Ever wondered how tall a Red Bull can really is or whether its slim shape will fit your favorite can holder? A standard Red Bull can is about 133 mm tall and 53 mm wide, but the brand offers several sizes.
From 8.4 oz to 20 oz, this guide breaks down the key Red Bull can sizes and dimensions. Keep reading to compare them with Monster and soda cans and find the right size for your cooler or koozie.
Red Bull Can Size Chart
Here are the main Red Bull can sizes and dimensions in one quick reference table.
| Can Size | Volume | Height | Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.4 oz | 250 mL | 133 mm / 5.24 in | 53 mm / 2.09 in |
| 12 oz | 355 mL | 168 mm / 6.61 in | 53 mm / 2.09 in |
| 16 oz | 473 mL | 171 mm / 6.73 in | 58 mm / 2.28 in |
| 20 oz | 591 mL | 205 mm / 8.07 in | 66 mm / 2.60 in |
These measurements are useful for comparing Red Bull can sizes, choosing a can cooler, or checking whether a can will fit a cup holder. Minor differences can occur depending on the production run and exact measurement point.
Why Red Bull Uses a Slim Can
Most people assume the narrow shape is pure branding. It is not or at least it is not only that.
Less metal per serving
A 53 mm body uses noticeably less aluminum than the 66 mm standard, which trims both cost and shipping weight across billions of units a year. An empty 250 mL slim can weighs roughly 10 grams.
Faster chilling
Narrow cylinders have more surface area relative to their volume, so a slim can drops to fridge temperature quicker than a squat one holding the same liquid. Physics, not marketing.
Shelf separation
Park a slim aluminum can next to a row of fat soda cans and your eye goes straight to it. Red Bull built an entire category around looking nothing like Coke.
European heritage
Red Bull launched in Austria, where the 250 mL slim format was already a standard beverage can size. The American version simply inherited it.
Red Bull Can Dimensions by Size
Red Bull comes in several can sizes with different heights and diameters. Here is how each size compares in capacity and physical dimensions.
The 8.4 fl oz (250 mL) Slim Can
This is the original and still the best seller. The Red Bull 8.4 fl oz can stands 5.17 inches tall with a 53 mm diameter across its cylindrical body.
- Height: 133 mm / 5.17 in
- Diameter: 53 mm / 2.08 in
- Circumference: 166.5 mm / 6.55 in
- Empty weight: ~10 g
- Full weight: ~265 g (9.3 oz)
- Sold as: singles, 4-packs, 8-packs, 12-packs, 24-can cases
The 8.4 oz slim can is the smallest Red Bull you can buy in the US, and it is the reference point for nearly every comparison that follows.
The 12 fl oz (355 mL) Can
Here is where shoppers get tripped up. Red Bull’s 12 fl oz can is not shaped like a 12 ounce Coke. It keeps the same 53 mm base diameter and simply grows taller. It reaches about 168 mm or 6.61 inches.
- Height: 168 mm / 6.61 in
- Diameter: 53 mm / 2.08 in
- Capacity: 355 mL
- Caffeine: 114 mg
So a 355 mL can of Red Bull towers over a 12 ounce can of soda while holding identical liquid volume. Same drink quantity, completely different physical dimensions.
The 16 fl oz (473 mL) Can
Red Bull markets this one as the “Bigger Can” and it uses a sleek body. It is a touch wider than slim but still narrower than standard.
- Height: 171 mm / 6.73 in
- Diameter: 58 mm / 2.28 in
- Capacity: 473 mL
- Caffeine: 151 mg
The 473 mL can is barely taller than the 12 oz version. All that extra container capacity comes from the wider barrel, not added height.
The 20 fl oz (591 mL) Can
The biggest Red Bull on the market, and the only one that abandons the slim look entirely.
- Height: 205 mm / 8.07 in
- Diameter: 66 mm / 2.60 in
- Capacity: 591 mL
- Caffeine: 189 mg
That 66 mm figure matters. It is the standard soda can diameter, which means this larger container fits cup holders and koozies that reject every other Red Bull can size. Distribution stays spottier than the other three, so you will find it in convenience stores more often than grocery chains.
