How-to · Updated October 2, 2026
How long does Adderall stay in your urine?
Direct answer
A single 20 mg dose stays above the federal 500 ng/mL screen for about 36 hours (22–53 h). Daily 20 mg extends that to about 39 hours (26–58 h). A sensitive 50 ng/mL lab test can find one 20 mg dose for about 72 hours.
20 mg at four cutoffs
Hours after the last dose until the model drops below the cutoff. The range is dilute urine through concentrated urine.
| Cutoff | One 20 mg dose | 20 mg every day |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 ng/mL instant cup | 25 h (12–41) | 29 h (15–46) |
| 500 ng/mL federal screen | 36 h (22–53) | 39 h (26–58) |
| 250 ng/mL confirmation | 46 h (33–65) | 50 h (36–70) |
| 50 ng/mL lab test | 72 h (56–93) | 76 h (60–98) |
Other doses at 500 ng/mL
| Regimen | Hours above 500 ng/mL |
|---|---|
| 5 mg daily | 18 h (5–34) |
| 10 mg daily | 29 h (15–46) |
| 20 mg once (IR) | 36 h (22–53) |
| 20 mg once (XR) | 38 h (24–55) |
| 40 mg daily | 50 h (36–70) |
| Vyvanse 70 mg daily | 45 h (33–63) |
Adderall screens as amphetamine. XR peaks later because the second half of the capsule releases about 4 hours after the first. Vyvanse is d-amphetamine only.
Limits
- This is an educational estimate from label half-lives and typical urine flow. It is not a prediction of one person’s drug test, and it is not medical or legal advice.
- Acidic urine clears amphetamine faster. Alkaline urine slows clearance. Hydration changes the ng/mL reading several-fold.
- A valid prescription still produces a positive amphetamine result. In DOT and federal programs the Medical Review Officer reports a verified prescription to the employer as negative. Do not stop a prescribed medicine for a test.
Use the calculator
Reading a number on a report: what a normal Adderall urine level looks like. Change the dose and cutoff in the Adderall levels in urine calculator.