Electrolytes guide
Liquid I.V. vs cheaper electrolytes: cost per 500 mg sodium
Liquid I.V. has 500 mg of sodium per stick. How to compare it with cheaper sticks and tubs per 500 mg of sodium, the sugar question, and when a mix is worth it.
Liquid I.V. is one of the best-known electrolyte drinks in the US, sold in single-serve sticks. Comparing it with other brands by the box is misleading, because boxes hold different numbers of sticks and sticks hold different amounts of sodium. Our electrolytes list prices every mix per 500 mg of sodium, starting from the Liquid I.V. 16-stick box.
What is in a Liquid I.V. stick?
From the Nutrition Facts panels and Liquid I.V.'s product pages:
- Hydration Multiplier (regular): 500 mg of sodium and 11 g of sugar per stick. Liquid I.V. sells it in 16-stick pouches and in a larger MultiServe tub.
- Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free: about 510 to 530 mg of sodium per stick, depending on the flavor, and 0 g of sugar. It comes in 14-stick pouches, and Liquid I.V.'s page describes it as "zero sugar, zero artificial sweeteners".
Because each regular stick holds 500 mg of sodium, Liquid I.V.'s price per stick and price per 500 mg of sodium are the same number. That makes it a handy reference.
Which electrolyte mixes cost less than Liquid I.V.?
Today's cheapest mixes per 500 mg of sodium, and how much less each costs than Liquid I.V.:
| Product | Store | Per 500 mg sodium | vs Liquid I.V. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutricost High-Salt Electrolytes Powder · Strawberry Lemonade | Nutricost | $0.22 | 86% less |
| Saltivate Raw Unflavored Electrolytes Jar | Saltivate | $0.31 | 80% less |
| Micro Ingredients Sport Electrolytes Powder Watermelon Lime Flavor · 2lb | Micro Ingredients | $0.43 | 72% less |
| Redmond Re-Lyte Hydration Electrolyte Powder · Lemon Lime | Redmond | $0.47 | 70% less |
| SaltStick Capsules · 200ct | SaltStick | $0.52 | 67% less |
| Liquid I.V. Lemon Lime Hydration Multiplier · 16PK popular brand | Liquid I.V. | $1.56 | — |
Prices checked November 7, 2026. Store prices change; the price at checkout is final. See the full electrolytes list
Prices change daily. The full electrolytes list shows every mix, its store, and when the price was last checked. For a brand-by-brand view, see cheaper alternatives to Liquid I.V.. The same per-serving method runs across the site; see how it works.
Why compare per 500 mg of sodium, not per stick?
Sticks hold different amounts. Some have about 200 mg of sodium, some 1,000 mg. A cheap stick with half the sodium is not a bargain if you need two of them.
| Product type | Sodium per serving | Sugar | What you pay for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid I.V. regular stick | 500 mg | 11 g | Sodium, sugar, flavor, convenience |
| Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free stick | About 510 to 530 mg | 0 g | Sodium, sweetener, convenience |
| High-sodium stick (LMNT style) | About 1,000 mg | 0 g | More sodium per stick |
| Bulk tub | Varies by scoop | Varies | Lowest cost per 500 mg, usually |
Figures for Liquid I.V. are from its labels; other rows are typical ranges.
For a stick with more sodium, see cheaper LMNT alternatives.
Is the sugar in Liquid I.V. a problem?
It depends on how you use it. During a long, sweaty workout, some sugar alongside the salt is common in sports and rehydration drinks. For someone drinking a stick every day at a desk, 11 g of sugar a day adds up. If that is you, the sugar-free version or a sugar-free tub makes more sense.
Do you need an electrolyte mix at all?
For most people drinking water through a normal day, no. Sweat sodium varies a lot from person to person, so needs differ. Mixes are most useful for long or hot workouts, heavy sweating, or after illness. The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans set a limit of less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day for ages 14 and up, and add that highly active people may benefit from more to offset sweat losses. The FDA says Americans already average about 3,400 mg a day, so for most people everyday use adds to an already high total.
People with high blood pressure, heart failure or kidney disease should ask a doctor before using high-sodium drinks.
What is the cheapest way to get 500 mg of sodium?
Table salt. The FDA puts 2,300 mg of sodium at about 1 teaspoon of salt, so a quarter teaspoon has roughly 575 mg and costs a fraction of a cent. It has no flavor, potassium or sugar, which is what you pay for in a mix. Our best electrolyte powders guide ranks the value mixes if you want something ready to drink.
Frequently asked questions
How much sodium is in a Liquid I.V. stick?
The regular Hydration Multiplier has 500 mg of sodium per stick. Sugar-Free sticks list about 510 to 530 mg, depending on the flavor.
Is Liquid I.V. worth the price?
It is convenient and well known. Several mixes deliver 500 mg of sodium for less, especially in tubs. The live table shows how much less today.
Is there a sugar-free Liquid I.V.?
Yes. Liquid I.V. sells a Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier with 0 g of sugar and about 510 to 530 mg of sodium per stick, in 14-stick pouches.
Are electrolyte tubs cheaper than sticks?
Usually. Tubs skip the individual packaging, so the price per 500 mg of sodium tends to be lower.
Sources
- FDA: Sodium in your diet (opens in a new tab)
- Sweating rate and sweat sodium concentration in athletes: review of methodology and variability (Baker, 2017) (opens in a new tab)
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans (opens in a new tab)
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier, lemon lime (opens in a new tab)
- Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free, lemon lime (opens in a new tab)
Every price on the list is worked out the same way, and checked daily.
See the electrolytes price comparisonCheaper alternatives to Liquid I.V. electrolytesLiquid I.V. vs Nutricost electrolytes
This is general information about prices and labels, not medical advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you are pregnant, take medication, or have a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and no supplement here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We don't sell the products; how we make money.