Sizes Sold Outside the United States
The Red Bull sizes you meet abroad do not always match American ones:
- 250 mL — the global standard, sold nearly everywhere
- 330 mL — common across the UK, Ireland, and continental Europe
- 355 mL — Canada, Australia, and parts of Asia
- 473 mL — Canada and select European markets
A “can of Red Bull” in Manchester genuinely is not the same object as one in Miami. Keep that in mind before quoting can capacities to anyone overseas.
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Do Sugarfree and Red Bull Editions Use Different Cans?
No. Sugarfree Zero and every color Edition such as Red Blue Tropical Watermelon and Winter all use the same aluminum can bodies as the original. Only the graphics change.
Availability, though, varies quite a bit:
| Variety | 8.4 oz | 12 oz | 16 oz | 20 oz |
| Original | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sugarfree | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Limited |
| Zero | ✅ | ✅ | Limited | ❌ |
| Editions | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Limited |
Red Bull Can Size Comparison Against Other Drinks
A dimensions chart gets a lot more useful when you add what is inside. Here is a proper Red Bull can size comparison against the usual suspects.
| Drink | Volume | Height | Diameter | Caffeine |
| Red Bull | 8.4 fl oz | 5.17 in | 2.08 in | 80 mg |
| Coca Cola | 12 fl oz | 4.83 in | 2.60 in | 34 mg |
| Monster | 16 fl oz | 6.73 in | 2.60 in | 160 mg |
| Celsius | 12 fl oz | 6.13 in | 2.08 in | 200 mg |
| Bang | 16 fl oz | 6.73 in | 2.60 in | 300 mg |
| Standard beer | 12 fl oz | 4.83 in | 2.60 in | 0 mg |
Two things jump out. First, the original Red Bull is taller than a soda can despite holding 30% less liquid capacity. Second, a Monster can delivers double the caffeine in a squatter, chunkier package.
Smallest vs. Largest Red Bull
Stack the 8.4 oz beside the 20 oz and the gap is dramatic:
- Height difference: 72 mm (2.9 inches taller)
- Diameter difference: 13 mm (0.52 inches wider)
- Volume multiplier: 2.36× the beverage volume
- Caffeine multiplier: 2.36× — Red Bull keeps roughly 9.5 mg per fluid ounce across the entire lineup
Practical Fit: Cup Holders, Koozies, and Fridges
This is why most people measure a can in the first place.
Car cup holders
Standard American holders are built around that 66 mm soda can. Drop in a 250 mL container at 53 mm and it rattles around like a pebble in a bucket. Only the 20 oz sits snugly. The 16 oz is workable at 58 mm. Anything slim needs a foam adapter.
Koozies
Regular koozies will not grip a slim can. The fit is loose enough that the can slides right out when you tip it. Slim can koozies are a separate product built for the 53 mm barrel. Check before you buy.
Mini fridges
Because of its narrow can diameter you can line up roughly 20% more slim cans per shelf than standard cans. A 12 inch shelf holds about six slim cans across compared with five standard ones.
Vending machines
Most beverage columns are calibrated for standard cans. Slim formats need dedicated slim can columns, which is exactly why you spot 8.4 oz Red Bull in coolers more often than in old vending machines.
Multipack and Case Dimensions
Handy if you are shipping, storing, or stocking a cooler.
| Pack | Cans | Approx. package size | Approx. weight |
| 4-pack | 4 × 250 mL | 4.2 × 4.2 × 5.3 in | 2.3 lb |
| 12-pack | 12 × 250 mL | 8.3 × 6.3 × 5.3 in | 7.0 lb |
| 24-case | 24 × 250 mL | 12.5 × 8.3 × 5.3 in | 14.0 lb |
| 12-pack | 12 × 12 fl oz | 8.3 × 6.3 × 6.7 in | 9.9 lb |
Materials and Recycling
Every energy drink Red Bull sells is made from aluminum, which recycles infinitely without losing quality. Roughly 70% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.
- Empty 250 mL can: ~10 g of aluminum
- Recycling an aluminum can uses about 5% of the energy needed to make a new one from ore
- A recycled can can return to a shelf as a new can in about 60 days
The slim format helps here too. Less metal per serving means a smaller footprint across every unit shipped.
