Caffeine Intake Calculator

About the Caffeine Intake Calculator

Adds up the caffeine from common drinks and compares the total to the widely cited 400 mg safe daily limit for healthy adults.

How to use

Enter how many of each drink you had, then click Calculate.

Worked example

2 coffees (190 mg) + 1 energy drink (80 mg) = 270 mg, within the 400 mg limit.

How to use this calculator

1. List every caffeinated drink you had and note the caffeine per serving.
2. Enter how many servings of each drink you consumed.
3. Add up the caffeine from all drinks to get your total.
4. Compare the total with the safe daily limit shown by the calculator.

The formula explained

• \(\text{caffeine total}\) = the total caffeine consumed in the day, usually in milligrams
• \(\text{drink amount}\) = how many servings of a drink were consumed
• \(\text{caffeine per serving}\) = the caffeine amount listed for one serving of that drink, usually in milligrams
• \(\text{safe daily limit}\) = the recommended maximum caffeine intake for the day, usually in milligrams

Step by step method

1. Write down each drink separately, such as coffee, tea, soda, or an energy drink.
2. Multiply the number of servings of each drink by its caffeine per serving.
3. Add those caffeine amounts together to find your daily total.
4. Check whether the total is below, at, or above the safe daily limit.

Worked example

Here is a simple example for someone who drank two cups of coffee and one energy drink in a day.

1. If one cup of coffee has \(95\) mg of caffeine, then two cups have \(2 \times 95 = 190\) mg.
2. If one energy drink has \(80\) mg of caffeine, then one drink adds \(1 \times 80 = 80\) mg.
3. Add them together: \(190 + 80 = 270\) mg total.

Tips and common mistakes

• Use the caffeine listed for the serving size you actually drank, not just the amount on the package front.
• Count refills, large cups, and multiple cans as separate servings if needed.
• Remember that coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, and some medications can all contribute caffeine.
• If a label lists caffeine per bottle or per can, do not multiply again unless you had more than one.

Frequently asked questions