Okay, so last week I’m at 7-Eleven at like 2am (don’t judge, I had a deadline). Standing there in the cooler aisle staring at Red Bull cans. And it hits me – I have no idea what the actual Red Bull can dimensions are. Like, I’ve been drinking these things for years, but how big is this can really?
That question kept me up. Well, kept me up more than I already was. So I did what any normal person does at 2am – I went down a research rabbit hole about energy drink can sizes.
The Basic Answer (But It Gets Way More Interesting)
What are the Red Bull can dimensions? The standard can is 5.11 inches tall and 2.12 inches in diameter. In metric (because Red Bull is Austrian and Europeans love their metrics), that’s 130mm tall by 53mm wide.
But here’s the thing – that number doesn’t tell you much unless you’re really into measurements. Better way to think about it: grab a regular Red Bull can. That height? About the length from your wrist to your middle knuckle if you’ve got average-sized hands.
I tested this theory with my roommate who has weirdly small hands. Didn’t work. So maybe stick with actual measurements.
Red Bull Can Dimensions Compared To What You Actually Know
Numbers are boring. Let’s talk about real stuff.
The standard Red Bull can dimensions make it:
- Shorter than your phone (probably – unless you have one of those tiny phones nobody makes anymore)
- About the same height as a Sharpie marker
- Taller than a deck of cards by maybe an inch
- Roughly the same diameter as a tennis ball tube
- Fits perfectly in most car cup holders (finally, something that makes sense)
My car has those weird shallow cup holders. Water bottles fall over. Coffee cups slide around. But Red Bull? Sits there perfectly stable. Turns out the Red Bull can dimensions were basically designed for standard cup holder sizes, which is 2.75-3 inches. Smart.
Different Red Bull Can Dimensions For Different Needs
Here’s where it gets interesting. There’s not just one set of Red Bull can dimensions. They make like five different sizes.
The Lineup
8.4 fl oz (250ml) – The Original
- Height: 5.11 inches (130mm)
- Diameter: 2.12 inches (53mm)
- What it holds: One serving
- Weight when full: About 8.8 oz total
12 fl oz (355ml) – The Tall Boy
- Height: 6.5 inches (165mm)
- Diameter: 2.6 inches (66mm)
- Holds: 1.5 servings basically
- What I call it: The “I have a long drive” size
16 fl oz (473ml) – The Big One
- Height: 7.9 inches (200mm)
- Diameter: 2.6 inches (66mm)
- Holds: Two servings worth
- Reality: Probably too much caffeine for one sitting
20 fl oz (591ml) – The “Why Though”
- Height: 8.4 inches (213mm)
- Diameter: 2.6 inches (66mm)
- Holds: Way too much
- Where you find it: Gas stations at 3am
Red Bull Energy Shot – The Baby
- Height: 3.5 inches (89mm)
- Diameter: 1.5 inches (38mm)
- Holds: 2 fl oz (60ml)
- Basically: Concentrated panic in a tiny can
| Size | Height | Diameter | Volume | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 5.11″ | 2.12″ | 8.4 oz | 80mg |
| Tall | 6.5″ | 2.6″ | 12 oz | 114mg |
| Large | 7.9″ | 2.6″ | 16 oz | 151mg |
| XL | 8.4″ | 2.6″ | 20 oz | 189mg |
| Shot | 3.5″ | 1.5″ | 2 oz | 80mg |
I stick with the original size. Tried the 20oz once. My hands were shaking for four hours. Never again.
Why Red Bull Can Dimensions Matter More Than You Think
So I’m at the airport last month. Going through security. TSA agent flags my bag. Pulls out my Red Bull. Measures it with this little ruler thing they have.
TSA Agent: “This is over 3.4 ounces.” Me: “It’s unopened though?” TSA Agent: “Doesn’t matter. Can’t take liquids over 3.4 ounces.” Me: “It’s 8.4 ounces…” TSA Agent: “Exactly. Can’t take it.”
Lost my Red Bull to the TSA. All because of Red Bull can dimensions and the stupid 3-1-1 liquid rule. The little 2oz shot? That would’ve been fine. But the regular can? Nope.
Now I know – if you’re flying and want Red Bull, buy it after security or get the tiny shot version. The standard Red Bull can dimensions make it illegal for carry-on.
The Design Evolution Nobody Asked About
Red Bull can dimensions haven’t always been 5.11 inches. Well, the height has been the same since like the 80s, but the design changed.
When Red Bull first launched in Austria in 1987, the cans were actually slightly different. Talked to this guy who collects old energy drink cans (yes, that’s a thing). He showed me a 1987 Austrian Red Bull. The dimensions were basically the same, but the can was shaped slightly different at the top. Thicker rim. Older pull-tab design.
