How Much Caffeine Is in C4? Every Can, Shot and Scoop
A 16 oz can of C4 Performance Energy has 200 mg of caffeine. C4 Ultimate Energy jumps to 300 mg in the same size can. C4 Smart Energy also delivers 200 mg but in a smaller 12 oz can. The pre-workout powders span 100 mg (Energy + Aminos) to 300 mg (Ultimate), and the current C4 Original listing shows 200 mg per scoop, up from 150 mg on an older listing still live on cellucor.com.
Key Takeaways
- C4 cans range from 150 mg (Candy Variety Pack, 12 oz) to 300 mg (Ultimate Energy, 16 oz), with most at 200 mg.
- C4 Original pre-workout now lists 200 mg per scoop on its current product page; an older listing on the same site says 150 mg. Check the label on your tub.
- Two 200 mg servings reach the FDA's 400 mg daily figure for most healthy adults. A single 300 mg Ultimate leaves only 100 mg of headroom.
- C4's announced caffeine pouches carry 100 mg per pouch and are not on sale yet.
C4 caffeine chart: every can, shot and scoop
| Product | Format | Caffeine/serving | Pack price | $/serving | $/100 mg | Servings to 400 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C4 Ultimate Energy | 16 oz can | 300 mg | 12 for $27.99 | $2.33 | $0.78 | 1.3 |
| C4 Performance Energy | 16 oz can | 200 mg | 12 for $27.99 | $2.33 | $1.17 | 2 |
| C4 Smart Energy | 12 oz can | 200 mg | 12 for $22.49 | $1.87 | $0.94 | 2 |
| C4 Energy Non Carbonated | 12 oz bottle | 200 mg | 12 for $29.99 | $2.50 | $1.25 | 2 |
| C4 Energy Shots | 2 oz shot | 200 mg | 12 for $29.99 | $2.50 | $1.25 | 2 |
| C4 Candy Variety Pack | 12 oz can | 150 mg | 24 for $44.99 | $1.87 | $1.25 | 2.7 |
| C4 Ultimate Pre-Workout | powder | 300 mg | 20 srv $39.99 | $2.00 | $0.67 | 1.3 |
| C4 Original (current listing) | powder | 200 mg | 30 srv $34.99 | $1.17 | $0.58 | 2 |
| C4 Original (older listing) | powder | 150 mg | 30 srv $29.99 | $1.00 | $0.67 | 2.7 |
| C4 Sport | powder | 200 mg | 20 srv $21.99 | $1.10 | $0.55 | 2 |
| C4 Sport Ripped | powder | 200 mg | 20 srv $29.99 | $1.50 | $0.75 | 2 |
| C4 Energy + Aminos | powder | 100 mg | 30 srv $23.99 | $0.80 | $0.80 | 4 |
| C4 Energy Lip Pouches (announced) | pouch | 100 mg | TBA (Q1 2027) | TBA | TBA | 4 |
| Roon | pouch | 80 mg | from $9.16/tin of 15 (sub) | from $0.61 | from $0.76 | 5 would exceed Roon's 4/day cap |
Source: cellucor.com product listings, one-time prices except Roon (subscription), checked Oct 24, 2026. $/100 mg = price per serving ÷ (mg ÷ 100).
How we compared: Every caffeine figure and price above comes from Cellucor's published product pages. Per-serving and per-100 mg costs were calculated from those numbers. We did not purchase, lab-test, or use-test C4 products. Worth knowing before you read on: Roon makes a caffeine pouch that competes with C4's planned pouches, and this article links to it. Each C4 figure links to its Cellucor page so you can check it.
How much caffeine is in a C4 energy drink?
Most C4 cans contain 200 mg: Performance Energy (16 oz), Smart Energy (12 oz), Non-Carbonated (12 oz), and the 2 oz Energy Shots. The outlier at the top is C4 Ultimate Energy at 300 mg per 16 oz can. The Candy Variety Pack 12 oz cans sit lower at 150 mg each.
Per fluid ounce, the 2 oz shot is the most concentrated at 100 mg/fl oz. For a closer look at the Smart Energy formula, see the C4 Smart Energy review.
How much caffeine is in C4 pre-workout?
Cellucor sells multiple pre-workout powders under the C4 name, and the doses span a wide range:
- C4 Original (current listing): 200 mg, 30 servings, $34.99
- C4 Original (older listing, still live): 150 mg, 30 servings, $29.99
- C4 Sport: 200 mg, 20 servings, $21.99
- C4 Sport Ripped: 200 mg, 20 servings, $29.99
- C4 Ultimate: 300 mg, 20 servings, $39.99
- C4 Energy + Aminos: 100 mg, 30 servings, $23.99
- C4 AlphaBomb: a 336 mg caffeine complex, 20 servings, $54.99
If your tub's label says 150 mg and the website says 200 mg, the label on the tub you own wins. Both listings are still on cellucor.com, so older tubs with the lower dose may still be in circulation. That 50 mg gap matters when you are counting toward 400 mg. For more brands, see the full pre-workout caffeine comparison.
