Caffeine in Coffee, Tea, Energy Drinks and Supplements: A Reference Table

Typical caffeine in coffee, tea, cola and energy drinks from Health Canada, the FDA and the NHS, plus the official daily caution levels each body gives. Information only, not advice.

Content last updated October 23, 2026. This page has not been medically reviewed.

Urgent first

Pure and highly concentrated caffeine powders and liquids can cause serious harm. The FDA says they have contributed to at least two deaths in the US and can cause rapid or dangerously erratic heartbeat, seizures and death. [1] If someone has seizures, an irregular or very fast heartbeat, or seems seriously unwell after caffeine, call 911 (US). For poisoning advice in the US, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222. See caffeine overdose and toxicity.

What this table is

This is a reference table, not advice about how much caffeine anyone should have. Amounts vary by brand, brewing method, serving size and bean or leaf. The FDA itself says the amount in specific products and container sizes can vary, and to contact the manufacturer with questions. [2] We did not read the USDA FoodData Central database for this page (its search service did not respond in our session), so the values below come from Health Canada, the FDA and the NHS, each named in the row.

Typical amounts in drinks and foods

Item	Serving	Typical caffeine	Source and year
Brewed coffee	237 ml (1 cup)	135 mg average	Health Canada, page dated 2025 [3]
Filter drip coffee	237 ml	179 mg average	Health Canada, 2025 [3]
Instant coffee	237 ml	76 to 106 mg	Health Canada, 2025 [3]
Decaffeinated coffee	237 ml	3 mg	Health Canada, 2025 [3]
Black or green tea, brewed	237 ml	30 to 50 mg	Health Canada, 2025 [3]
Cola, regular	355 ml (1 can)	36 to 46 mg	Health Canada, 2025 [3]
Regular brewed coffee (non-specialty)	12 fl oz	113 to 247 mg	FDA, content current Aug 2024 [2]
Black tea	12 fl oz	71 mg	FDA, 2024 [2]
Green tea	12 fl oz	37 mg	FDA, 2024 [2]
Caffeinated soft drink	12 fl oz	23 to 83 mg	FDA, 2024 [2]
Energy drink	12 fl oz	41 to 246 mg	FDA, 2024 [2]
Energy drink	16 fl oz	54 to 328 mg (general range)	FDA, 2024 [2]
Cup of instant coffee	1 cup	about 100 mg	NHS (UK), page reviewed 2026 [4]
Cup of tea	1 cup	about 75 mg	NHS (UK), 2026 [4]
Can of cola	1 can	about 40 mg	NHS (UK), 2026 [4]
Energy drink	250 ml can	about 80 mg	NHS (UK), 2026 [4]
Plain dark chocolate	50 g bar	less than 25 mg	NHS (UK), 2026 [4]

Health Canada's page does not list energy drinks, and the FDA table is adapted by the FDA from a 2015 published exposure study. [3][2] The numbers differ between bodies because the servings, methods and years differ. Do not average them.

Supplements and other products

We found no single source we could read that gives typical caffeine amounts for caffeine pills or "focus" supplements, so we give none. The FDA says many packaged foods, beverages and dietary supplements with caffeine voluntarily list the amount on the label, and that restaurants and similar outlets are not required by law to say how much caffeine their drinks contain. [2] The FDA also says that most US energy drinks list total caffeine from all sources, such as guarana. [2] Read the label of every product, including caffeine supplements and pills, powders and tablets. One teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine can contain the same caffeine as 28 cups of coffee, according to the FDA. [1]

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?

Health Canada lists an average of 135 mg for 237 ml of brewed coffee, with filter drip higher at 179 mg. [3] The FDA gives 113 to 247 mg per 12 fl oz for regular brewed coffee. [2]

Is tea lower in caffeine than coffee?

In the sources we read, yes on average: Health Canada lists 30 to 50 mg per 237 ml of black or green tea, and the FDA lists 71 mg (black) and 37 mg (green) per 12 fl oz. [3][2]

How much caffeine is too much?

It depends on the person. The FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most adults, while stressing wide individual variation. [2] Pregnancy and children have lower levels in the table above.

Do energy drinks list their caffeine?

The FDA says most US energy drinks list total caffeine from all sources, but the FDA has no regulation specific to "energy drinks." [2]

Does decaf have no caffeine?

Health Canada lists 3 mg in 237 ml of decaffeinated coffee and 0 mg in decaffeinated tea. [3]

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Official daily caution levels

These are published levels for named groups. They are not personal instructions.

Group	Level	Body, country and year
Most adults	400 mg a day, cited as an amount not generally associated with negative effects	FDA (US), 2024 [2]
Adults (18 and over)	400 mg per day	Health Canada, 2025 [3]
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding	300 mg per day	Health Canada, 2025 [3]
Children and adolescents up to 18	2.5 mg per kg of body weight (the page says it is based on limited data)	Health Canada, 2025 [3]
Pregnancy	Not more than 200 mg a day	NHS (UK), 2026 [4]
Healthy adults, single dose	Up to 200 mg, about 3 mg per kg of body weight, not a safety concern	EFSA (EU), 2015 opinion, read on the EFSA topic page [5]
Pregnancy, all sources	Up to 200 mg per day not a safety concern for the fetus	EFSA (EU), 2015 [5]
Children under 2	Drinks containing caffeine should be avoided	Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as cited by the FDA [2]

The bodies disagree for pregnancy (Health Canada 300 mg, NHS and EFSA 200 mg). That is a real difference in official advice, not an error in this table. The FDA says people who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding should talk to a health care provider about limiting caffeine. [2]

Who should ask a clinician

The FDA says wide variation exists in how sensitive people are and how fast they eliminate caffeine, and that conditions and some medications raise sensitivity. [2] MedlinePlus says to check with a provider about limiting or avoiding caffeine with anxiety, an arrhythmia, and other listed conditions, and to ask about interactions with medicines and supplements. [6] Ask a clinician or pharmacist about pregnancy, children, heart rhythm, anxiety, sleep problems, and medicines. Kidney, liver and before-surgery questions were not covered by the caffeine pages we read, so ask your care team. See also caffeine and medicines and caffeine in pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and teens.

References

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pure and Highly Concentrated Caffeine. Read 2026-10-23.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?. Read 2026-10-23.
Health Canada, Caffeine in foods, page details dated 2025-04-02. Read 2026-10-23 through a page-fetch tool.
NHS (UK), Foods to avoid in pregnancy. Read 2026-10-23.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Caffeine topic page, summarizing the 2015 scientific opinion. Read 2026-10-23 through a page-fetch tool.
MedlinePlus, Caffeine. Read 2026-10-23.

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.