An electrolyte label is three numbers and a format. Sodium does the heavy lifting, potassium rides alongside, and sugar is either fuel, an absorption aid, or a dealbreaker depending on why you are drinking it. The 15 mixes here run from 40 mg to 1,000 mg of sodium per serving, from zero sugar to 19 grams, and from chewable tablets to a ready-to-drink liter.
The cards below go label by label: what is in each serving, what the pack looks like, and who the format suits. The full numbers table sits at the end for a clean side-by-side once you have a shortlist.
The lineup spans the whole shelf: pharmacy liters and grocery-brand tubs sit next to sport-lab bags, mom-focused stick packs and minimalist salt sticks. What they share is a label worth reading. Doses below are always per label serving, because a single tablet, a two-tablet serving, a scoop, a stick and a 12-ounce pour all carry different numbers, and comparing anything else is comparing packaging.
Reading an Electrolyte Label
Sodium is the number that separates these mixes. A 40 mg scoop and a 1,000 mg stick are different tools: the low-sodium end suits everyday sipping, while the high end is built for heavy sweating, and labels say as much in their directions. Your own needs sit with your clinician or dietitian, not with the biggest number on the shelf.
Sugar is the second fork. Some mixes pair sodium with glucose on purpose, following the oral rehydration principle that glucose helps sodium absorption; others skip sugar entirely and sweeten with stevia or nothing. Neither is wrong on the label; they serve different jobs, and the panel tells you which job each mix was built for.
Format is the practical third check. Stick packs travel, tubs measure out many servings at home, effervescent tablets dissolve without stirring, chewables skip dissolving and preparation, and the ready-to-drink bottle skips every step. Serving size deserves the usual second look: one brand's serving is a single tablet, another's is two chewable tablets, and the ready-to-drink label measures per 12 ounces, not the whole bottle.
Beyond sodium and sugar, the supporting cast is worth a scan. Potassium appears on every panel here, from 30 mg in the chewable to 1,000 mg in the potassium-heavy tub. Magnesium, calcium, chloride, phosphorus and zinc show up in varying combinations, and a few mixes add vitamin C, B vitamins or a trace mineral blend. More lines on the panel is not automatically better; it just tells you what the formula was built to do.
Format decides how the mix fits a day. Stick packs are the travel standard: flat, light and pre-measured. Tubs stay home and reward the scoop with the most servings per container. Effervescent tablets dissolve on their own in a glass, chewables skip dissolving and preparation, and the ready-to-drink bottle pours straight. The table at the end lists the pack each card links to, because counts vary as much as formulas.
One qualified caution: anyone with kidney disease or a prescribed sodium or potassium restriction should run these panels by their clinician first, because several mixes here sit at genuinely high levels of both, and the table makes those easy to spot.
LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes, Citrus Salt (10 Stick Packs)
The high-sodium minimalist: 1,000 mg of sodium with 200 mg of potassium and 60 mg of magnesium per stick, zero sugar and no caffeine per the box, stirred into a large bottle of water.
- 1,000 mg sodium per stick
- 200 mg potassium + 60 mg magnesium
- Zero sugar, zero caffeine per box
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier, Lemon Lime (16 Sticks)
The glucose-based option: 500 mg of sodium and 370 mg of potassium per 16 g stick with 11 g of sugar, plus vitamin C and B vitamins on the panel, one stick stirred into 16 ounces of water.
- 500 mg sodium + 370 mg potassium
- 11 g sugar, 45 calories per stick
- Vitamin C and B vitamins on label
DripDrop Electrolyte Powder, Sunburst Variety (8 Sticks)
The ORS-style stick: 330 mg of sodium, 185 mg of potassium and 39 mg of magnesium per stick with 7 g of sugar, formulated on an oral rehydration solution ratio per the brand, mixed into 8 ounces.
- 330 mg sodium per stick
- 185 mg potassium + 39 mg magnesium
- 7 g sugar; four flavors in box
Boobie Hydromom Hydration + Energy Drink Mix, Blue Raspberry Lemonade (15 Packets)
The mom-positioned mix: a stick-pack drink mix from a brand that formulates for pregnancy, lactation and beyond, listing organic ingredients, a vegan and caffeine-free recipe, and no artificial dyes on the box.
