Caffeine in drinks
How much caffeine is in Caffeine pill?
Data checked against the source on 2026-10-03 by Oleksii Y.
One 1 dose (US over-the-counter label) of Caffeine pill has 100–200 mg of caffeine, according to U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School).
How Caffeine pill compares
- One 1 dose (US over-the-counter label) has as much caffeine as about 1.5 cups of brewed coffee, which has 94.8 mg per 8 fl oz cup.
How much will be left at bedtime?
1 × 1 dose (US over-the-counter label) of Caffeine pill (middle of the range)
Left at 11:00 PM (8 h later), average metabolism
≈ 49 mg
Range 24–75 mg (fast to slow metabolism)
To be at 50 mg or less by bedtime, have 150 mg by 2:20 PM (average) or 9:34 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
How long does Caffeine pill 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 dose (US over-the-counter label) of Caffeine pill (150 mg), about 75 mg is still in your body 5 hours later and about 38 mg after 10 hours. If you clear caffeine slowly (an 8-hour half-life), about 63 mg is left after 10 hours.
Estimated caffeine left at 11:00 PM from one 1 dose (US over-the-counter label) (150 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) | ≈ 19 mg | 5–41 mg |
| 12:00 PM (11 h before bed) | ≈ 33 mg | 12–58 mg |
| 3:00 PM (8 h before bed) | ≈ 49 mg | 24–75 mg |
| 6:00 PM (5 h before bed) | ≈ 75 mg | 47–97 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
CSPI's chart lists NoDoz at 200 mg per caplet and Jet-Alert Regular Strength at 100 mg per tablet.
Common questions
How much caffeine is in Caffeine pill?
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School) gives 100–200 mg of caffeine per 1 dose (US over-the-counter label).
How many Caffeine pill 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 100–200 mg per 1 dose (US over-the-counter label), that is about 2 servings if Caffeine pill is your only source. In pregnancy the reference is 200 mg a day.
How late can I drink Caffeine pill?
With an 11:00 PM bedtime, our model suggests having one serving by about 2:20 PM for average metabolism, or 9:34 AM if you clear caffeine slowly. This is an estimate, not a rule.
How long does Caffeine pill stay in your system?
Of the 150 mg in one 1 dose (US over-the-counter label), roughly 75 mg remains after 5 hours and 38 mg after 10 hours with our average 5-hour half-life. From fast to slow metabolism, 10 hours later it is between 15 and 63 mg.
Where the number comes from
- 21 CFR § 340.50 - Labeling of stimulant drug products. U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School). § 340.50(d) Directions: "Oral dosage is 100 to 200 milligrams not more often than every 3 to 4 hours." Accessed 2026-10-02. Source ↗
- Caffeine chart. Center for Science in the Public Interest. rows "NoDoz | 1 caplet | 200" and "Jet-Alert Regular Strength | 1 tablet | 100" 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, take medication or have a heart, liver or anxiety condition, 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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