Why does C4 Ultimate hit 300 mg?
C4 Ultimate is Cellucor's top-tier line. The 300 mg caffeine is paired with TeaCrine (theacrine) and Dynamine (methylliberine), which Cellucor calls "Tri-Stim". Neither the TeaCrine nor the Dynamine dose is published on any C4 listing.
These are the same two branded ingredients in Roon, which does publish its doses for both. More on the interaction: Dynamine and caffeine together.
How many C4s can you have in a day?
The FDA states that 400 mg of caffeine a day is not generally associated with negative effects for most healthy adults. Two 200 mg C4 servings reach that ceiling. One 300 mg C4 Ultimate leaves room for only 100 mg more from all other sources, including coffee. Do not stack a C4 can with a C4 pre-workout scoop in the same session; that combination puts 400 to 500 mg into a single session.
The FDA estimates toxic effects such as seizures can appear with rapid consumption of around 1,200 mg. The same agency notes medical experts advise against energy drinks for children and teens. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a heart condition, anxiety, or stimulant medication, ask a clinician before using any high-caffeine product.
For where 300 mg sits among competitors, see which energy drink has the most caffeine.
Related from Roon
- C4 Smart Energy review
- C4 and Rockstar caffeine pouches
- How much caffeine is in pre-workout?
- Pre-workout vs. energy drink
Frequently Asked Questions
Does C4 have more caffeine than Monster?
Yes. A 16 oz C4 Performance Energy has 200 mg of caffeine; a 16 oz Monster Original has 160 mg. C4 Ultimate Energy widens the gap to 300 mg versus Monster's 160 mg. On a per-ounce basis, C4 Performance runs 12.5 mg/fl oz compared to Monster's 10 mg/fl oz.
Is 200 mg of caffeine a lot?
It is half the FDA's 400 mg daily guideline for healthy adults, so one 200 mg can or scoop uses half the day's figure on its own. Two in a day reach it. For a longer breakdown, see is 200 mg of caffeine a lot.
Does C4 Smart Energy have less caffeine than regular C4?
No. C4 Smart Energy and C4 Performance Energy both list 200 mg of caffeine. The difference is can size (12 oz vs. 16 oz) and the supporting ingredients, not total caffeine.
Are C4 caffeine pouches available yet?
Not as of Oct 2026. Cellucor previewed C4 Energy Lip Pouches at NACS with 100 mg of caffeine per pouch, half the caffeine of a 16 oz C4 Energy can. Stack3d reported a planned Q1 2027 release. They are not listed on cellucor.com yet. For more on that announcement, see C4 and Rockstar caffeine pouches.
Smaller Steps, Longer Window
C4 delivers caffeine in 200 and 300 mg blocks. If that feels like too large a single step, Roon is 80 mg per pouch, placed under the lip, with 60 mg L-theanine, 25 mg methylliberine (Dynamine), and 5 mg theacrine (TeaCrine). Every dose is printed on the tin.
Methylliberine extends caffeine's duration without raising the peak. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover PK study (n = 12), co-dosing the two compounds stretched caffeine's half-life from 7.2 to 15 hours and cut oral clearance from 41.9 to 17.1 L/hr, with no higher peak concentration (study). That trial used 100 mg methylliberine with 150 mg caffeine, roughly 4x the methylliberine and 1.9x the caffeine in one Roon pouch. The 6-to-8-hour window Roon reports reflects the same mechanism directionally, not the study's exact magnitudes, and a 15-hour half-life does not mean 15 hours of felt energy. A longer tail also means finishing your last pouch at least eight hours before sleep.
A second pouch is a choice, not a default; the cap is four per day and 400 mg total from all caffeine sources. Roon costs from $9.16 per tin on a 12-tin subscription, with a 30-day money-back guarantee on a first order. No jitters, no crash, no nicotine, zero sugar.
Sources
- FDA: Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? (updated Aug 28, 2024)
- C4 Performance Energy, cellucor.com (checked Oct 2026)
- C4 Ultimate Energy, cellucor.com (checked Oct 2026)
- C4 Smart Energy, cellucor.com (checked Oct 2026)
- C4 Original Pre-Workout, cellucor.com (checked Oct 2026)
- C4 Original Pre-Workout, older listing, cellucor.com (checked Oct 2026)
- C4 Ultimate Pre-Workout, cellucor.com (checked Oct 2026)
- C4 AlphaBomb Pre-Workout, cellucor.com (checked Oct 2026)
- Stack3d: C4 Energy Lip Pouches (Oct 2026)
- Caffeine and Methylliberine: A Human Pharmacokinetic Interaction Study, Journal of Exercise and Nutrition
Written by Roon Team