- 15 on-the-go stick packets
- 200 mg sodium, 109 mg potassium per stick
- Vegan, caffeine-free, no artificial dyes per box
Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets, Lemon Lime (8 Tubes of 10)
The effervescent tablet: 300 mg of sodium with 150 mg of potassium, 25 mg of magnesium, 13 mg of calcium and 40 mg of chloride per tablet, 1 g of sugar, dropped into 16 ounces of water.
- 300 mg sodium per tablet
- Five electrolytes on the panel
- 1 g sugar; 10 tablets per tube
Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Mix, Grape (30-Serving Canister)
The zero-everything canister: 55 mg of sodium against 250 mg of potassium, 100 mg of magnesium, 65 mg of calcium, 70 mg of phosphorus and 1 mg of zinc per scoop, with zero sugar and zero calories, sweetened with stevia.
- 250 mg potassium, only 55 mg sodium
- Six electrolyte minerals per scoop
- Zero sugar, zero calories
Redmond Re-Lyte Hydration, Mixed Berry (30 Stick Packs)
The salt-forward stick: 810 mg of sodium and 400 mg of potassium per stick with 50 mg of magnesium and 60 mg of calcium, built on the brand's unrefined Real Salt, with zero sugar and zero calories.
- 810 mg sodium per stick
- 400 mg potassium
- Made with Real Salt, per the brand
Trace Minerals Power Pak, Lemon Lime (30 Packets)
The vitamin-added packet: 75 mg of sodium and 200 mg of potassium with 100 mg of magnesium and 60 mg of calcium per packet, plus vitamin C and the brand's ConcenTrace trace mineral complex, at 1 g of sugar and 5 calories.
- 200 mg potassium + 100 mg magnesium
- Vitamin C and trace mineral complex
- 1 g sugar, 5 calories
California Gold Nutrition HydrationUP, Grape (8 oz Tub)
The budget tub: 200 mg of sodium, 180 mg of potassium, 100 mg of calcium and 40 mg of magnesium per scoop with vitamins C and E, zero sugar at 5 calories; the label notes the formula contains soy.
- 200 mg sodium + 180 mg potassium
- Vitamins C and E added
- Contains soy per label
SaltStick FastChews, Tart Orange (60 Tablets)
The chewable: 100 mg of sodium, 30 mg of potassium, 10 mg of calcium and 6 mg of magnesium per two-tablet serving, 2 g of sugar, in a bottle built to carry and dose mid-activity without water.
- Chewable, no water needed to take
- 100 mg sodium per 2-tablet serving
- 60 tablets per bottle
Cure Hydration Electrolyte Drink Mix, Strawberry Kiwi (14 Packets)
The coconut-water packet: 240 mg of sodium and 315 mg of potassium per packet, 4 g of sugar with no added sugar per the label, plant-based and from a certified B Corporation.
- 240 mg sodium, 315 mg potassium per packet
- Coconut water powder base
- No added sugar per label
Dr. Berg Zero Sugar Electrolyte Powder, Raspberry Lemon (100 Servings)
The potassium-heavy canister: 1,000 mg of potassium per serving with four additional electrolyte minerals and a trace mineral complex per the brand, zero sugar, made with pink Himalayan salt, in a 100-serving tub.
- 1,000 mg potassium, 40 mg sodium per serving
- Zero sugar
- 100 servings per canister
Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Lemon Lime (20-Serving Bag)
The exercise mix: a lemon-lime powder whose bag states 400 mg of sodium, 50 mg of potassium and 19 g of sugar per 22 g scoop, with a real-fruit recipe the brand says is built to match the electrolyte profile lost in sweat, plus a Non-GMO Project Verified seal on the bag.
- 400 mg sodium, 19 g sugar per scoop
- Real-fruit recipe per the brand
- Non-GMO Project Verified seal
NOW Foods Sports Effer-Hydrate, Mixed Berry (10 Tablets)
The sports-brand tablet: 360 mg of sodium and 100 mg of potassium with 25 mg of magnesium and 13 mg of calcium per effervescent tablet, under 1 g of sugar at 10 calories, from NOW's sports line.
- 360 mg sodium per tablet
- 100 mg potassium
- Under 1 g sugar, 10 calories
Pedialyte Essential Rehydration Electrolyte Drink, Unflavored (1 Liter)
The ready-to-drink liter: no mixing, no powder; per 12 fl oz serving the label lists 390 mg of sodium, 280 mg of potassium, 440 mg of chloride, 2.8 mg of zinc and 6 g of sugar at 30 calories, in an unflavored version with nothing to dissolve.