The current Red Bull can dimensions and shape we know? That became standard worldwide around 1997 when they launched in the US. They wanted consistency across markets.
Fun fact: The slim tall design of Red Bull can dimensions was considered really weird in 1987. Most cans were shorter and fatter. Red Bull went tall and slim on purpose – made it stand out on shelves, and the dimensions made people think it was more “premium” than regular sodas.
Backpack Tetris And Red Bull Can Dimensions
College taught me everything about fitting stuff into limited space. My backpack situation was always chaos.
Laptop, notebooks, textbooks, chargers, and somewhere in there I needed to fit a Red Bull. The standard Red Bull can dimensions (5.11″ x 2.12″) meant it fit perfectly in the side mesh pocket of most backpacks. Not too tall, not too wide.
Tried carrying the 16oz version once. Too tall. Stuck out the top. Looked ridiculous and kept falling out when I sat down.
What fits with standard Red Bull can dimensions:
- Side pocket of basically any backpack ever made
- Small lunch box (if you arrange stuff right)
- Center console in your car (most of them)
- Desk drawer at work (if you lay it sideways)
- Jacket pocket (if you have a big jacket)
- Bike water bottle holder (surprisingly, yes)
My friend Sarah bikes to work every day. Her bike has those clip-on water bottle holders. The Red Bull can dimensions fit perfectly. She just clips her morning Red Bull in there instead of water. Her words: “Why bring water when I can bring energy?”
International Red Bull Can Dimensions Get Weird
So Red Bull is sold in like 170 countries. You’d think the Red Bull can dimensions would be the same everywhere, right? Wrong.
Went to Japan last year for work. Hit up a convenience store first thing (jet lag is real). Found Red Bull. Can looked… smaller? Picked it up. Definitely smaller.
Japanese Red Bull: 185ml instead of 250ml Height: About 4.7 inches instead of 5.11 inches
Diameter: Pretty much the same
The Japanese can is actually shorter. Something about vending machine standardization over there. They wanted Red Bull can dimensions that fit perfectly in standard Japanese vending machines.
In Thailand? They have different sizes than the US. In parts of Europe, you can get these weird 275ml cans that are slightly taller than the standard version. The Red Bull can dimensions vary more than you’d think.
Germany has the most options. Visited my cousin in Munich. The grocery store had SIX different Red Bull can dimensions to choose from. Germans apparently take their energy drinks seriously.
The Physics Of Red Bull Can Dimensions
Talked to my friend who’s an engineer (I know, I know). He got really excited about Red Bull can dimensions from a physics standpoint.
His explanation (simplified because I’m not smart enough for the real version):
The 5.11-inch height and 2.12-inch diameter creates a specific center of gravity. Makes the can stable. Hard to tip over. The ratio between height and width is apparently optimal for both stability and efficient manufacturing.
Wider cans use more aluminum. Taller, skinnier cans use less material for the same volume. But go too tall and skinny, and cans tip over. The Red Bull can dimensions hit that sweet spot where they use minimal material but stay stable.
Also something about pressure distribution and why the can doesn’t explode when carbonated. The cylindrical shape with the Red Bull can dimensions they chose distributes internal pressure evenly. Engineering stuff.
What Fits Inside Those Red Bull Can Dimensions
Obviously 8.4 fluid ounces of liquid. But like, what does that mean in practical terms?
Volume comparison for standard Red Bull can dimensions:
- About 1 cup of liquid (a bit more)
- Three espresso shots worth of volume
- Half a water bottle (standard 16.9oz bottle)
- One third of a soda can (those are 12oz)
- About the same as a small coffee at Starbucks
The weird thing about Red Bull can dimensions and volume – it feels like less than it actually is. Maybe because the can is tall? You drink it and you’re like “that’s it?” But you actually just drank 8.4oz. Same amount as most coffee cups.
I measured it once. Poured my Red Bull into a measuring cup (I was THAT bored). Yep. Exactly 8.4oz. The Red Bull can dimensions don’t lie, even though it feels smaller.
The Cost Per Inch Of Red Bull Can Dimensions
Here’s something nobody thinks about – the economics of those Red Bull can dimensions.
At my local 7-Eleven:
- 8.4oz can (5.11″ tall): $3.29
- 12oz can (6.5″ tall): $4.49
- 16oz can (7.9″ tall): $5.29
So the original Red Bull can dimensions give you 0.61 inches per dollar. The 16oz can? 0.67 inches per dollar. Basically the same value per inch of can height.
But look at cost per ounce:
- Original: $0.39 per oz
- 12oz: $0.37 per oz
- 16oz: $0.33 per oz
The bigger the Red Bull can dimensions, the better the value. But also the more caffeine you’re consuming. Pick your poison, I guess.
Red Bull Can Dimensions In Art And Marketing
The marketing team at Red Bull is genius. Those specific Red Bull can dimensions are instantly recognizable.
