Is there a lot of sugar in Lemonade? Lemonade. It’s arguably the most refreshing drink out there, right? There is literally like having a cool, tall glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day, right? But exactly how much sugar is in the sweet and sour sparkling stuff? That is the question I want to answer in this post.
I have already written a post on the best sugar-free lemonades out there (9 Zero Sugar Lemonades You Need To Cool Down With) but what about if you still like to occasionally have a full sugar lemonade, for example when visiting a fast food chain or restaurant? What is the sugar content of regular (non-diet) lemonades, and which are the lowest in sugar?
In order to answer the question as to how much sugar is in lemonade, I have looked at the sugar content of a 12oz can of five of the most popular grocery store lemonades. I also looked at the sugar content of the lemonade options at 5 popular fast-food chains. So, let’s dig in – is there a lot of sugar in lemonade?
How Much Sugar is in Lemonade?
As a general rule, a 12oz can of lemonade contains 37g-42g of sugar. A fountain drink lemonade in a fast-food chain can contain as little as 27g of sugar or as much as 132g of sugar. The best way to enjoy lemonade without sugar is to opt for a diet lemonade that contains 0g of sugar.
Sugar In 12oz Cans of Lemonade
We all know that there are plenty of zero-sugar lemonades out there (which you can read more about here – 9 Zero Sugar Lemonades You Need To Cool Down With), but how about if you are trying to avoid artificial sweeteners or just prefer the taste of full sugar lemonade?
How much sugar is in a full-sugar can of lemonade?
In order to answer this question, I observed the content of 5 full sugar 12oz cans of lemonade.
Canned Lemonade Drinks
To being the list I will look at canned Lemonade drinks ranking from the highest in sugar to the lowest.
1. Dole Lemonade 42g of Sugar
Dole lemonade was the highest sugar canned lemonade I came across in my search, at 42g of sugar per can. That is 14% more sugar than a can of Sierra Mist (see below).
2. Minute Maid – 40g of Sugar
There is slightly less sugar in a 12oz can of Minute Maid, coming in at 40g of sugar. If Minute Maid is your fountain drink of choice in fast-food chains, then make sure to read on to find out how much sugar is in a fountain drink serving of Minute Maid (you may be shocked!).
3. Sprite – 38g of Sugar
Sprite must be the “king of lemonade soda”, right? But exactly how much sugar is in a 12oz can of Sprite?
Well, the answer is a can of Sprite contains 38g of sugar.
Surprisingly, this is less than most root beers, orange sodas, and cola sodas.
If you are interested in learning more about other sodas, then make sure to read the following post I researched on which sodas are highest in sugar – Which Soda Contains the Most Sugar?
4. 7up – 38g of Sugar
Sprite’s main rival 7up actually contains exactly the same sugar content at 38g of sugar per 12 oz can. No surprises there, I guess.
5. Sierra Mist – 37g of Sugar
Sierra Mist was the lowest sugar lemonade I came across, with a 12oz can containing 37g of sugar. Whilst this is still a lot of sugar it is a lower sugar content than most sodas.
You can read more about it in the following post I researched and wrote – Which Soda Contains the Most Sugar?
Summary Table – Sugar Content of Canned Lemonades
Below is a summary table for all the cans of lemonade I mentioned above. For each entry, I list the total sugar content per 12oz can.
| Lemonade | Sugar in a 12oz Can |
|---|---|
| Dole | 42g |
| Minute Maid | 40g |
| Sprite | 38g |
| 7up | 38g |
| Sierra Mist | 37g |
Sugar In Lemonades at Fast Food Chains?
Okay, I have established that a 12oz can of lemonade contains 37g-42g of sugar (with the most popular brands containing 37g-38g of sugar). But what about when you fill up your cup with lemonade from a fountain drink dispenser at a fast-food chain or restaurant?
How much sugar is in a cup of fountain lemonade?
To answer this question, I looked at the sugar content of the lemonade options at 5 of the big fast-food chains.
So, let’s take a look.
McDonald’s
How Much Sugar Is In The Lemonade at Mcdonald’s?
| Type of Mcdonald’s Lemonade | Sugar in an Extra Small Cup | Sugar in a Small Cup | Sugar in a Medium Cup | Sugar in a Large Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprite | 27g | 35g | 51g | 69g |
| Lemonade | N/A | 34g | 54g | 74g |
As you can see, the best way of limiting your sugar intake when ordering a lemonade at McDonald’s is to is to order an extra small Sprite. Note McDonald’s lemonade is not available in an extra small size.
If you want to read more about the lowest sugar options at McDonald’s, make sure to read the following post I wrote 10 Sugar-Free and Low Sugar Drinks at McDonald’s.
Burger King
How Much Sugar is in the Lemonade at Burger King?
| Burger King Cup Size | Sugar in Sprite at Burger King | Sugar in Sprite Zero at Burger King |
|---|---|---|
| Value | 49g | 0g |
| Small | 61g | 0g |
| Medium | 88g | 0g |
| Large | 115g | 0g |
As you can see from the table above, the fountain cup sizes at Burger King are quite a bit bigger than in comparison to those found at McDonald’s. This means you need to be extra careful when pouring that fountain drink at Burger King – the sugar content of a fountain Sprite can rack up quickly.
