Instant Hydration vs Liquid I.V.: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix and Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (375 mg vs 375 mg). Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier has 8.3 g sugar per 12 fl oz; Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix has none. Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier costs less per liter as mixed ($3.30 vs $3.88 for Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix).
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix vs Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier, side by side
| Nutrient | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | powder stick |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 8 kcal | 38 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0.8 g | 8.3 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 8.3 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 8.3 g |
| Sodium | 375 mg | 375 mg |
| Potassium | 353 mg | 278 mg |
| Magnesium | 75 mg | not on label |
| Calcium | 128 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | powder stick |
| Drink volume | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) |
| Calories | 21 kcal | 106 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 2.1 g | 23 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 23 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 23 g |
| Sodium | 1,057 mg | 1,057 mg |
| Potassium | 994 mg | 782 mg |
| Magnesium | 211 mg | not on label |
| Calcium | 359 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | powder stick |
| Drink volume | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 16 fl oz (473 mL) |
| Calories | 10 kcal | 50 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 1 g | 11 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 11 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 11 g |
| Sodium | 500 mg | 500 mg |
| Potassium | 470 mg | 370 mg |
| Magnesium | 100 mg | not on label |
| Calcium | 170 mg | not on label |
| 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 chloride.
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
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 | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $55.00 for 30-stick box | $24.99 for 16 sticks (1 pouch) |
| Cost per serving | $1.83 | $1.56 |
| Cost per liter | $3.88 | $3.30 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $3.67 | $3.12 |
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix price checked at Instant Hydration . Source (opens in a new tab)
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier price checked at Liquid I.V. (brand store) . Source (opens in a new tab)
Sugar, sweeteners and caffeine
- No sugar sources in the ingredients. Sweetened with stevia and monk fruit.
- Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix has no caffeine.
- 0.2% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Instant Hydration Blend (Sel Gris French Grey Sea Salt), Magnesium Bisgylcinate Chelate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium from mineralized algae], Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Malic Acid, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract, Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Natural Color from Tumeric Extract.
- Sugar from cane sugar and dextrose. Sweetened with stevia.
- Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier has no caffeine.
- 2.3% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Cane Sugar, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Salt, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide, Stevia Leaf Extract (Rebaudioside A), Natural Flavors, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Vitamin B5 (Calcium D-Pantothenate), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin).
Which to pick
Each reason below is a measured difference in the label data.
Pick Instant Hydration if
- you want no sugar: 0 g vs 8.3 g per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 353 mg vs 278 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want magnesium: 75 mg per 12 fl oz vs not on the label
Pick Liquid I.V. if
- you want the lower cost per liter: $3.30 vs $3.88
- you want the cheapest sodium: $3.12 vs $3.67 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.
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix
Full Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix labelAll Instant Hydration drinks
Other Instant Hydration vs Liquid I.V. matchups
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix vs Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix and Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (375 mg vs 375 mg). Neither has any sugar.
| Per 12 fl oz | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 375 mg | 375 mg |
| Potassium | 353 mg | 278 mg |
| Magnesium | 75 mg | not on label |
| Carbohydrate | 0.8 g | 3.8 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 8 kcal | 15 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $3.88 | $3.30 |
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix price checked at Instant Hydration . Source (opens in a new tab)
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free price checked at Liquid I.V. (brand store) . 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 Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix at Instant Hydration on Sep 24, 2026 and Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier at Liquid I.V. (brand store) on Sep 24, 2026.
- How much sodium you lose. That depends on your sweat; the sweat rate calculator gives an estimate.
- Every flavor. Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier lists different values for some flavors; this page uses the main label.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Instant Hydration or Liquid I.V.?
Per 12 fl oz, Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix has 375 mg sodium, 353 mg potassium and 75 mg magnesium. Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier has 375 mg sodium and 278 mg potassium. Per liter that is 1,057 mg vs 1,057 mg sodium. Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier doesn't list magnesium on the label.
Does Instant Hydration or Liquid I.V. have more sugar?
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix: 0 g sugar and 8 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with stevia and monk fruit. Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier: 8.3 g sugar and 38 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with stevia.
Which is cheaper, Instant Hydration or Liquid I.V.?
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix worked out at $1.83 a serving, $3.88 a liter and $3.67 per 1,000 mg sodium (30-stick box at Instant Hydration, checked Sep 24, 2026). Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier worked out at $1.56 a serving, $3.30 a liter and $3.12 per 1,000 mg sodium (16 sticks (1 pouch) at Liquid I.V. (brand store), checked Sep 24, 2026). Prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.
How does Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix compare with Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free?
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix and Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free have about the same sodium per 12 fl oz (375 mg vs 375 mg). Neither has any sugar. Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free has 5 times the total carbohydrate of Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix per 12 fl oz (3.8 g vs 0.8 g). Per liter as mixed, Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix costs $3.88 and Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free costs $3.30.