Why Are Red Bull Cans Small? [Worth It Or Not?]

Have you ever looked at various energy drink cans and the regular Red Bull cans side by side? You must have observed that the Red Bull ones are relatively small. So, why are red bull cans so small?

The main reason Red Bull cans are so small is the associated cost. Red Bull is one of the most expensive energy drinks on the market, and to justify their cost, the Red Bull cans are available in small sizes.

Read on as we explain more about why Red Bull cans are small and other related information. If you are a frequent Red Bull drinker, we highly recommend you to read till the end, as there can be many aha moments inside!

Disclaimer: Please note we don’t represent Red Bull nor any other companies mentioned in this post. All thoughts shared in this post are our own and based on the information we came across while researching. Hope you find this post helpful!

Why Are Red Bull Cans So Small?

There are two popular energy drink brands, Red Bull and Monster. The Red Bull energy drinks are usually sold in nearly 8-ounce cans (8.4 fl. oz, to be precise). In comparison, the Monster Energy drink is usually sold in 16 fl. oz. cans.

Here’s a chart that shows the cost of Red Bull and other energy drinks:

Energy Drink:	Volume:	Cost:
Red Bull	8.4 fl. oz (248.4 ml)	$2
Monster	16 fl. oz (473.2 ml)	$3
G Fuel	16 fl. oz (473.2 ml)	$3
Xyience	16 fl. oz (473.2 ml)	$4.25
Bang Energy	16 fl. oz (473.2 ml)	$2

So, as you can see above. Red bull offers less volume of energy drinks compared to other energy drinks in one can.

In general, most common energy drinks are available in relatively larger sizes compared to Red Bull.

Here we are trying to explain to you specifically “the cost of the Red Bull can.” And for further explanation, we would be comparing it with the cost of the Monster Energy drink.

• About 16 fl. oz of Monster = $3
• So 8 fl. oz of it should be about $1.5
• However, 8.4 fl. oz Red Bull costs about $2

So as you can see, for almost 8 fl. oz, you will be paying relatively more in the case of Red Bull than the Monster.

Do note that the exact cost of energy drinks can vary based on the size, brand, location of your purchase, and if you are getting them at a discount. But more or less, that’s what the basic idea is about Red Bull.

For a 24-pack of 16 fl. oz cans of Monster, you will be paying around $33-$34. And almost, at similar pricing, you can get a 24-pack of Red Bull (but remember, Red Bull offers in 8.4 fl. oz servings)

So what do you think is more costly here?

Yes, Red Bull turns out to be more costly here compared to the Monster. The main reason is that Red Bull is less budget-friendly because it offers relatively smaller servings than Monster.

So there you go! You see how intelligently the products and pricing are decided. Hence, the cost of Red Bull is what directly or indirectly impacts its size.

Is Red Bull As Effective As Regular-Sized Cans?

A can of Red Bull is less effective than other regular-sized cans of energy drinks. The main reason is that you would be getting less caffeine content from a small Red Bull can than from other bigger cans of energy drinks.

Red Bull offers fewer servings per can than other normal energy drinks, so you would be getting less caffeine naturally.

In almost all energy drinks, caffeine is what stimulates brain function and helps raise alertness levels and concentration.

Here’s a chart that shows the caffeine content of different energy drinks:

Energy Drinks:	Caffeine Content:
(8.4 oz) Red Bull	80 mg
(1.93 oz) 5-Hour Energy	200 mg
(16 oz) Monster	160 mg
(16 oz) Full Throttle	160 mg
(16 oz) AMP	142 mg
(16 oz) Rockstar	160 mg

(Source)

Can I Drink Two Small Red Bulls?

A small 8.4-ounce of Red Bull has around 80 mg of caffeine content. As per mayo clinic, for most healthy adults, up to 400 mg of caffeine, a day seems safe.

So if you calculate the caffeine consumption in your body after two shots of small red bull,  it turns out to be 160 mg. So it is still within limits. But wait, you would have to also check on the caffeine levels from other foods you take in that day.

Remember that if you consume too much caffeine, it can lead to health problems such as headaches, fast heart rate, dehydration, anxiety, etc.

Moreover, it is also crucial to note that excessive or regular intake of energy drinks can lead to problems like headaches, heart arrhythmias, anxiety, and high blood pressure.

Is Red Bull Worth The Money?

Red Bull is one of the most expensive drinks that offer fewer servings per can. It has equivalent ingredients to other brands of energy drinks on the market.

If you like the taste of Red Bull and don’t mind the relatively higher price, then Red Bull is definitely worth it for you. Red Bull is a well-known brand across the globe, and generally, recognized brands have shown consistency in product quality.

There are two main downsides when you purchasing the small regular-sized cans of Red Bull:

• Relatively expensive
• Less serving per can

Yes, you get less serving from one can of Red Bull. So the amount of brain-stimulating component – the caffeine you get from one small Red Bull can is naturally less than other energy drink cans.

However, this disadvantage may also turn into a benefit in some cases.

As a general rule, you are probably aware that those who drink energy drinks usually drink the whole can in one go.

So when you consume one can of Red Bull (nearly 8 ounces), you would be consuming fewer calories, sugar, and caffeine than when you consume one can of other energy drinks like Monster (nearly 16 ounces).

Moreover, the nutrient content of Red Bull and energy drinks like Monster is almost similar. There is only a slight difference between their ingredients and flavor.

So it ultimately depends on your personal preference. If you prefer Red Bull’s taste and love the Red Bull brand, you can go for it.

Red Bull has many different flavor options you can enjoy. But they have also discontinued some of their flavors. Check out more about the discontinued Red Bull flavors in our detailed blog post. 

Final Thoughts

In short, Red Bull cans are so small because they are expensive. Therefore, the can and the serving size have to be adjusted accordingly to set the cost.

And comparatively, Red Bull offers less caffeine content per can in total. So it can be less effective in providing the stimulating and alertness effect than other energy drinks.

However, in general, Red Bull is worth it if you love its taste and are ready to pay a bit extra than other energy drinks. Since it is expensive, it may not be the best budget-friendly energy drink. However, if you prefer its taste, you can go for it.

FAQs

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