- Ready to drink, no mixing
- 390 mg sodium per 12 fl oz
- 6 g sugar, 30 calories per serving
The Label Numbers, All 15
Sodium, potassium and sugar are per label serving as printed on each panel. Serving sizes differ by brand - a scoop, a stick, two chewable tablets, or 12 ounces of a ready-to-drink bottle - so the table shows the exact label serving for each row. The pack column is package quantity only. Not stated means the number does not appear on the label or listing.
| Mix | Label serving | Sodium | Potassium | Sugar | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMNT Citrus Salt | 1 stick | 1,000 mg | 200 mg | 0 g | 10 sticks |
| Liquid I.V. Lemon Lime | 1 stick | 500 mg | 370 mg | 11 g | 16 sticks |
| DripDrop Sunburst | 1 stick | 330 mg | 185 mg | 7 g | 8 sticks |
| Boobie Hydromom | 1 stick (12 g) | 200 mg | 109 mg | 7 g | 15 sticks |
| Nuun Sport | 1 tablet | 300 mg | 150 mg | 1 g | 8 tubes of 10 |
| Ultima Replenisher | 1 scoop | 55 mg | 250 mg | 0 g | 30 servings |
| Redmond Re-Lyte | 1 stick | 810 mg | 400 mg | 0 g | 30 sticks |
| Trace Power Pak | 1 packet | 75 mg | 200 mg | 1 g | 30 packets |
| CGN HydrationUP | 1 scoop | 200 mg | 180 mg | 0 g | 8 oz tub |
| SaltStick FastChews | 2 chewable tablets | 100 mg | 30 mg | 2 g | 60 tablets |
| Cure Hydration | 1 packet (7.6 g) | 240 mg | 315 mg | 4 g | 14 packets |
| Dr. Berg Electrolyte | 1 scoop (6.6 g) | 40 mg | 1,000 mg | 0 g | 100 servings |
| Skratch Sport | 1 scoop (22 g) | 400 mg | 50 mg | 19 g | 20-serving bag |
| NOW Effer-Hydrate | 1 tablet | 360 mg | 100 mg | <1 g | 10 tablets |
| Pedialyte 1 L | 12 fl oz | 390 mg | 280 mg | 6 g | 1 L bottle |
Pros
- Sodium ranges from 40 mg to 1,000 mg per serving across the list
- Five mixes here are sugar-free, and two effervescent tablets plus one chewable skip stirring
- Stick packs dominate the list, and every label serving size is stated plainly
Cons
- Several labels share serving sizes in different units, so the table needs a careful read
- The two tubs need a scoop kept dry, and the ready-to-drink liter is the bulkiest pack here
- Sugar runs from under 1 g to 19 g per serving, so the sugar column splits the list quickly
Mixing Habits That Matter
A full stick or scoop supplies the label amounts no matter the glass; the labeled water volume sets the intended concentration, which is why the directions line is worth following: the sugar-carrying sticks assume a small glass, while the high-sodium sticks assume a large bottle. Doubling a scoop in the same water raises the concentration, not just the flavor.
Tablets and chewables sidestep measuring but add their own rules: effervescent tablets need a full dissolve, and resealing tubes keeps them from going soft in humid kitchens. Ready-to-drink bottles trade flexibility for zero prep and refrigerate after opening per their labels.
Timing is simpler than the marketing suggests: the label directions say when each mix is meant to be used, before, during or after activity, and that line is the one to follow. What matters day to day is consistency of measurement, because the same scoop in the same water is what keeps the label numbers true from glass to glass.
The Bottom Line
Match the number to the job. If heavy sweating is the use case, the high-sodium sticks and the salt-forward mixes carry the biggest panels. If the goal is a daily glass with minerals and no sugar, the zero-sugar canisters and tubs do that. If convenience decides, the chewables and tablets remove the measuring, and the ready-to-drink bottle removes the mixing.
Check the serving size line before comparing anything, let the sugar column sort fuel from flavor, and the right mix is the one whose label matches the job you actually have.
The added-ingredient column is the quiet tiebreaker. Vitamin C, B vitamins, zinc and trace blends narrow the field quickly if you want them, and the no-added-vitamin panels narrow it just as fast if you do not. Either way, the panel is the whole story: sodium, potassium, sugar, serving size, then everything else.
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