A standard can of soda typically contains 12 fluid ounces (355 milliliters). This is the most common size for soda cans, such as those produced by popular brands like Pepsi and Coca-Cola. However, there are also smaller and larger can sizes available, such as 7.5-ounce mini cans or 16-ounce tall cans, but the 12-ounce size is the most prevalent.

Featured Answers

The standard can of soda contains 12 ounces.

Answered from Douglas A Dean

A can of soda such as Pepsi or Cocoa Cola, is 12 ounces.

Answered from Ashley Nebel

How Many Ounces Is One Can Of Soda?

As a soda enthusiast, I’ve gone through my fair share of canned sodas over the years. While grabbing a cold can from the fridge, I’d often wonder just how much soda is actually in there. If you’ve also been curious about the standard soda can size, here’s a deep dive into the ounces contained in these iconic cans.

What is the typical size of a can of soda in ounces?

The modern 12 ounce (oz) can is considered the standard single-serving soda can size. When you grab a can of Coke, Pepsi, or other major soda brand, it will most often contain 12 fluid ounces of soda.

This has been the norm since the early 1960s when cans surpassed glass bottles as the preferred soda packaging. Some brands also offer 20 oz cans for more soda, but the 12 oz is the classic size.

Why is 12 ounces the standard soda can size?

Back in the 1930s when sodas in cans were first introduced, smaller sizes around 6 or 7 oz were common. But starting in the 1950s and 60s, the can size steadily increased to the now universal 12 oz as the optimum single-serve amount of soda.

The 12 oz, equivalently 354 mL, size turned out to be ideal in terms of drinkability, cost effectiveness for manufacturers, storage convenience, and product differentiation from bottles. So this size stuck as the standard we know today.

Do different brands use different sized soda cans?

Nope, the 12 oz can is ubiquitous across all the major soda brands and generic store sodas:

• Coca-Cola
• Pepsi
• Mountain Dew
• Sprite
• Dr Pepper
• Fanta
• Seven-Up
• Store brand sodas

No matter the manufacturer or flavor, if we’re talking about a typical cylindrical soda can sold individually, it’ll contain 12 fluid oz.

When did soda cans transition from 6.5 oz to 12 oz?

In the early 1950s, major soda brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi primarily used 6.5 oz cans, trying to find the right small package for sodas. By 1960, the new 12 oz size had almost completely overtaken the smaller cans.

The 12 oz measurement has continued as the clear standard can size from the 60s until today. Cans got taller, sleeker and more colorful over the decades, but held steady at 12 oz.

Are there soda cans larger than 12 ounces?

Yes, while 12 oz is standard, sodas also come in larger cans, usually in 20 oz or 24 oz sizes. The typical offerings include:

• 20 oz – Contains 20 fluid ounces or ~591 mL; around 1.5x a 12 oz can
• 24 oz – Contains 24 fluid ounces or ~710 mL; twice the size of a 12 oz
• 16 oz – An in-between size at 16 fluid oz offered for some brands

These larger cans provide greater soda volume for thirstier drinkers. But the 12 oz still reigns supreme as the conventional grab-and-go single serving size.

What about smaller soda cans – do they exist?

Absolutely, smaller cans emerged as demand grew for lower-calorie soda options. The most common small sizes are:

• 7.5 oz “pony can” – Contains around half the soda of a 12 oz can
• 8 oz can – Popular with energy drink brands like Red Bull
• 10 oz can – An in-between size with a bit less soda
• 8.4 oz “sleek can” – A slim can with portion-control soda amounts

While not as ubiquitous as 12 oz, these smaller cans give soda drinkers lighter options.

How does can size compare to plastic bottles?

Plastic bottle sizes don’t always directly overlap with can sizes. Some equivalencies are:

• 12 oz can = approximately 20 oz (591 mL) plastic bottle
• 16 oz plastic bottle = somewhere between a 12 oz and 20 oz can
• 20 oz bottle = 1.5 to 2x a 12 oz can

Plastic bottles generally hold more fluid volume than similarly labelled cans.

How much caffeine is in a 12 oz can of soda?

The caffeine content in a typical 12 oz soda can ranges from 23-35 mg depending on the brand:

• Coca-Cola: 34 mg
• Pepsi: 38 mg
• Mountain Dew: 54 mg
• Dr Pepper: 41 mg
• Sprite: 26 mg

So around 30 mg of caffeine per 12 oz can is average, giving you a mild energy boost.

Are nutritional facts different for different can sizes?

Yes, pay attention to can sizes when checking nutrition labels. As an example:

• 12 oz Coke has 140 calories and 39g sugar
• 20 oz Coke has 240 calories and 65g sugar

Bigger cans mean bigger nutritional numbers, so keep an eye on the serving size details.

Conclusion

From 6.5 oz origins to the modern 12 oz standard, it’s been fascinating to learn the history behind the ubiquitous soda can. Whether crack open a cold can of cola or ginger ale, you can expect a refreshingly portable 12 ounces of bubbly goodness. Here's to the beloved soda can and its ideal 12 fluid ounce capacity!