How Much Sugar Is in Tonic Water?
A can of tonic water has about 32 g of added sugar — nearly as much as a can of Coke, despite looking and pouring like plain sparkling water.
in 1 can (12 fl oz) · about 7.6 teaspoons
- Per serving
- 32 g
- Per 100 g
- 9 g
- Type
- Added sugar
- In teaspoons
- ≈ 7.6 tsp
More sugar than most people should have in a whole day.
A can of tonic water has about 32 g of added sugar — close to a can of Coke at 39 g. This is the one that catches people off guard: tonic water looks, pours, and fizzes exactly like soda water, but soda water has zero sugar and tonic water is sweetened to balance the bitterness of quinine.
It's easy to assume a gin and tonic is a 'lighter' drink because it's clear and fizzy. The alcohol brings its own calories, and the tonic on top adds a full soda's worth of sugar — check the can before assuming it's sugar-free.
How tonic water compares
Out of 114 everyday foods and drinks we track, tonic water ranks #12 for sugar per serving — more than 90% of them.
- Gatorade34g
- Ginger ale33g
- Tonic water (this page)32g
- M&M's31g
- Raisins29g
Bars show sugar per serving. Tap any food to see its full breakdown.
Lower-sugar swaps
- Plain soda water or club soda — genuinely zero sugar
- Diet or sugar-free tonic water for the same bitter-quinine flavour
Frequently asked questions
- Is tonic water the same as sparkling water?
- No. Sparkling or soda water is just carbonated water with no sugar. Tonic water is sweetened to offset quinine's bitterness and has about as much sugar as a soda.
- Is a gin and tonic a low-sugar drink?
- Not really — the tonic alone can carry over 30 g of sugar per can. Swapping to a diet tonic keeps the drink but drops the sugar to near zero.
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Sugar values from Manufacturer nutrition label; actual amounts vary by brand, ripeness, and recipe. Last updated 2026-08-28.