How much caffeine is in Starbucks Chai Latte?
A hot Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte has 55 mg of caffeine.
That's about half a cup of brewed coffee, and 14% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.
Source: starbucks.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
When did you have it?
Had at 3 pm, about 19 mg is still in you at an 11 pm bedtime. That should not affect most people’s sleep.
Your whole day, every drink, in the free CaffeineIQ check. The iPhone app is coming soon.
Sizes
| Size | Volume | Caffeine | mg per fl oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short | 8 fl oz (237 ml) | 25 mg | 3.1 |
| Tall, hot | 12 fl oz (355 ml) | 35 mg | 2.9 |
| Tall, iced | 12 fl oz (355 ml) | 45 mg | 3.8 |
| Grande, hot shown above | 16 fl oz (473 ml) | 55 mg | 3.4 |
| Grande, iced | 16 fl oz (473 ml) | 60 mg | 3.8 |
| Venti, hot | 20 fl oz (591 ml) | 75 mg | 3.8 |
| Venti, iced | 24 fl oz (710 ml) | 90 mg | 3.8 |
Iced and hot versions have the same caffeine except where the table lists them separately.
Source: starbucks.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Latest time to drink it
For an 11 pm bedtime, a hot Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte 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 | 2:50 pm | Any time | Any time |
| 10 pm | 3:50 pm | Any time | Any time |
| 11 pm | 4:50 pm | Any time | Any time |
| Midnight | 5:50 pm | Any time | Any time |
| 1 am | 6:50 pm | Any time | Any time |
For a hot Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Chai 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 a hot Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 47 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 | 39 mg | 25 mg | 17 mg | 11 mg |
So one had at 3 pm leaves about 19 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.
How it compares
Starbucks Chai Latte is stronger than 11% of the 90 coffee-shop drinks we track, by caffeine per serving.
Per fluid ounce (3.4 mg) it is stronger than 11% of them.
To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 7½ of these.
Less caffeine
- Starbucks Dragon Drink 50 mg, Grande
- Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refresher 50 mg, Grande
- Starbucks Pink Drink 50 mg, Grande
More caffeine
- Starbucks Dubai Chocolate Matcha 60 mg, Grande
- Starbucks Gingerbread Chai 60 mg, Grande
- Starbucks Iced Cream Chai 60 mg, Grande
Same caffeine: Starbucks Caramel Brulée Chai, Starbucks Iced Cream Matcha, Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Chai.
FAQ
Is Starbucks Chai Latte high in caffeine?
It is moderate. A hot Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte has 55 mg, which is 58% of the 95 mg in an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee.
How much caffeine is in a Short Starbucks Chai Latte?
A Short (8 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte has 25 mg of caffeine, 30 mg less than a hot Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte.
How much caffeine is in a Venti iced Starbucks Chai Latte?
An iced Venti (24 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte has 90 mg of caffeine, 35 mg more than a hot Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte.
Can I drink Starbucks Chai Latte at night?
For most people, yes: even late in the evening a hot Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte stays under 50 mg at an 11 pm bedtime.
How long does the caffeine in Starbucks Chai Latte last?
It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 55 mg, about 25 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 11 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.
Does Starbucks Chai Latte have more caffeine than Red Bull?
No. A hot Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Chai Latte has 55 mg; an 8.4 fl oz can of Red Bull has 80 mg.
Method and limits
The caffeine figure comes from starbucks.com and the other sources listed above; 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.
Related
More from Starbucks
- Starbucks Decaf Pike Place Roast
- Starbucks Dragon Drink
- Starbucks Dragon Energy Drink
- Starbucks Dubai Chocolate Matcha
- Starbucks Dubai Chocolate Mocha
- Starbucks Earl Grey Tea
More coffee-shop drinks
- Dunkin' Refresher
- Dutch Bros Americano
- Dutch Bros Chai
- Dutch Bros Cold Brew
- Smoothie King Coffee High Protein
- Smoothie King Hulk Espresso
- All coffee-shop drinks