Powerade vs Pedialyte: sodium, sugar and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Pedialyte Classic has 60% more sodium than Powerade per 12 fl oz (383 mg vs 240 mg). Powerade has 4.6 times the sugar of Pedialyte Classic per 12 fl oz (21 g vs 4.6 g). Powerade costs less per liter as mixed ($1.16 vs $5.49 for Pedialyte Classic).
Powerade vs Pedialyte Classic, side by side
Serving sizes differ. Powerade's label is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving; Pedialyte Classic's is for a 33.8 fl oz (1,000 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 | Powerade | Pedialyte Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 80 kcal | 25 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 21 g | 6.7 g |
| Sugars | 21 g | 4.6 g |
| Added sugars | 21 g | 4.6 g |
| Sodium | 240 mg | 383 mg |
| Potassium | 80 mg | 277 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 440 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Powerade | Pedialyte Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) |
| Calories | 225 kcal | 70 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 59 g | 19 g |
| Sugars | 59 g | 13 g |
| Added sugars | 59 g | 13 g |
| Sodium | 676 mg | 1,080 mg |
| Potassium | 225 mg | 780 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 1,240 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Powerade | Pedialyte Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 33.8 fl oz (1,000 mL) |
| Calories | 80 kcal | 70 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 21 g | 19 g |
| Sugars | 21 g | 13 g |
| Added sugars | 21 g | 13 g |
| Sodium | 240 mg | 1,080 mg |
| Potassium | 80 mg | 780 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 1,240 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 or calcium.
Powerade label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Pedialyte Classic label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade is a Coca-Cola brand and Pedialyte is an Abbott 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 | Powerade | Pedialyte Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $5.49 for 8 x 20 fl oz bottles | $5.49 for 1 x 33.8 fl oz (1 L) bottle |
| Cost per serving | $0.41 | $5.49 |
| Cost per liter | $1.16 | $5.49 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $1.72 | $5.08 |
Powerade price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Pedialyte Classic price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Sugar, sweeteners and caffeine
- 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.
- Sugar from dextrose. Sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
- Pedialyte Classic has no caffeine.
- 1.9% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Water, Dextrose. Less than 0.5% of: Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sodium Citrate, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Zinc Gluconate, and Yellow 6.
Which to pick
Each reason below is a measured difference in the label data.
Pick Powerade if
- you want carbohydrate for energy during long sessions: 21 g vs 6.7 g per 12 fl oz
- you want to avoid sucralose and acesulfame potassium
- you want the lower cost per liter: $1.16 vs $5.49
- you want the cheapest sodium: $1.72 vs $5.08 per 1,000 mg
Pick Pedialyte if
- you want more sodium: 383 mg vs 240 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want less sugar: 4.6 g vs 21 g per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 277 mg vs 80 mg per 12 fl oz
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 Powerade vs Pedialyte matchups
Powerade Zero Sugar vs Pedialyte Classic
Pedialyte Classic has 60% more sodium than Powerade Zero Sugar per 12 fl oz (383 mg vs 240 mg). Pedialyte Classic has 4.6 g sugar per 12 fl oz; Powerade Zero Sugar has none.
Powerade Zero Sugar's label is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving; Pedialyte Classic's is for a 33.8 fl oz (1,000 mL) bottle serving. The table converts both to 12 fl oz.
| Per 12 fl oz | Powerade Zero Sugar | Pedialyte Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 240 mg | 383 mg |
| Potassium | 80 mg | 277 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 6.7 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 4.6 g |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 25 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $1.16 | $5.49 |
Powerade Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Pedialyte Classic label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Powerade Zero Sugar price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Pedialyte Classic 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 Powerade at Target on Sep 24, 2026 and Pedialyte Classic 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 and Pedialyte Classic that differ by more than 10%. We use the current label.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Powerade or Pedialyte?
Per 12 fl oz, Powerade has 240 mg sodium and 80 mg potassium. Pedialyte Classic has 383 mg sodium and 277 mg potassium. Per liter that is 676 mg vs 1,080 mg sodium. Neither label lists magnesium.
Does Powerade or Pedialyte have more sugar?
Powerade: 21 g sugar and 80 kcal per 12 fl oz, no low-calorie sweeteners listed. Pedialyte Classic: 4.6 g sugar and 25 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Why do Powerade and Pedialyte list different serving sizes?
Powerade's label is for a 12 fl oz (355 mL) bottle serving and Pedialyte Classic's is for a 33.8 fl oz (1,000 mL) bottle serving. Comparing the labels as printed gives 240 mg vs 1,080 mg sodium, but on the same 12 fl oz it is 240 mg vs 383 mg.
Which is cheaper, Powerade or Pedialyte?
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). Pedialyte Classic worked out at $5.49 a serving, $5.49 a liter and $5.08 per 1,000 mg sodium (1 x 33.8 fl oz (1 L) bottle at Target, checked Sep 24, 2026). Prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.
How does Powerade Zero Sugar compare with Pedialyte Classic?
Pedialyte Classic has 60% more sodium than Powerade Zero Sugar per 12 fl oz (383 mg vs 240 mg). Pedialyte Classic has 4.6 g sugar per 12 fl oz; Powerade Zero Sugar has none. Per liter as mixed, Powerade Zero Sugar costs $1.16 and Pedialyte Classic costs $5.49.