Pedialyte vs Gatorade: Which Is Better for Rehydration?

Pedialyte has more electrolytes and less sugar than Gatorade. Per 12 oz, Pedialyte Classic carries 390mg of sodium and 280mg of potassium with 5g of sugar. Gatorade Thirst Quencher carries 160mg of sodium and 50mg of potassium with about 21g of sugar. Pedialyte is built to rehydrate you when you're sick. Gatorade is built to fuel a workout.

They get lumped together because they sit in the same cooler, but they were designed for different jobs. Here's the full comparison, and what makes sense for a long shift in the heat.

Pedialyte vs Gatorade: Side by Side

Pedialyte figures are for the flavored Classic line; the unflavored version runs slightly higher in sugar. Pedialyte also sells AdvancedCare, Sport and powder versions with different numbers, so check the bottle you're buying.

Does Pedialyte or Gatorade Have More Electrolytes?

Pedialyte, by a wide margin. Per 12 oz it has about two and a half times the sodium and more than five times the potassium of Gatorade Thirst Quencher. It also lists chloride and zinc.

Neither one contains magnesium or calcium, the other two electrolytes you lose in sweat. For comparison, Powerade does include small, undisclosed amounts of both. We break that down in Powerade vs Gatorade.

What's the Difference in How They Work?

Pedialyte is an oral rehydration solution. It's formulated around a specific balance of sodium and a small amount of glucose, which helps your gut pull water and sodium into the body faster. That's why it's the go-to when someone is losing fluids from vomiting or diarrhea. It's lower in sugar on purpose, because too much sugar can work against that kind of rehydration.

Gatorade is a sports drink. Its roughly 21g of sugar per 12 oz is there to supply carbohydrates for energy during hard exercise. The electrolytes are a secondary feature, which is why the sodium and potassium are lower.

Is Pedialyte Better Than Gatorade?

For rehydration, yes. More sodium, much more potassium and about a quarter of the sugar make Pedialyte the stronger choice when the goal is getting fluids and electrolytes back in.

For a hard workout where you want quick carbs, Gatorade does the job Pedialyte wasn't built for.

Two things to know about Pedialyte. Like Gatorade Zero, it uses the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium alongside its dextrose. And many flavors use artificial dyes such as Red 40 and Blue 1. Gatorade, for its part, is moving the Fruit Punch, Lemon Lime and Orange flavors of Thirst Quencher and Gatorade Zero to colors from fruits and vegetables by fall 2026.

Pedialyte vs Gatorade for a Hangover

Pedialyte is the more common pick, and for good reason. Alcohol makes you lose fluid, and Pedialyte's higher sodium and potassium with less sugar is better suited to putting fluid back. It won't undo a hangover, but it's the stronger of the two for rehydrating the morning after.

Pedialyte vs Gatorade for Working in the Heat

This is where both fall short. A worker sweating heavily can lose several hundred to well over 1,000mg of sodium an hour, depending on the person and the heat. At 390mg per 12 oz, Pedialyte is better than Gatorade's 160mg, but you'd need a lot of bottles to keep up across a 10-hour shift, and neither one replaces magnesium or calcium.

Cost adds up too. A 1-liter bottle of Pedialyte runs about $6.50 to $7.30 at retail, or roughly $2.30 to $2.60 per 12 oz.

Hydrate was built for the shift rather than the sick day: 500mg sodium from Pink Himalayan salt, 340mg potassium, 40mg magnesium and 50mg calcium per scoop, all four printed on the panel with a percent Daily Value. It's 10 calories, sweetened with monk fruit and stevia, with no added sugar. At $39.95 for 40 servings, or $33.96 on subscribe and save, that's about $1.00 or 85 cents a serving. More on the salt side is in pink Himalayan salt and electrolytes.

If you or someone on your crew shows signs of heat illness, like heavy sweating with dizziness, nausea, confusion or cramping, stop work, get to shade and cool down. Confusion, fainting or hot dry skin is an emergency: call 911. Electrolyte drinks help with prevention and mild dehydration, not with a medical emergency. See electrolytes for heat exhaustion for the warning signs.

Which One Should You Drink?

• Sick with vomiting or diarrhea: Pedialyte. Call a doctor if symptoms last more than a day or you can't keep fluids down.
• The morning after drinking: Pedialyte.
• A hard hour-long workout or game: Gatorade, if you want the carbs.
• A long shift sweating in the heat: an electrolyte mix built for heavy sweat, like Hydrate, plus water across the day.

For the full Gatorade label, see Gatorade nutrition facts. For a wider comparison of electrolyte mixes, see our breakdown of Liquid I.V. alternatives, and for a full hydration routine, the blue collar hydration guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pedialyte better than Gatorade?
For rehydration, yes. Per 12 oz, Pedialyte Classic has 390mg of sodium and 280mg of potassium with 5g of sugar, compared with 160mg of sodium, 50mg of potassium and about 21g of sugar in Gatorade Thirst Quencher. Gatorade is better suited to supplying carbs during a hard workout.

Does Pedialyte have more electrolytes than Gatorade?
Yes. Pedialyte has about two and a half times the sodium and more than five times the potassium of Gatorade Thirst Quencher per 12 oz, plus chloride and zinc. Neither contains magnesium or calcium.

What's the difference between Pedialyte and Gatorade?
Pedialyte is an oral rehydration solution designed to replace fluids and electrolytes lost to illness, with more sodium and potassium and less sugar. Gatorade is a sports drink designed to supply carbohydrates and some electrolytes during exercise.

Which has more sugar, Pedialyte or Gatorade?
Gatorade. Gatorade Thirst Quencher has about 21g of sugar per 12 oz, while flavored Pedialyte Classic has 5g. Pedialyte also contains the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium.

Is Pedialyte or Gatorade better for a hangover?
Pedialyte. Its higher sodium and potassium and lower sugar make it better suited to rehydrating after drinking. It won't cure a hangover, but it helps put fluid back.

Can adults drink Pedialyte?
Yes. Pedialyte is sold for both children and adults. For children under 1, the label says to consult a doctor.

Is Pedialyte or Gatorade better for working in the heat?
Pedialyte has more sodium and potassium, but neither was built for a full shift of heavy sweating, and neither replaces magnesium or calcium. An electrolyte mix built for heavy sweat, like Hydrate with 500mg sodium, 340mg potassium, 40mg magnesium and 50mg calcium per scoop, is a better fit for a long workday.

Does Pedialyte have artificial sweeteners?
Yes. Pedialyte Classic is sweetened with dextrose plus sucralose and acesulfame potassium, and many flavors use artificial dyes such as Red 40 and Blue 1.

Pedialyte is a trademark of Abbott Laboratories. Gatorade is a registered trademark of Stokely-Van Camp, Inc., a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc. Blue Collar Nutrition is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by either company. Nutrition figures are drawn from publicly available product labels as of September 2026 and may change. Always check the current label.