How much caffeine is in Sunkist Orange Soda?
A 12 fl oz can of Sunkist Orange Soda has 19 mg of caffeine.
That's about a quarter of a cup of brewed coffee, and 5% 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 6.7 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.
Latest time to drink it
For an 11 pm bedtime, a 12 fl oz can of Sunkist Orange Soda 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 | Any time | Any time | Any time |
| 10 pm | Any time | Any time | Any time |
| 11 pm | Any time | Any time | Any time |
| Midnight | Any time | Any time | Any time |
| 1 am | Any time | Any time | Any time |
For a 12 fl oz can of Sunkist Orange Soda, 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 Sunkist Orange Soda peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 16 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 | 13 mg | 8.8 mg | 5.8 mg | 3.8 mg |
So one had at 3 pm leaves about 6.7 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.
How it compares
Sunkist Orange Soda is stronger than 0% of the 15 sodas we track, by caffeine per serving.
Per fluid ounce (1.6 mg) it is stronger than 0% of them.
To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 21 of these.
Less caffeine
- Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola no caffeine
- Fanta Orange no caffeine
- Fresca no caffeine
More caffeine
- Barq's Root Beer 22 mg, 12 fl oz can
- Coca-Cola 34 mg, 12 fl oz can
- Poppi Cola 40 mg, 12 fl oz can
FAQ
Is Sunkist Orange Soda high in caffeine?
No, it is low. A 12 fl oz can of Sunkist Orange Soda has 19 mg, which is 20% of the 95 mg in an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee.
Can I drink Sunkist Orange Soda at night?
For most people, yes: even late in the evening a 12 fl oz can of Sunkist Orange Soda stays under 50 mg at an 11 pm bedtime.
How long does the caffeine in Sunkist Orange Soda last?
It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 19 mg, about 8.8 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 3.8 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.
Does Sunkist Orange Soda have more caffeine than a cup of coffee?
No. A 12 fl oz can of Sunkist Orange Soda has 19 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.