Red Bull Can Sizes by Country
Here is how the Red Bull range breaks down region by region.
| Market | Common Sizes |
| United States | 8.4 oz (250 mL), 12 oz (355 mL), 16 oz (473 mL), 20 oz (591 mL) |
| UK & Ireland | 250 mL, 355 mL, 473 mL |
| Continental Europe | 250 mL, 330 mL, 355 mL, 473 mL |
| Canada | 250 mL, 355 mL, 473 mL |
| Australia & New Zealand | 250 mL, 355 mL, 473 mL |
| India & Parts of Asia | 250 mL, primarily |
Why the United States Gets a Bigger Can
The 20 fl oz can is largely an American creation. It does not really exist elsewhere in the same way. US energy drink buyers grew up on Monster’s oversized cans, so Red Bull needed a bigger format to compete on that same shelf.
Why Europe Sticks with Smaller Formats
European bottling lines were built around 250 mL and 330 mL from the start. Retooling a plant for a new can diameter is expensive, so most European markets simply never adopted the bigger American sizes.
See the Monster can dimensions guide for comparison.
A Short History of Red Bull
Red Bull started with a Thai energy drink called Krating Daeng. Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz encountered the drink in Thailand in the early 1980s and saw potential for a similar product in Western markets.
From Thailand to Austria
Krating Daeng was created in Thailand in 1976 by Chaleo Yoovidhya. Mateschitz later partnered with Yoovidhya to adapt the drink for European consumers. They changed the formulation, added carbonation, and developed a new brand called Red Bull.
Red Bull officially launched in Austria in 1987. It was sold in a small 250 mL can, the slim format that became closely associated with the brand.
Red Bull Expands Across Europe
During the early 1990s, Red Bull expanded into other European markets, including Hungary, Slovenia, Germany, and the UK. The distinctive slim can helped separate the drink from traditional soft drinks.
The company also built its identity around sports and adventure. Red Bull sponsored activities such as Formula 1 skateboarding and BMX. These sports and other extreme activities helped the brand become recognizable around the world.
Red Bull Enters the United States
It arrived in the United States in 1997, initially launching in California before expanding into other parts of the country.
The American energy drink market later became known for larger cans. Competitors such as Monster, which launched in 2002, helped establish bigger formats as a common part of the category. Red Bull eventually added larger US can sizes, including 12 oz, 16 oz, and 20 oz formats
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Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about Red Bull can sizes and dimensions? Here are quick answers to the most common questions.
How tall is an 8.4 oz Red Bull can?
It measures 133 mm, or 5.17 inches, from base to lid rim. That is roughly a third of an inch taller than a standard 12 oz soda can despite holding less liquid.
What is the diameter of a Red Bull can?
The 8.4 oz and 12 oz slim cans both measure 53 mm (2.08 inches). The 16 oz widens to 58 mm, and the 20 oz uses the standard 66 mm body.
What is the biggest Red Bull you can buy?
The 20 fl oz can (591 mL), standing 8.07 inches tall with a 2.60 inches diameter. It carries 189 mg of caffeine.
Is the 12 oz Red Bull the same size as a 12 oz Coke?
Same fluid ounces, totally different shape. Red Bull’s 12 ounce can is tall and narrow at 6.61 × 2.08 inches. A Coke is short and wide at 4.83 × 2.60 inches.
Does a Red Bull fit a car cup holder?
The 20 oz fits properly. The 16 oz mostly works. Slim 8.4 oz and 12 oz cans wobble badly without an adapter sleeve.
For another measurement comparison, see our guide to 4 inches.
Conclusion
Four Red Bull can sizes cover the American market. These are 8.4 12 16 and 20 fluid ounces. The original 250 mL slim can remains the template at 133 mm tall and 53 mm wide. Caffeine scales almost perfectly with volume at about 9.5 mg per ounce. So picking a size is really just picking a dose.
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Thomas Miller is a knowledgeable author at Accuras Metrics, focusing on the Dimensions category. He shares well-researched content about sizes, shapes, and real-world dimensions, helping readers better understand measurements through clear explanations, practical examples, and useful comparisons.