Pre-workout follows the same cutoff
Short answer: treat pre-workout like a strong coffee and take it before your cutoff, or go stim-free for evening sessions. Many pre-workouts contain as much caffeine as two or three cups of coffee in one scoop, so check the label.
If you train after work and wake up at 7:00 AM, a normal cutoff is around 3:15 PM, and the Hard setting moves it to about 1:15 PM. An evening session after that is a good fit for a stimulant-free formula.
Common questions
Is it okay to take pre-workout at 6 PM?
For most people with a typical bedtime, 6 PM is after the cutoff and can shorten or lighten sleep. A stim-free pre-workout avoids the problem.
Does stim-free pre-workout affect sleep?
Stim-free formulas don't contain caffeine, so they don't count toward your cutoff. Check the label for green tea extract or guarana, which do contain caffeine.