How much caffeine is in Dr Pepper?

A 12 fl oz can of Dr Pepper has 41 mg of caffeine.

That's about half a cup of brewed coffee, and 10% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.

Source: Center for Science in the Public Interest · checked 10 Nov 2026

When did you have it?

Had at 3 pm, about 14 mg is still in you at an 11 pm bedtime. That should not affect most people’s sleep.

Bedtime

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Latest time to drink it

For an 11 pm bedtime, a 12 fl oz can of Dr Pepper stays under the 50 mg most people sleep fine with, even late in the evening. The table works it out for other bedtimes and for how sensitive you are: it is the latest time to start one so that the caffeine left stays under the line all night.

Bedtime	Very sensitive under 25 mg	Average under 50 mg	Not very sensitive under 100 mg
9 pm	4:55 pm	Any time	Any time
10 pm	5:55 pm	Any time	Any time
11 pm	6:55 pm	Any time	Any time
Midnight	7:55 pm	Any time	Any time
1 am	8:55 pm	Any time	Any time

For a 12 fl oz can of Dr Pepper, average clearance (half-life 5 h), 8 hours of sleep. "Any time" means even one at bedtime stays under the line.

How long it lasts

The caffeine from a 12 fl oz can of Dr Pepper peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 35 mg. Half of it is gone in about 5 hours for an average adult; that ranges from roughly 3 to 7 hours, and longer in pregnancy or with some medicines.

Time after	3 hours	6 hours	9 hours	12 hours
Still in you	29 mg	19 mg	13 mg	8.3 mg

So one had at 3 pm leaves about 14 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.

How it compares

Dr Pepper is stronger than 29% of the 15 sodas we track, by caffeine per serving.

Per fluid ounce (3.4 mg) it is stronger than 29% of them.

To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 10 of these.

Less caffeine

Poppi Cola 40 mg, 12 fl oz can
Coca-Cola 34 mg, 12 fl oz can
Barq's Root Beer 22 mg, 12 fl oz can

More caffeine

Diet Coke 46 mg, 12 fl oz can
Zevia Cola 46 mg, 12 fl oz can
fritz-kola Organic 50 mg, 330 ml bottle

FAQ

Is Dr Pepper high in caffeine?

It is moderate. A 12 fl oz can of Dr Pepper has 41 mg, which is 43% of the 95 mg in an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee.

Can I drink Dr Pepper at night?

For most people, yes: even late in the evening a 12 fl oz can of Dr Pepper stays under 50 mg at an 11 pm bedtime.

How long does the caffeine in Dr Pepper last?

It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 41 mg, about 19 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 8.3 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.

Does Dr Pepper have more caffeine than a cup of coffee?

No. A 12 fl oz can of Dr Pepper has 41 mg; an 8 fl oz cup of coffee has 95 mg.

Method and limits

The caffeine figure comes from Center for Science in the Public Interest; recipes, brewing and batches vary, so a real serving can differ. The curves use a standard one-compartment model with an average 5-hour half-life and a sleep-friendly line of 50 mg; your own body may clear caffeine faster or slower. How it works has the details.

These are estimates for information, not medical advice.