Instant Hydration vs LMNT: sodium, sweeteners and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes has twice the sodium of Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix per 12 fl oz (750 mg vs 375 mg). Neither has any sugar. LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes costs less per liter as mixed ($3.17 vs $3.88 for Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix).
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix vs LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes, side by side
| Nutrient | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | powder stick |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 8 kcal | 4 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0.8 g | 0.8 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | not on label |
| Sodium | 375 mg | 750 mg |
| Potassium | 353 mg | 150 mg |
| Magnesium | 75 mg | 45 mg |
| Calcium | 128 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | powder stick |
| Drink volume | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) |
| Calories | 21 kcal | 11 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 2.1 g | 2.1 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | not on label |
| Sodium | 1,057 mg | 2,114 mg |
| Potassium | 994 mg | 423 mg |
| Magnesium | 211 mg | 127 mg |
| Calcium | 359 mg | not on label |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | powder stick |
| Drink volume | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 16 fl oz (473 mL) |
| Calories | 10 kcal | 5 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 1 g | 1 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | not on label |
| Sodium | 500 mg | 1,000 mg |
| Potassium | 470 mg | 200 mg |
| Magnesium | 100 mg | 60 mg |
| 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)
LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes 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 | LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $55.00 for 30-stick box | $45.00 for 30-count box of stick packs (one-time purchase) |
| Cost per serving | $1.83 | $1.50 |
| Cost per liter | $3.88 | $3.17 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $3.67 | $1.50 |
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix price checked at Instant Hydration . Source (opens in a new tab)
LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes price checked at LMNT . 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.
- No sugar sources in the ingredients. Sweetened with stevia.
- Some LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes flavors have caffeine (up to 50 mg per serving); the others have none.
- 0.2% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Salt (Sodium Chloride), Citric Acid, Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Lemon & Lime Flavors, Stevia Leaf Extract.
Which to pick
Each reason below is a measured difference in the label data.
Pick Instant Hydration if
- you want a lighter salt dose: 375 mg vs 750 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 353 mg vs 150 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want more magnesium: 75 mg vs 45 mg per 12 fl oz
Pick LMNT if
- you want more sodium: 750 mg vs 375 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want fewer calories: 4 kcal vs 8 kcal per 12 fl oz
- you want the option of a caffeinated flavor: up to 50 mg per serving
- you want the lower cost per liter: $3.17 vs $3.88
- you want the cheapest sodium: $1.50 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
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 LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes at LMNT on Sep 24, 2026.
- How much sodium you lose. That depends on your sweat; the sweat rate calculator gives an estimate.
- Every flavor. LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes lists different values for some flavors; this page uses the main label.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Instant Hydration or LMNT?
Per 12 fl oz, Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix has 375 mg sodium, 353 mg potassium and 75 mg magnesium. LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes has 750 mg sodium, 150 mg potassium and 45 mg magnesium. Per liter that is 1,057 mg vs 2,114 mg sodium.
Do Instant Hydration and LMNT have sugar?
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix: 0 g sugar and 8 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with stevia and monk fruit. LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes: 0 g sugar and 4 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with stevia.
Which is cheaper, Instant Hydration or LMNT?
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). LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes worked out at $1.50 a serving, $3.17 a liter and $1.50 per 1,000 mg sodium (30-count box of stick packs (one-time purchase) at LMNT, checked Sep 24, 2026). Prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.
Does Instant Hydration or LMNT have caffeine?
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix has no caffeine. Some LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes flavors have caffeine (up to 50 mg per serving); the others have none.