Went to an art show last year. This artist had created sculptures using empty Red Bull cans. Hundreds of them. From across the room, you knew exactly what they were. The slim tall shape. The Blue and silver color. Those specific Red Bull can dimensions are branded into our brains.
Fashion designers use Red Bull cans as accessories sometimes. Shows up in streetwear a lot. Models walking runways with Red Bulls. Works because the Red Bull can dimensions are aesthetic. Tall and slim looks better in photos than short and fat.
My photographer friend says the Red Bull can dimensions are perfect for product photography. The height-to-width ratio photographs well. Makes sense – every Red Bull ad features the can prominently. Those dimensions must test well in marketing.
Fridge Organization And Red Bull Can Dimensions
My fridge door has those built-in can holders. You know the ones. Little plastic shelves specifically sized for cans.
Regular soda cans: 4.83 inches tall, 2.6 inches diameter Red Bull can dimensions: 5.11 inches tall, 2.12 inches diameter
Red Bull is taller but skinnier. Fits in the can holder but sticks up higher than regular sodas. Looks weird. Like one kid in a class photo who’s way taller than everyone else.
I reorganize my fridge every few months (yes, I’m that person). The Red Bull can dimensions make them perfect for the door shelf. They’re tall, so you can stack stuff around them. The skinny diameter means you can fit more cans total.
Pro tip: Red Bull can dimensions make them perfect for that tall skinny space between your fridge shelf and the shelf above it. Regular cans don’t fit. Red Bulls slide right in.
The Environmental Weight Of Red Bull Can Dimensions
Those Red Bull can dimensions use about 15 grams of aluminum per can. Doesn’t sound like much. Until you do the math.
Red Bull sold 11.5 billion cans in 2022. That’s 11,500,000,000 cans. Times 15 grams of aluminum each. That’s 172,500,000 kilograms of aluminum. Just for Red Bull cans.
To be fair, aluminum is like 75% recycled these days. And the slim Red Bull can dimensions actually use less aluminum than fatter cans of the same volume. So there’s that.
My city has single-stream recycling. I throw my Red Bull cans in the blue bin, they get recycled, the aluminum gets melted down, and eventually becomes a new can. The Red Bull can dimensions mean the recycling process is standardized. Same size, same shape, easy to process.
Temperature And Red Bull Can Dimensions
The physics of how fast things cool down depends partly on surface area. The Red Bull can dimensions create specific surface area.
Tested this because I’m weird. Put three drinks in the freezer:
- Regular Red Bull (standard dimensions)
- 16oz Red Bull (larger dimensions)
- Regular Coke can (shorter, fatter)
After 30 minutes:
The regular Red Bull was coldest. The slim tall Red Bull can dimensions meant more surface area relative to volume. More surface touching cold freezer air. Cools faster.
The 16oz Red Bull was second. More liquid to cool.
The Coke can was warmest. Shorter, fatter dimensions meant less surface area relative to volume.
Science lesson: If you need cold Red Bull fast, the standard Red Bull can dimensions will get there quickest. The tall skinny shape is actually optimal for rapid cooling.
Red Bull Can Dimensions And Grip Strength
Holding a can sounds simple. But the diameter matters.
Standard Red Bull can dimensions at 2.12 inches diameter fit perfectly in average hands. Your fingers wrap around with your thumb touching your middle finger. Perfect grip.
The 16oz and 20oz cans? 2.6 inches diameter. Bigger. My hands are medium-sized. I can’t quite wrap my fingers all the way around. Less stable grip. More likely to drop it.
My friend with huge hands prefers the larger Red Bull can dimensions. His fingers overlap on the regular size. Feels tiny. The bigger diameter is more comfortable for him.
Anyone with arthritis or grip issues – the original Red Bull can dimensions are actually easier to hold. Less diameter means less grip strength needed.
Crushed Can Physics
When you finish a Red Bull, you crush the can, right? The Red Bull can dimensions determine how it crushes.
Tall skinny cans like Red Bull collapse differently than short fat cans. The height creates a leverage point. You can crush it one-handed pretty easily. The 5.11-inch height folds in on itself.
Tried crushing different cans for science (and also because I was drinking a lot of Red Bull during finals):
- Regular Red Bull: Crushes easy. Clean fold.
- Soda can: Harder to crush. Shorter and fatter.
- 16oz Red Bull: Crushing takes more effort. More aluminum, more volume.
The standard Red Bull can dimensions make it satisfying to crush. Weird thing to appreciate but true. That metallic crunch sound? Part of the experience.
Red Bull Can Dimensions In Your Hand
Physical feel matters. The Red Bull can dimensions create specific hand feel.
