SodaStream Syrups vs Supermarket Drinks UK: 2026 Cost Comparison

If you regularly buy fizzy drinks, making them at home with a SodaStream-style machine can look cheaper — but comparing only the price of the syrup with a supermarket bottle does not tell the whole story.

A fair comparison needs to consider:

• the cost of the syrup
• the amount of finished drink it makes
• the cost of CO₂
• current supermarket prices
• convenience and storage

Using Florida Syrups pricing alongside current UK supermarket and SodaStream CO₂ prices gives a clearer picture.

Quick Answer: Is Making Fizzy Drinks at Home Cheaper?

For regular users who already own a carbonation machine, making flavoured fizzy drinks at home can cost less per litre than many branded supermarket soft drinks.

Florida Syrups concentrate works out at around 55p per litre for the syrup component alone.

A SodaStream gas exchange currently costs £12.99 and a cylinder is rated to carbonate up to 60 litres, although the actual yield depends on how fizzy you make your drinks. That represents a theoretical maximum CO₂ cost of about 22p per litre.

So, as a simple guide:

Florida Syrups concentrate: ~55p/L
CO₂ at maximum stated cylinder yield: ~22p/L
Approximate combined cost: ~77p/L

This excludes the initial cost of the machine, delivery charges and the very small cost of tap water.

How Much Does Florida Syrups Cost Per Litre?

Based on current Florida Syrups pricing:

Syrup bottle	Price	Approx. finished drink	Syrup cost per litre
300ml	£3.49	~6.3L	~55p
500ml	£5.19	~9.5L	~55p

For the 500ml bottle:

£5.19 ÷ 9.5L = approximately 55p per litre

This is the syrup cost, before carbonation.

What Does the CO₂ Add to the Cost?

SodaStream currently lists a one-time gas-cylinder exchange at £12.99, while subscription refills start from £10 per cylinder. SodaStream states that a cylinder can make up to 60 litres, depending on the machine and level of carbonation.

At the full 60-litre stated yield:

• £12.99 exchange = about 22p CO₂ per litre
• £10 subscription cylinder = about 17p CO₂ per litre

That would put a Florida Syrups drink at roughly 72–77p per litre for syrup and CO₂ combined.

However, this is only an estimate. If you prefer heavily carbonated drinks and get fewer than 60 litres from a cylinder, your actual CO₂ cost per litre will be higher.

How Does That Compare With Supermarket Fizzy Drinks?

Supermarket pricing varies considerably according to brand, pack size and promotions.

For example, Tesco prices checked in September 2026 included:

• Coca-Cola Original 1.75L — £1.40 per litre
• Coca-Cola Original 24 × 330ml cans — £1.93 per litre at the normal price
• Coca-Cola Zero 24 × 330ml cans — £1.52 per litre
• Pepsi Max 24 × 330ml cans — £1.48 per litre at the normal price

Promotions can bring supermarket prices considerably lower. For example, some Clubcard offers at the time of checking reduced multipack prices to around £1.01–£1.58 per litre.

That means the comparison is not simply “55p versus £2 or £3”.

A more realistic comparison is:

Option	Approx. cost per litre
Florida Syrups concentrate only	~£0.55
Florida Syrups + CO₂*	~£0.72–£0.77
Pepsi Max 24-pack, normal Tesco price	£1.48
Coca-Cola Zero 24-pack, normal Tesco price	£1.52
Coca-Cola Original 24-pack, normal Tesco price	£1.93
Coca-Cola Original 1.75L bottle	£1.40

*Based on the cylinder achieving SodaStream’s stated maximum yield of 60 litres. Actual carbonation cost varies.

What About Supermarket Own-Brand Drinks?

This is where the comparison becomes more complicated.

Low-cost own-brand lemonade, cola and other soft drinks can be substantially cheaper than branded Coca-Cola or Pepsi products.

Therefore, it would not be accurate to say that home-made drinks are always cheaper than every supermarket alternative.

If your main priority is finding the absolute cheapest fizzy drink available, compare the price with the particular supermarket product you normally buy.

The potential savings are clearer when comparing home-made drinks with major branded cans and bottles.

What Does a 500ml Syrup Bottle Replace?

A 500ml Florida Syrups bottle makes approximately 9.5 litres of finished drink at the recommended strength.

For perspective, 9.5 litres is roughly the same liquid volume as:

28–29 standard 330ml cans.

