Daily Caffeine Limit Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/8/2026
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the US FDA consider that a daily caffeine intake of up to 400 mg poses no risk for a healthy adult (200 mg for a pregnant or breastfeeding woman). A 200 mg intake therefore represents 50% of the limit for an adult.
Explanation
EFSA and the FDA converge on this threshold: up to 400 mg of caffeine per day raises no safety concern for a healthy adult, with an additional recommendation not to exceed 200 mg in a single dose. For pregnant or breastfeeding women, EFSA recommends lowering this limit to 200 mg per day, combining all sources (coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate), due to slower caffeine metabolism in the fetus, which prolongs its exposure. This calculator compares the amount of caffeine consumed to the applicable limit for the chosen profile, without automatically summing sources: as a guide, a filter coffee contains about 90 to 100 mg of caffeine, an espresso 60 to 80 mg, black tea 25 to 50 mg, and a standard energy drink can often 80 mg — so you need to add up the sources consumed during the day yourself to get the total to enter. These thresholds apply to healthy adults; individual sensitivity to caffeine varies greatly, and some people (heart conditions, anxiety, high-risk pregnancy) should follow their healthcare professional's specific recommendations rather than this general threshold.
Example: 200 mg of caffeine consumed, adult profile
Inputs
Caffeine consumed: 200 mg. Profile: healthy adult.
Calculation
Percentage of the limit = (200 ÷ 400) × 100 = 50%.
Result
This consumption represents 50% of the recommended daily limit for an adult.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the limit lower during pregnancy?
Because caffeine metabolism is slower in the fetus, which prolongs its exposure to the substance compared with an adult who eliminates it more quickly. EFSA therefore recommends limiting consumption to 200 mg per day during pregnancy and breastfeeding, combining all sources.
Does this 400 mg threshold apply the same way to everyone?
No, it is a general threshold for a healthy adult, but individual sensitivity to caffeine varies considerably depending on genetic factors, tolerance built up through regular consumption, and certain health conditions (heart conditions, anxiety, sleep disorders). People affected by these situations should follow a healthcare professional's specific recommendations rather than this general threshold.
Which caffeine sources should be counted, not just coffee?
All sources add up: coffee, tea, energy drinks and cola sodas, chocolate (in smaller amounts), and certain headache medications or dietary supplements that contain it. The daily total entered into this calculator should include all of these sources, not just coffee.