Gatorade vs Powerade: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Powerade has 48% more sodium than Gatorade Thirst Quencher per 12 fl oz (240 mg vs 162 mg). Gatorade Thirst Quencher and Powerade have about the same sugar per 12 fl oz (21 g vs 21 g). Powerade costs less per liter as mixed ($1.16 vs $1.48 for Gatorade Thirst Quencher).
Gatorade Thirst Quencher vs Powerade, side by side
Serving sizes differ. Gatorade Thirst Quencher's label is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving; Powerade's is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving. 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 | Powerade |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 84 kcal | 80 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 21 g | 21 g |
| Sugars | 21 g | 21 g |
| Added sugars | 21 g | 21 g |
| Sodium | 162 mg | 240 mg |
| Potassium | 48 mg | 80 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Gatorade Thirst Quencher | Powerade |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) |
| Calories | 237 kcal | 225 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 59 g | 59 g |
| Sugars | 59 g | 59 g |
| Added sugars | 59 g | 59 g |
| Sodium | 457 mg | 676 mg |
| Potassium | 135 mg | 225 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Gatorade Thirst Quencher | Powerade |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 20 fl oz (591 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 140 kcal | 80 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 35 g | 21 g |
| Sugars | 35 g | 21 g |
| Added sugars | 35 g | 21 g |
| Sodium | 270 mg | 240 mg |
| Potassium | 80 mg | 80 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. Neither label lists magnesium, calcium or chloride.
Gatorade Thirst Quencher label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade is a PepsiCo brand and Powerade is a Coca-Cola brand.
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 | Powerade |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $6.99 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles | $5.49 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles |
| Cost per serving | $0.87 | $0.41 |
| Cost per liter | $1.48 | $1.16 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $3.24 | $1.72 |
Gatorade Thirst Quencher price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade price checked at Target . 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 high fructose corn syrup. No low-calorie sweeteners listed.
- Powerade has no caffeine.
- 5.9% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LESS THAN 0.5% OF: CITRIC ACID, ELECTROLYTES (SALT, SODIUM CITRATE, MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM CHLORIDES, MONO-POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE), VITAMINS B12 AND C (CYANOCOBALAMIN AND ASCORBIC ACID), NATURAL FLAVORS, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT COLOR), MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES, SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE, BLUE 1.
Which to pick
Each reason below is a measured difference in the label data. Nothing in the label data favours Gatorade Thirst Quencher over Powerade.
Pick Powerade if
- you want more sodium: 240 mg vs 162 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 80 mg vs 48 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want the lower cost per liter: $1.16 vs $1.48
- you want the cheapest sodium: $1.72 vs $3.24 per 1,000 mg
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 Powerade matchups
Gatorade Zero Sugar vs Powerade Zero Sugar
Powerade Zero Sugar has 48% more sodium than Gatorade Zero Sugar per 12 fl oz (240 mg vs 162 mg). Neither has any sugar.
Gatorade Zero Sugar's label is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving; Powerade Zero Sugar's is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving. The table converts both to 12 fl oz.
| Per 12 fl oz | Gatorade Zero Sugar | Powerade Zero Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 162 mg | 240 mg |
| Potassium | 48 mg | 80 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 1.2 g | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 3 kcal | 0 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $1.48 | $1.16 |
Gatorade Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Gatorade Zero Sugar price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade Zero Sugar price checked at Target . 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 Powerade at Target 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 Powerade that differ by more than 10%. We use the current label.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Gatorade or Powerade?
Per 12 fl oz, Gatorade Thirst Quencher has 162 mg sodium and 48 mg potassium. Powerade has 240 mg sodium and 80 mg potassium. Per liter that is 457 mg vs 676 mg sodium. Neither label lists magnesium.
Does Gatorade or Powerade have more sugar?
Gatorade Thirst Quencher: 21 g sugar and 84 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed. Powerade: 21 g sugar and 80 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed.
Why do Gatorade and Powerade list different serving sizes?
Gatorade Thirst Quencher's label is for a 20 fl oz (591 mL) bottle serving and Powerade's is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving. Comparing the labels as printed gives 270 mg vs 240 mg sodium, but on the same 12 fl oz it is 162 mg vs 240 mg.
Which is cheaper, Gatorade or Powerade?
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). Powerade worked out at $0.41 a serving, $1.16 a liter and $1.72 per 1,000 mg sodium (8 x 20 fl oz bottles at Target, checked Sep 24, 2026). Prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.
How does Gatorade Zero Sugar compare with Powerade Zero Sugar?
Powerade Zero Sugar has 48% more sodium than Gatorade Zero Sugar per 12 fl oz (240 mg vs 162 mg). Neither has any sugar. Gatorade Zero Sugar has 1.2 g total carbohydrate per 12 fl oz; Powerade Zero Sugar has none. Per liter as mixed, Gatorade Zero Sugar costs $1.48 and Powerade Zero Sugar costs $1.16.