[All sizes] Explaining the sizes of Red Bull in Japan and the US

Red Bull Sizes in Japan

• 185ml (190 yen)
• 250ml (241 yen)
• 330ml (268 yen)
• 355ml (292 yen)
• 330ml (296 yen) Bottle Can

Currently, Red Bull is available in Japan in these five sizes. The Sugar-Free version is only available in 185ml and 250ml, while the Yellow Edition, exclusive to restaurants, is only offered in 250ml.

Red Bull 185ml & 250ml

Red Bull Japan started selling Red Bull in 2005. In 2006, it was first introduced in Japan as a Seven-Eleven exclusive and gradually expanded to convenience stores and supermarkets nationwide.

The 185ml and 250ml cans were the first to be released, marking the beginning of the energy drink boom in Japan.

July 29, 2014 – Release of the 330ml Bottle Can

On July 29, 2014, Red Bull launched a resealable 330ml aluminum bottle can at a premium price of 296 yen (excluding tax).
※ News article on the July 29 release of the 330ml Bottle Can (July 1, 2014)

Instead of simply introducing a larger standard can, the first big Red Bull in Japan came in a special resealable aluminum bottle, which surprised me. Similar aluminum bottle cans are available in Europe and Australia, but they are also quite expensive and not ideal for everyday consumption.

March 14, 2017 – Release of the 330ml Can

Two and a half years after the release of the 330ml bottle can, the regular 330ml can was introduced on March 14, 2017.
※ News article on Red Bull Japan launching the 330ml size on March 14 (March 2, 2017)

Although 330ml Red Bull cans are available in some parts of Europe, in Japan, this size was initially limited to drugstores and was not sold in convenience stores.

Because of this, many people in Japan might not even be aware of the existence of a 330ml Red Bull. Some may even mistake it for the 355ml version that was released later.

May 16, 2017 – Release of the 355ml Can

Just two months after the limited release of the 330ml can, the 355ml can, the global standard size, was launched in Japanese convenience stores. This rapid expansion of larger Red Bull sizes was quite surprising.
※ News article on the launch of Red Bull 355ml in Japan (May 12, 2017)

The 355ml can is the standard 12oz size in the U.S. and is also widely sold across Europe, Asia, and Africa. With this launch, Japan finally aligned with the global standard sizes just before the Tokyo Olympics.

Since the 355ml size is commonly associated with the U.S., it does come at a slightly higher price. However, for fans of American-style energy drinks, this was a long-awaited release. Until then, such a large Red Bull was unheard of in Japan.

Red Bull Sizes in the U.S.

In the U.S., Red Bull is available in 250ml, 355ml, 473ml, and 591ml sizes. The 591ml can is an exclusive big size only available in the U.S.—truly fitting for America! (*´艸｀*)

In the collection photo, you’ll also see a rare 500ml can. This size was only available for a very short period in the past and is no longer in circulation, making it a collector's item known only to the most dedicated fans.

There was also a viral fake news story claiming that someone drank a 24oz (710ml) Red Bull and suffered heart failure.
※ Energy Drink Mania article debunking the fake news about a fatal 24oz Red Bull (24oz does not exist in the U.S.)

As mentioned earlier, there is no 710ml (24oz) Red Bull in the U.S. Any energy drink enthusiast would recognize this as false, but the shocking nature of the story caused it to spread widely online.

There is No Commercial-Sized Red Bull

There is no special commercial-size Red Bull for restaurants or bars. Instead, standard 250ml cans are used for serving, both in Japan and worldwide.

Now that Japan has the larger 355ml cans, if you're hosting a party and need plenty of Red Bull, buying a case of 355ml cans is a great option!