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How Much Caffeine Is in Energy Drinks in Australia? V, Monster, Red Bull and Mother Compared
Most people pick an energy drink by flavour or by habit. Very few check the number on the back of the can.
That number matters more than anything else in there. It decides how you feel at hour ten, and it decides how much caffeine is still in your system when you finally lie down.
Here's what the main Australian energy drinks contain.
The quick answer
In Australia, energy drinks are capped at 320mg of caffeine per litre. That works out to 32mg per 100ml. Almost every major brand sits at or near that cap.
So the concentration is basically the same across the fridge. What changes is the size of the can.
| Drink | Can size | Caffeine per can | Caffeine per 100ml |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bull | 250ml | 80mg | 32mg |
| V Energy | 250ml | 78mg | 31mg |
| TILT | 330ml | 105.6mg | 32mg |
| V Energy | 500ml | 155mg | 31mg |
| Monster Energy | 500ml | 160mg | 32mg |
| Mother | 500ml | 160mg | 32mg |
Figures are for the standard versions of each drink as listed at September 2026. Flavours and limited editions can differ. Always check the nutrition panel on the can you're holding.
Why every brand lands on 32mg per 100ml
Energy drinks in Australia and New Zealand fall under Food Standards Code Standard 2.6.4, Formulated Caffeinated Beverages. It sets a floor of 145mg per litre and a ceiling of 320mg per litre.
Brands want their drink to hit hard, so most formulate right up to the ceiling. That's why V, Monster, Red Bull and Mother all land within a milligram of each other per 100ml.
It also means the "strong" energy drink is usually just the big one. A 500ml can isn't a stronger recipe. It's more of the same recipe.
We cover the full rules, including the warning labels every can must carry, in our guide to Australian energy drink rules.
Per can is the number that counts
Nobody drinks 100ml. You drink the can.
A 500ml Monster or Mother gives you 160mg in one go. Two of those across a shift is 320mg. A 250ml Red Bull is half that per can, but people often grab two.
For context, FSANZ uses about 80mg as a rough figure for an instant coffee. A café coffee can range a lot depending on the shots and the beans.
If you're working out your total for the day, add up the cans, the coffees and anything else with caffeine in it. Our breakdown of how much caffeine is too much goes through the numbers.
What bigger cans mean at the end of the shift
Caffeine doesn't switch off when the shift does. In healthy adults the average half-life is around 5 hours, which means half the dose is still circulating 5 hours after you finish the can. Smokers clear it faster. Some people clear it much slower.
Here's how that plays out on paper, using a 5 hour half-life:
| Can | At finish | After 5 hours | After 10 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250ml Red Bull (80mg) | 80mg | 40mg | 20mg |
| 330ml TILT (105.6mg) | 105.6mg | 52.8mg | 26.4mg |
| 500ml Monster (160mg) | 160mg | 80mg | 40mg |
| 2 x 500ml Monster (320mg) | 320mg | 160mg | 80mg |
That's the part most people don't think about. The drink gets you through the shift, then you get home, and a chunk of it is still there when you're trying to sleep before the next start.
If you're on nights or early starts, our guide on when to stop caffeine before sleep goes deeper on timing.
Where TILT sits
TILT is a 330ml can with 105.6mg of natural caffeine. That's the same 32mg per 100ml as everyone else, in a can that's a third smaller than the 500ml options.
We didn't pick that size by accident. 105.6mg is enough to get through. It isn't built to chase the biggest caffeine number in the fridge.
Each can also contains:
- 198mg L-Theanine
- 158mg L-Tyrosine
- 99mg Rhodiola Rosea
- 3.7g sugar, sweetened with agave, erythritol and stevia
- No artificial colours or preservatives
How to compare energy drinks yourself
When you're standing at the servo fridge, flip the can and check two lines on the panel.
- Caffeine per serve. This is your real dose. Ignore the per 100ml line unless you're comparing recipes.
- Serves per container. Some bigger cans list two serves. If you drink the whole thing, double it.
Then work out how many you'll have in a shift and when your last one will be.
FAQ
How much caffeine is in a 500ml Monster in Australia?
A standard 500ml Monster Energy in Australia contains 160mg of caffeine, or 32mg per 100ml.
How much caffeine is in V energy drink?
V contains about 31mg of caffeine per 100ml. That's roughly 78mg in a 250ml can and 155mg in a 500ml can.
How much caffeine is in a can of Red Bull?
A 250ml can of Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine.
What is the maximum caffeine allowed in energy drinks in Australia?
Under Food Standards Code Standard 2.6.4, formulated caffeinated beverages can contain no more than 320mg of caffeine per litre, or 32mg per 100ml.
How much caffeine is in TILT?
Each 330ml can of TILT contains 105.6mg of natural caffeine.
Want to try a 330ml can on your next shift? The TILT Trial Pack is 4 cans for $24, with a 100-day refund guarantee.