It goes without saying that the lowest sugar lemonade at Burger King is a Sprite Zero – in any size. But if for whatever reason that isn’t for you, the next best option is a value-size regular Sprite. But even then, this will contain 49g of sugar.
If you are interested in the 25 lowest sugar options at Burger King, then make sure to check out the following post I researched on the topic – 25 Low Sugar Burger King Items You Need To Know About.
IN-N-OUT
How Much Sugar is in the Lemonade at In-N-Out?
| In-N-Out Lemonade | Sugar in an 11oz Cup | Sugar in a 15oz Cup | Sugar in a 22oz Cup | Sugar in a 29oz Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7up | 32g | 43g | 64g | 84g |
| Pink Lemonade | 34g | 49g | 70g | 92g |
| Zero Sugar Minute Maid | 0g | 0g | 0g | 0g |
Of course, the best way to limit your sugar intake whilst enjoying a lemonade at In-N-Out is to order the zero sugar minute maid lemonade, which contains 0g of sugar in every cup size. If for whatever reason diet drinks aren’t for you then the next lowest sugar lemonade option at In-N-Out is an 11oz 7up.
Chipotle
How Much Sugar Is In The Lemonade at Chipotle?
| Lemonade at Chipotle | Sugar in a 22oz Cup | Sugar in a 32oz Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Minute Maid | 75g | 110g |
| Sprite | 70g | 105g |
| Tractor Lemonade | 37g | 53g |
As you can see, if you order a bottle of Tractor lemonade at Chipotle, rather than a fountain lemonade, you will be consuming half the sugar content.
A sneaky trick I use when my daughters request a fountain lemonade is I fill the cup up mainly with water from the fountain machine and then just add some Minute Maid at the end. The Minute Maid has a pretty strong taste and color and so a small amount goes a long way. They think they are having lemonade but with a fraction of the sugar. Genius!
Panda Express
How Much Sugar is in the Lemonade at Panda Express?
| Lemonade at Panda Express | Sugar in a Kid’s Cup | Sugar in a Small Cup | Sugar in a Medium Cup | Sugar in a Large Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemonade at Panda Express | Sugar in a Kid’s Cup | Sugar in a Small Cup | Sugar in a Medium Cup | Sugar in a Large Cup |
| Minute Maid | 38g | 69g | 94g | 132g |
| Minute Maid Light | 0g | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Sprite | 36g | 67g | 91g | 128g |
| Sprite Zero | 0g | 0g | 0g | 0g |
The best way to enjoy a lemonade without the sugar rush at Panda Express is to order Sprite Zero or Minute Maid Light. Failing that a kid’s cup of Sprite is the lowest sugar “full sugar” lemonade order at Panda Express.
Sugar In Lemonade F&Q
How Much Sugar Does the Average Lemonade Have?
The average 12oz glass of lemonade contains 37g-42g of sugar.
How Much Sugar is in a 12oz Glass of Minute Maid Lemonade?
There are 40g of sugar in a 12oz glass of Minute Maid.
Which Contains More Sugar – Coke or Lemonade?
A can of Sprite, 7up, or Sierra Mist contains slightly less sugar than a can of Coke. A can of Dole or Minute Maid lemonade contains more sugar than a can of Coke.
Which Contains More Sugar – Coke or Minute Maid Lemonade?
Minute Maid contains slightly more sugar than Coke. There are 40g of sugar in a 12oz can of lemonade and 39g of sugar in a 12oz can of Coke.
Which Has More Sugar – Sprite or Minute Maid Lemonade?
Minute Maid lemonade contains more sugar than Sprite. There are 38g of sugar in a 12oz can of Sprite and 40g of sugar in a 12oz can of Minute Maid.
How Much Sugar is in a 12oz Glass of Lemonade?
There are 37g-42g of sugar in a 12oz glass of lemonade.
How Much Sugar is in a Medium McDonalds Lemonade?
There are 54g of sugar in a medium Mcdonald’s lemonade.
Is There a Lot of Sugar in Lemonade? – The Final Sip
Is there a lot of sugar in a Lemonade? What have we learned from the above? Well, there has been a lot of information to consider in this post. Frist let’s deal with the canned lemonade drinks. The main Regular Canned Soda Lemonade drinks contain 37g to 42g of sugar per canned serving. This isn’t too shocking considering these are regular Lemonade Sodas. So, if you are looking to cut down your sugar here then your best option is to select a diet version. As for fountain Lemonade drinks – well, these can vary from 27g to 115g of sugar per serving.
If you are looking to limit the sugar content of a fountain drink serving you have two options. First, pick the diet version. Or secondly, make a diluted version of your lemonade of choice. Pour in a small amount of lemonade into your cup and then add water as the remainder. The result is still a lemonade-style drink but with much less sugar.
And Remember…
