Gatorade vs Nuun: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Nuun Sport has 39% more sodium than Gatorade Thirst Quencher per 12 fl oz (225 mg vs 162 mg). Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 28 times the sugar of Nuun Sport per 12 fl oz (21 g vs 0.8 g). They cost about the same per liter as mixed ($1.48 vs $1.58).
Gatorade Thirst Quencher vs Nuun Sport, side by side
Serving sizes differ. Gatorade Thirst Quencher's label is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving; Nuun Sport's is for one tablet in 16 fl oz (473 mL) of water. The per-serving numbers on the two labels can't be compared directly, so this page converts both to 12 fl oz and 1 liter of finished drink.
| Nutrient | Gatorade Thirst Quencher | Nuun Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | tablet |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 84 kcal | 11 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 21 g | 3 g |
| Sugars | 21 g | 0.8 g |
| Added sugars | 21 g | 0.8 g |
| Sodium | 162 mg | 225 mg |
| Potassium | 48 mg | 113 mg |
| Magnesium | not on label | 19 mg |
| Calcium | not on label | 9.8 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 30 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Gatorade Thirst Quencher | Nuun Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | tablet |
| Drink volume | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) |
| Calories | 237 kcal | 32 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 59 g | 8.5 g |
| Sugars | 59 g | 2.1 g |
| Added sugars | 59 g | 2.1 g |
| Sodium | 457 mg | 634 mg |
| Potassium | 135 mg | 317 mg |
| Magnesium | not on label | 53 mg |
| Calcium | not on label | 27 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 85 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Gatorade Thirst Quencher | Nuun Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | tablet |
| Drink volume | 20 fl oz (591 mL) | 16 fl oz (473 mL) |
| Calories | 140 kcal | 15 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 35 g | 4 g |
| Sugars | 35 g | 1 g |
| Added sugars | 35 g | 1 g |
| Sodium | 270 mg | 300 mg |
| Potassium | 80 mg | 150 mg |
| Magnesium | not on label | 25 mg |
| Calcium | not on label | 13 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 40 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
Shaded cells mark more electrolytes, or less sugar and fewer calories. Carbohydrate and caffeine are not marked, since more or less depends on your use.
Gatorade Thirst Quencher label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Nuun Sport label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade is a PepsiCo brand and Nuun is owned by Nestlé Health Science.
Sodium per liter
Sweat carries about 230 to 1,610 mg of sodium per liter[1]. Both gauges use the same scale, so the markers line up.
Cost per serving and per 1,000 mg sodium
| Measure | Gatorade Thirst Quencher | Nuun Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $6.99 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles | $7.49 for 1 tube, 10 tablets |
| Cost per serving | $0.87 | $0.75 |
| Cost per liter | $1.48 | $1.58 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $3.24 | $2.50 |
Gatorade Thirst Quencher price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Nuun Sport price checked at Nuun . Source (opens in a new tab)
Sugar, sweeteners and caffeine
- Sugar from sugar and dextrose. No low-calorie sweeteners listed.
- Gatorade Thirst Quencher has no caffeine.
- 5.9% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Water, Sugar, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Monopotassium Phosphate, Gum Arabic, Ascorbic Acid (to Protect Color), Natural Flavor, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Beta Carotene (Color).
- Sugar from dextrose. Sweetened with stevia.
- Some Nuun Sport flavors have caffeine (up to 40 mg per serving); the others have none.
- 0.8% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Citric Acid, Dextrose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Potassium Bicarbonate, Sodium Carbonate, And Less Than 2% Of Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Oxide, Calcium Carbonate, Stevia Leaf Extract, Avocado Oil, Beet Juice (For Color)
Which to pick
Each reason below is a measured difference in the label data.
Pick Gatorade if
- you want carbohydrate for energy during long sessions: 21 g vs 3 g per 12 fl oz
- you want a ready-to-drink bottle with nothing to mix
Pick Nuun if
- you want more sodium: 225 mg vs 162 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want less sugar: 0.8 g vs 21 g per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 113 mg vs 48 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want magnesium: 19 mg per 12 fl oz vs not on the label
- you want the option of a caffeinated flavor: up to 40 mg per serving
- you want the cheapest sodium: $2.50 vs $3.24 per 1,000 mg
- you want a tablet that is light to carry and mixes into your own water
Where to buy
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy, and it never changes the data or rankings. Affiliate disclosure.
Other Gatorade vs Nuun matchups
Gatorade Zero Sugar vs Nuun Zero Sugar
Gatorade Zero Sugar and Nuun Zero Sugar have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (162 mg vs 150 mg). Neither has any sugar.
Gatorade Zero Sugar's label is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving; Nuun Zero Sugar's is for one tablet in 16 fl oz (473 mL) of water. The table converts both to 12 fl oz.
| Per 12 fl oz | Gatorade Zero Sugar | Nuun Zero Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 162 mg | 150 mg |
| Potassium | 48 mg | 94 mg |
| Magnesium | not on label | 15 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 1.2 g | 3 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 3 kcal | 11 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $1.48 | $1.58 |
Gatorade Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Nuun Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Nuun Zero Sugar price checked at Nuun . Source (opens in a new tab)
What the data can't tell you
- How they taste. We compare labels, not flavor.
- What they cost near you today. We checked Gatorade Thirst Quencher at Target on Sep 24, 2026 and Nuun Sport at Nuun on Sep 24, 2026.
- How much sodium you lose. That depends on your sweat; the sweat rate calculator gives an estimate.
- Older records. The USDA food database has older figures for Nuun Sport that differ by more than 10%. We use the current label.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Gatorade or Nuun?
Per 12 fl oz, Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 162 mg sodium and 48 mg potassium. Nuun Sport has 225 mg sodium, 113 mg potassium and 19 mg magnesium. Per liter that is 457 mg vs 634 mg sodium. Gatorade Thirst Quencher doesn't list magnesium on the label.
Does Gatorade or Nuun have more sugar?
Gatorade Thirst Quencher: 21 g sugar and 84 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed. Nuun Sport: 0.8 g sugar and 11 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with stevia.
Why do Gatorade and Nuun list different serving sizes?
Gatorade Thirst Quencher's label is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving and Nuun Sport's is for one tablet in 16 fl oz (473 mL) of water. Comparing the labels as printed gives 270 mg vs 300 mg sodium, but on the same 12 fl oz it is 162 mg vs 225 mg.
Which is cheaper, Gatorade or Nuun?
Gatorade Thirst Quencher worked out at $0.87 a serving, $1.48 a liter and $3.24 per 1,000 mg sodium (8 x 20 fl oz bottles at Target, checked Sep 24, 2026). Nuun Sport worked out at $0.75 a serving, $1.58 a liter and $2.50 per 1,000 mg sodium (1 tube, 10 tablets at Nuun, checked Sep 24, 2026). Prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.
How does Gatorade Zero Sugar compare with Nuun Zero Sugar?
Gatorade Zero Sugar and Nuun Zero Sugar have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (162 mg vs 150 mg). Neither has any sugar. Nuun Zero Sugar has 2.5 times the total carbohydrate of Gatorade Zero Sugar per 12 fl oz (3 g vs 1.2 g). Per liter as mixed, Gatorade Zero Sugar costs $1.48 and Nuun Zero Sugar costs $1.58.
Does Gatorade or Nuun have caffeine?
Gatorade Thirst Quencher has no caffeine. Some Nuun Sport flavors have caffeine (up to 40 mg per serving); the others have none.