The concentrated bottle is therefore much smaller to store than the equivalent quantity of ready-made drink.

However, you still need water and carbonation before it becomes a finished fizzy drink.

How Do You Get the Expected Yield?

For the recommended strength, mix:

50ml Florida Syrups concentrate with 840ml of pre-carbonated sparkling water.

The process is:

1. Carbonate the water first.
2. Add the measured syrup.
3. Mix gently.
4. Serve chilled.

Following the recommended amount matters when comparing costs.

If you regularly use substantially more syrup, the bottle will make fewer drinks and your effective cost per litre will rise.

Which Is More Convenient?

Cost is only one part of the comparison.

Supermarket Drinks

Ready-made drinks have some obvious advantages:

• Open and drink immediately
• No machine required
• No measuring or mixing
• Easy to take away from home

However, you need to buy and store the full volume of finished drink.

Home Carbonation and Syrup

Making drinks at home means:

• Keeping concentrated syrup rather than large volumes of finished drink
• Choosing when to carbonate and mix your drink
• Adjusting the amount you make
• Having different flavours available without storing several large bottles of fizzy drink

On the other hand, you need a carbonation machine and must replace or exchange the CO₂ cylinder periodically.

What About Taste?

Taste is personal.

Ready-made supermarket drinks arrive at a fixed recipe and carbonation level.

Making drinks at home gives you more control over carbonation and lets you choose from different syrup flavours.

For consistent results, however, we recommend starting with the normal 50ml syrup to 840ml sparkling water rather than substantially changing the concentration.

Who Is Most Likely to Benefit From Making Fizzy Drinks at Home?

Home carbonation tends to make the most practical sense for households that:

• Already own a SodaStream or compatible machine
• Drink fizzy drinks regularly
• Normally buy branded soft drinks
• Want several flavour choices available
• Prefer storing concentrates instead of large quantities of bottles and cans

The initial machine purchase matters less over time if you already own one and use it regularly.

When Might Supermarket Drinks Make More Sense?

Ready-made drinks may suit you better if you:

• Only drink fizzy drinks occasionally
• Prefer maximum convenience
• Regularly buy very inexpensive own-brand drinks
• Do not already own a carbonation machine
• Do not want to manage CO₂ exchanges

There is no single cheapest option for every household.

Does Home Carbonation Reduce Packaging and Storage?

Concentrated syrup requires much less storage space than the equivalent quantity of finished drink because you add the water at home.

A 500ml syrup bottle can make around 9.5 litres, so you do not need to store 9.5 litres of ready-made drink at once.

A SodaStream CO₂ cylinder is also designed to be returned, refilled and reused through its exchange system.

That does not automatically mean every home-made drink has a lower overall environmental impact, but it does reduce the amount of finished beverage you need to transport and store yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Florida Syrups drink cost per litre?

The syrup component costs approximately 55p per litre based on the prices and yields above.

Including CO₂, a simple estimate is around 72–77p per litre if the cylinder achieves its stated maximum 60-litre yield.

How does that compare with Coca-Cola?

At Tesco in September 2026, Coca-Cola Original ranged from around £1.40/L for a 1.75L bottle to £1.93/L for a 24-can multipack at normal prices. Promotions can reduce this.

Does the 55p figure include CO₂?

No. It is the cost of the syrup concentrate based on the stated finished-drink yield.

How much does a SodaStream gas refill cost?

SodaStream currently lists a standard cylinder exchange at £12.99, with subscription options starting from £10.

How much syrup should I use?

Use 50ml syrup with 840ml of pre-carbonated sparkling water.

Are SodaStream-style drinks always cheaper than supermarket drinks?

No. Prices vary substantially, particularly with supermarket own-brand drinks and promotions. The comparison is generally more favourable against major branded soft drinks.

SodaStream Syrups or Supermarket Drinks: Which Makes More Sense?

For regular fizzy-drink drinkers who already own a carbonation machine, Florida Syrups can offer a lower estimated cost per litre than many major branded supermarket drinks.

Based on the figures above, the syrup itself costs around 55p per litre, while syrup plus CO₂ could be roughly 72–77p per litre when the cylinder achieves its maximum stated yield.

By comparison, current examples of major branded supermarket soft drinks are often around £1.40–£1.93 per litre before promotions.

But price is not the only consideration. Occasional drinkers, shoppers buying inexpensive own-brand products, or people who prioritise ready-to-drink convenience may reach a different conclusi

---