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Caffeine Half-Life Calculator

Track how much caffeine is still in your system hour by hour — and find the latest safe cutoff time that protects your night's sleep.

Caffeine in you right now

200

Breakdown

Percent of dose remaining
100
Your adjusted half-life (h)
5
Hours until under 20 mg
16.61
Level at bedtime (mg)
100
Sleep impact
above sleep-safe threshold
Latest safe coffee time
06:23

Last updated:

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FAQ

How long does caffeine stay in your system?

Caffeine roughly halves every 5 hours in a typical adult, so a 200 mg coffee leaves about 100 mg after five hours, 50 after ten, and 25 after fifteen. Total elimination takes a day or more — but noticeable stimulation fades much sooner as levels fall below your habitual baseline.

Why does the half-life vary between people?

Genetics drive most of it. Smokers clear caffeine about twice as fast, pregnancy can double or triple the half-life, and oral contraceptives slow clearance by 50–100%. The calculator adjusts for smoking and contraceptives; set the base half-life between 4–6 h for most adults.

When should I stop drinking coffee?

Sleep labs find measurable disruption even at 50 mg at bedtime — roughly a quarter of a standard cup. The 20 mg threshold used here is conservative; if you're sensitive, aim to finish your last cup 8–10 hours before bed, which for a 23:00 bedtime means cutting off around 13:00–15:00.

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