How Much Does a 12-Pack of Soda Weigh?
Do you think you know the weight of a 12-pack of soda? Well, if you guessed 10 pounds, you’re good to go. Crunching some numbers reveals that a 12-pack of soda is about 10 pounds in weight.
This number is derived by estimating the weight of 12 aluminum cans, the weight of the soda within the cans and plastic or cardboard packaging holding the cans. When added together, these three elements weigh about 10 pounds.
Soda Weight
Let’s start first with the actual soda inside each can. Each can of soda contains 12 ounces of soda. Multiply that out for 12 cans of soda and you reach 144 ounces of soda combined.
Can and Packaging
Next up is the average weight of an aluminum can. Each can weighs about 1/2 ounce. Multiply that by 12 cans and you’re up to about 6 ounces in aluminum can weight. Add that to the weight of the fluid inside and you’ll get 150 ounces, or 9.375 pounds. Throw in the weight of the cardboard packaging (maybe another 1/2 pound) and you’ll be right near 10 pounds.
Cardboard Packaging
Soda in 12-pack configurations are usually contained in a cardboard box packaging. This type of packaging protects the cans from puncturing during shipment, allows the brand to be present on the packaging and protects the cans from direct sunlight.
Plastic Packaging
Note in the photo above that stretchable plastic is used to enclose the cans. This material is lighter than cardboard and still protects the soda from direct sunlight.
Rings Packaging
Retailers can also buy 12-pack rings for 12 cans of soda for a convenient carry case. These aren’t too common, but they lessen the weight of the overall packaging. And with the global effort to curb wasteful plastic use, some large beverage companies are reverting to smaller cardboard can holders.
Lower Soda Consumption
Soda consumption in the United States has dropped in the past decade to 38 gallons per person/year in 2018, from 45 gallons per person/year in 2010. One of the key reasons is that more Americans are mindful of the extra sugar in their diet that comes from drinking carbonated soda.
10 Cokes a Day
In 2014, one enterprising man began an experiment that tested how drinking 10 Cokes a day for one month might affect his weight and overall health. The result was that he gained nearly 25 pounds from the effect of the soda’s added sugar.
Interestingly, the same guy undertook a similar experiment in 2015 by drinking 10 Diet Cokes a day for one month. The results were vastly different; he experienced no weight gain, no increase in the measure of his blood glucose and no increase in blood pressure.
