Label numbers

How much sugar is in a can of soda?

A 12 oz can of Coca-Cola Original has 39 grams of sugar, according to Coca-Cola’s US nutrition facts. Other big-name regular sodas list about 36 to 46 grams per 12 oz can, including Pepsi at 41 g and Mountain Dew at 46 g. Diet and zero-sugar versions list 0 g. Every number below links to the brand’s nutrition page or the USDA FoodData Central label record it came from.

By Patrick McCarthy, reviewed Oct 27, 2026

Not medical advice. QuitSoda is habit support for adults. If caffeine, sugar, pregnancy, medicines, or a health condition affect your plan, ask your clinician.

Sugar per 12 oz can, by brand

Grams of total sugars per 12 fl oz serving, as printed on the label. Sorted from most to least.

Numbers checked Oct 26, 2026. Recipes and labels change, and fountain drinks or other countries can differ. The can in your hand is the final word. USDA FoodData Central branded records are label data supplied by the brand owner.

How that compares to the Daily Value

The FDA sets the Daily Value for added sugars at 50 grams per day, based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA: Added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label). In regular soda, the sugar on the label is added sugar. So one 12 oz can of Coca-Cola Original (39 g) is a bit under that daily number, and one can of Mountain Dew (46 g) is close to it.

The CDC lists sugary drinks as a common source of added sugars and suggests water and other drinks without added sugar as everyday choices (CDC: Rethink Your Drink).

What about diet and zero-sugar soda?

Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar both list 0 g of sugar. They use sweeteners instead, and most still have caffeine. See caffeine in soda for the mg per can.

For the 30-day challenge, diet and zero-sugar sodas still count as soda. The habit loop (the time of day, the fizz, the sweet taste, the break) is often the same. How to quit diet soda covers that in more detail.

Lower-sugar swaps that still feel like a break

If the goal is less sugar from drinks, these swaps have none added:

• Plain sparkling water or seltzer, with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime if you like. Keeps the fizz.
• Unsweetened iced tea, black or green. Many people like it for the afternoon slot.
• Unsweetened coffee, hot or iced, if your soda was mostly about caffeine.
• Still water in a bottle you like, kept where the can used to sit.

Soda alternatives and sparkling water vs soda explain what counts as on-plan during the challenge.

Not listed yet

A&W Root Beer and 7UP are not in the table because we could not confirm a 12 oz label value from the brand or USDA FoodData Central when this page was reviewed. We will add them once we can cite a source.