12:15 PM (average) or 6:15 AM (slow metabolism).
What sleep studies found near this dose
- Gardiner et al. 2023 (meta-analysis): To avoid losing sleep time, the authors suggest a coffee (107 mg per 250 ml) at least 8.8 hours before bed.
- Gardiner et al. 2023 (meta-analysis): For a pre-workout serving (217.5 mg), the authors suggest at least 13.2 hours before bed.
Estimate from a simple model: half-life of 3, 5 or 8 hours, 50 mg bedtime target. How we calculate
Caffeine by size
| Serving | Caffeine |
|---|---|
| 1 Regular Strength shot | 200 mg |
| 1 Extra Strength shot | 230 mg |
How long does 5-hour ENERGY shot stay in your system?
Our model halves caffeine every 5 hours for average metabolism, and every 3 or 8 hours for fast or slow metabolism. From one 1 Regular Strength shot of 5-hour ENERGY shot (200 mg), about 100 mg is still in your body 5 hours later and about 50 mg after 10 hours. If you clear caffeine slowly (an 8-hour half-life), about 84 mg is left after 10 hours.
Estimated caffeine left at 11:00 PM from one 1 Regular Strength shot (200 mg), using a half-life of 5 hours for average metabolism and 3 to 8 hours for the range. How we calculate
| Had at | Left at bedtime (average) | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM (15 h before bed) | ≈ 25 mg | 6–55 mg |
| 12:00 PM (11 h before bed) | ≈ 44 mg | 16–77 mg |
| 3:00 PM (8 h before bed) | ≈ 66 mg | 31–100 mg |
| 6:00 PM (5 h before bed) | ≈ 100 mg | 63–130 mg |
How many fit in a day?
Reference amounts are for caffeine from all sources combined. Counted at the upper end of the stated amount, one serving at a time:
- Up to 400 mg a day for most healthy adults (FDA, EFSA): about 2 servings.
- Up to 200 mg at one time for healthy adults (EFSA): about 1 serving in one go.
- Up to 200 mg a day in pregnancy (EFSA, NHS): about 1 serving.
These are reference amounts for groups of people, not a personal limit. Some people feel jittery or sleep worse on much less. See the cutoff calculator for timing.
Good to know
The Extra Strength formula lists 230 mg of caffeine per shot, 30 mg more than Regular Strength.
Common questions
How much caffeine is in 5-hour ENERGY shot?
5-hour ENERGY gives 200 mg of caffeine per 1 Regular Strength shot. Other sizes are in the table on this page.
How many 5-hour ENERGY shot servings can I have in a day?
The FDA and EFSA cite up to 400 mg of caffeine a day, from all sources combined, for most healthy adults. At 200 mg per 1 Regular Strength shot, that is about 2 servings if 5-hour ENERGY shot is your only source. In pregnancy the reference is 200 mg a day.
How late can I drink 5-hour ENERGY shot?
With an 11:00 PM bedtime, our model suggests having one serving by about 12:15 PM for average metabolism, or 6:15 AM if you clear caffeine slowly. This is an estimate, not a rule.
How long does 5-hour ENERGY shot stay in your system?
Of the 200 mg in one 1 Regular Strength shot, roughly 100 mg remains after 5 hours and 50 mg after 10 hours with our average 5-hour half-life. From fast to slow metabolism, 10 hours later it is between 20 and 84 mg.
Where the number comes from
- 5-hour ENERGY Caffeine Facts. 5-hour ENERGY. Article text: regular strength shots "200 mg"; "The extra strength formula contains 230 mg of caffeine" Accessed 2026-10-02. Source ↗
Recipes and labels change. If a number here no longer matches the label, the label wins.
General information, not medical advice
If you feel unwell after caffeine — for example chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat that does not settle, fainting, confusion or trouble breathing — get urgent medical help. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, take medication, or have a heart, liver or anxiety condition, high blood pressure or a sleep disorder, ask a doctor or pharmacist what amount is right for you.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2024). Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? FDA Consumer Updates. fda.gov ↗
- European Food Safety Authority. Caffeine | EFSA. EFSA topic page (summary of the 2015 Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine). efsa.europa.eu ↗
- NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy. NHS. nhs.uk ↗
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