Propel 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 2.3 times the sodium of Propel Fitness Water per 12 fl oz (383 mg vs 163 mg). Pedialyte Classic has 4.6 g sugar per 12 fl oz; Propel Fitness Water has none. Propel Fitness Water costs less per liter as mixed ($1.76 vs $5.49 for Pedialyte Classic).
Propel Fitness Water vs Pedialyte Classic, side by side
Serving sizes differ. Propel Fitness Water's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 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 | Propel Fitness Water | Pedialyte Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 25 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 6.7 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 4.6 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 4.6 g |
| Sodium | 163 mg | 383 mg |
| Potassium | 43 mg | 277 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 440 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Propel Fitness Water | 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 | 0 kcal | 70 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 19 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 13 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 13 g |
| Sodium | 460 mg | 1,080 mg |
| Potassium | 120 mg | 780 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 1,240 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Propel Fitness Water | Pedialyte Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Format | ready-to-drink bottle | ready-to-drink bottle |
| Drink volume | 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) | 33.8 fl oz (1,000 mL) |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 70 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 19 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 13 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 13 g |
| Sodium | 230 mg | 1,080 mg |
| Potassium | 60 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.
Propel Fitness Water label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Pedialyte Classic label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel is a PepsiCo 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 | Propel Fitness Water | Pedialyte Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $5.29 for 6 x 16.9 fl oz bottles | $5.49 for 1 x 33.8 fl oz (1 L) bottle |
| Cost per serving | $0.88 | $5.49 |
| Cost per liter | $1.76 | $5.49 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $3.83 | $5.08 |
Propel Fitness Water 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
- No sugar sources in the ingredients. Sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
- Propel Fitness Water has no caffeine.
- 0% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Water, Citric Acid, Sodium Hexametaphosphate (To Protect Flavor), Natural Flavor, Salt, Potassium Sorbate (Preserves Freshness), Potassium Citrate, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Vitamin E Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6).
- 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 Propel if
- you want a lighter salt dose: 163 mg vs 383 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want no sugar: 0 g vs 4.6 g per 12 fl oz
- you want the lower cost per liter: $1.76 vs $5.49
- you want the cheapest sodium: $3.83 vs $5.08 per 1,000 mg
Pick Pedialyte if
- you want more sodium: 383 mg vs 163 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 277 mg vs 43 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 Propel vs Pedialyte matchups
Propel Fitness Water vs Pedialyte Electrolyte Water Zero Sugar
Pedialyte Electrolyte Water Zero Sugar has 50% more sodium than Propel Fitness Water per 12 fl oz (245 mg vs 163 mg). Neither has any sugar.
Propel Fitness Water's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) bottle serving; Pedialyte Electrolyte Water Zero Sugar'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 | Propel Fitness Water | Pedialyte Electrolyte Water Zero Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 163 mg | 245 mg |
| Potassium | 43 mg | 138 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 1.1 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 0 kcal | 4 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $1.76 | price not checked |
Propel Fitness Water label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Pedialyte Electrolyte Water Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel Fitness Water price checked at Target . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel Powder Sticks vs Pedialyte Electrolyte Drink Mix Zero Sugar
Pedialyte Electrolyte Drink Mix Zero Sugar has 59% more sodium than Propel Powder Sticks per 12 fl oz (248 mg vs 156 mg). Neither has any sugar.
Propel Powder Sticks' label is for one stick in 20 fl oz (591 mL) of water; Pedialyte Electrolyte Drink Mix Zero Sugar's is for one stick in 16 fl oz (473 mL) of water. The table converts both to 12 fl oz.
| Per 12 fl oz | Propel Powder Sticks | Pedialyte Electrolyte Drink Mix Zero Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 156 mg | 248 mg |
| Potassium | 48 mg | 143 mg |
| Magnesium | not on label | 41 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 0 g | 1.5 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Calories | 3 kcal | 4 kcal |
| Cost per liter | $0.99 | price not checked |
Propel Powder Sticks label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Pedialyte Electrolyte Drink Mix Zero Sugar label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Propel Powder Sticks 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 Propel Fitness Water 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 Pedialyte Classic that differ by more than 10%. We use the current label.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Propel or Pedialyte?
Per 12 fl oz, Propel Fitness Water has 163 mg sodium and 43 mg potassium. Pedialyte Classic has 383 mg sodium and 277 mg potassium. Per liter that is 460 mg vs 1,080 mg sodium. Neither label lists magnesium.
Does Propel or Pedialyte have more sugar?
Propel Fitness Water: 0 g sugar and 0 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Pedialyte Classic: 4.6 g sugar and 25 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Why do Propel and Pedialyte list different serving sizes?
Propel Fitness Water's label is for a 16.9 fl oz (500 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 230 mg vs 1,080 mg sodium, but on the same 12 fl oz it is 163 mg vs 383 mg.
Which is cheaper, Propel or Pedialyte?
Propel Fitness Water worked out at $0.88 a serving, $1.76 a liter and $3.83 per 1,000 mg sodium (6 x 16.9 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 Propel Fitness Water compare with Pedialyte Electrolyte Water Zero Sugar?
Pedialyte Electrolyte Water Zero Sugar has 50% more sodium than Propel Fitness Water per 12 fl oz (245 mg vs 163 mg). Neither has any sugar. Pedialyte Electrolyte Water Zero Sugar has 1.1 g total carbohydrate per 12 fl oz; Propel Fitness Water has none.