When you pick up a Red Bull:
- Your thumb naturally goes on one side
- Three fingers on the other side
- Pinky kind of supports the bottom
- The 2.12-inch diameter is narrow enough for a secure grip
The height means the can extends from your palm to past your fingertips. Gives you control. Compare to a short fat can where your hand wraps around the middle. Different leverage. The Red Bull can dimensions provide better control while drinking.
Walking around with a Red Bull? The slim dimensions fit naturally in your hand while your arm swings. Doesn’t throw off your balance. Tried this with a Big Gulp once. Way too wide. Awkward arm swing.
Vending Machine Economics And Red Bull Can Dimensions
Vending machine real estate is expensive. Those Red Bull can dimensions determine how many cans fit.
Standard vending machine column width: About 3 inches Red Bull can dimensions diameter: 2.12 inches
Perfect fit. You can get two columns of Red Bull cans per standard vending machine space. Or you can put Red Bull next to wider items without wasting space.
The height works too. Most vending machines have adjustable shelves. The 5.11-inch Red Bull can dimensions fit in the standard shelf spacing with room for the can to drop when purchased.
Saw a vending machine get restocked once. Guy loading it up was praising Red Bull can dimensions. “Easiest thing to stock. Standard size. Fits everywhere. Never have spacing issues.” High praise from vending machine guy.
The Sneaky Places Red Bull Can Dimensions Fit
Started looking for weird spots where Red Bull cans fit perfectly. Found some interesting ones:
- IKEA RASKOG cart cup holders: Designed for Red Bull can dimensions apparently
- Stanley cup side pockets: Perfect fit
- Car door pocket behind the handle: Like it was made for it
- Desk phone holder: Holds a Red Bull instead
- Shower caddy holes: Yes, I tried this
- Boot shaft (tall boots): Can store a Red Bull in there
My hiking boots are 8 inches tall. Red Bull can dimensions mean it fits inside when I’m packing. Unconventional? Yes. Effective storage? Also yes.
Why 8.4 Ounces And Those Specific Red Bull Can Dimensions
Why did Red Bull choose those exact dimensions? Did research. Found some answers.
The 250ml (8.4oz) volume comes from European beverage standards. In Austria where Red Bull started, 250ml is a common serving size. Similar to how Americans use 12oz for sodas.
The slim tall design? That was intentional differentiation. In the 1980s, most drinks came in short fat cans. Red Bull wanted to stand out. The unique Red Bull can dimensions made it look different from sodas and beers on store shelves.
Also practical – the height makes it easy to spot in a full cooler. Tall cans stand out visually. Smart marketing through dimensions.
Red Bull Can Dimensions And The Sound Effect
Ever notice Red Bull sounds different when you open it? The dimensions affect the sound.
The tall narrow shape creates a specific acoustic resonance when the carbonation releases. Engineer friend explained this (again). Something about the height-to-diameter ratio and how sound waves travel through cylindrical spaces.
Recorded different cans opening on my phone:
- Red Bull: Sharp, clear “pshhh” sound
- Coke can: Duller, shorter sound
- 16oz Red Bull: Louder, longer “pshhh”
The original Red Bull can dimensions create the most satisfying opening sound. At least according to my very scientific poll of five people.
What I Learned From Obsessing Over Red Bull Can Dimensions
Spent way too much time thinking about what are essentially just metal cylinders. But here’s what stuck with me:
Red Bull can dimensions (5.11″ x 2.12″) are everywhere in my life now. I see them in every convenience store, every gas station, every vending machine. Those specific measurements are instantly recognizable.
The height makes them stable but not bulky. The diameter fits human hands perfectly. The volume is enough to be worth drinking but not so much that you feel sick. The shape photographs well, stacks efficiently, recycles easily, and fits in standard cup holders.
Someone at Red Bull spent serious time figuring out these dimensions. And it worked. The can is as much part of the brand as the blue and silver design.
Now when I grab a Red Bull at 2am from 7-Eleven (still doing that, still not judging myself), I think about those dimensions. 5.11 inches of caffeinated decision-making at its finest.
Summary (Because This Got Stupidly Long)
Red Bull can dimensions:
Standard size is 5.11 inches tall and 2.12 inches in diameter. Holds 8.4 fluid ounces. Uses about 15 grams of aluminum. Fits in most cup holders, backpack pockets, and human hands. Costs around $0.39 per ounce. Cools faster than fatter cans. Crushes satisfyingly. Exists in five different sizes depending on country and retailer.
Those dimensions are perfect for what they need to do – be portable, recognizable, and efficiently manufactured. Whether you’re drinking one at the airport (after security), keeping one in your car cup holder, or crushing the empty can one-handed, the Red Bull can dimensions just work.
Weird thing to spend hours researching? Absolutely. Do I now have opinions about can dimensions? Unfortunately, yes.