How much caffeine is in latte?

An 8 fl oz cup of latte has 86 mg of caffeine.

That's about one cup of brewed coffee, and 22% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.

Source: USDA FoodData Central · checked 10 Nov 2026

When did you have it?

Had at 3 pm, about 30 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, most people should finish an 8 fl oz cup of latte by about 6:35 pm. 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	11:35 am	4:35 pm	Any time
10 pm	12:35 pm	5:35 pm	Any time
11 pm	1:35 pm	6:35 pm	Any time
Midnight	2:35 pm	7:35 pm	Any time
1 am	3:35 pm	8:35 pm	Any time

For an 8 fl oz cup of latte, 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 an 8 fl oz cup of latte peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 73 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	60 mg	40 mg	26 mg	17 mg

So one had at 3 pm leaves about 30 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.

How it compares

Latte is stronger than 57% of the 22 coffees made at home we track, by caffeine per serving.

Per fluid ounce (11 mg) it is stronger than 44% of them.

To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 4½ of these.

Less caffeine

Macchiato 85 mg, 1 espresso cup
Mocha 82 mg, 8 fl oz cup
Nescafé Espresso Concentrate 80 mg, 2 tbsp, black

More caffeine

Coffee 95 mg, 8 fl oz cup
Chicory Coffee 96 mg, 8 fl oz cup
Nescafé Instant Coffee 113 mg, 12 fl oz cup

Same caffeine: Cappuccino.

FAQ

Is latte high in caffeine?

It is moderate. An 8 fl oz cup of latte has 86 mg, which is about the same as an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee (95 mg).

Can I drink latte at night?

Not if you want to sleep well. Had at 7 pm, it leaves about 53 mg in an average adult at an 11 pm bedtime, above the 50 mg most people sleep fine with. The latest time for an 11 pm bedtime is about 6:35 pm.

How long does the caffeine in latte last?

It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 86 mg, about 40 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 17 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.

Does latte have more caffeine than Red Bull?

Yes. An 8 fl oz cup of latte has 86 mg; an 8.4 fl oz can of Red Bull has 80 mg.

Method and limits

The caffeine figure comes from USDA FoodData Central; 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.