ABV Calculator (Alcohol by Volume)
Work out alcohol by volume from gravity readings, or the strength of a mixed drink.
How to calculate ABV from gravity readings
Brewers and winemakers measure the density of the liquid with a hydrometer before fermentation (original gravity, OG) and after (final gravity, FG). The drop in gravity shows how much sugar the yeast turned into alcohol. Enter the two readings and the calculator gives the alcohol by volume.
- Simple formula: ABV = (OG − FG) × 131.25. It is quick and accurate for typical beers.
- Advanced formula: ABV = 76.08 × (OG − FG) ÷ (1.775 − OG) × (FG ÷ 0.794). It is more accurate for strong beers and wines.
Worked example
An OG of 1.050 and an FG of 1.010 gives a simple ABV of 5.25% and an advanced ABV of 5.34%. The apparent attenuation (the share of the sugar that fermented) is 80%, the alcohol by weight is 4.18%, and a 12 oz (355 ml) serving has about 164 calories.
| Style | Original gravity | Final gravity | ABV (simple) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light lager | 1.040 | 1.008 | 4.2% |
| Pale ale | 1.050 | 1.010 | 5.3% |
| IPA | 1.065 | 1.012 | 7.0% |
| Imperial stout | 1.090 | 1.022 | 8.9% |
ABV of a mixed drink
For cocktails and mixes, enter the volume and strength of each ingredient. For example, 60 ml of a 40% spirit with 120 ml of a non-alcoholic mixer contains 24 ml of pure alcohol in 180 ml, so the drink is 13.3% ABV. The calculator ignores the small contraction that happens when alcohol and water mix, so the result is a close estimate.
Standard drinks and units
| Measure | Amount of pure alcohol |
|---|---|
| US standard drink | 14 grams |
| UK unit | 10 millilitres (8 grams) |
| Australian standard drink | 10 grams |
The “Standard drinks” tab converts the volume and strength of any drink into these measures. For example, a 330 ml bottle at 5% contains 16.5 ml of pure alcohol, which is 13.0 g, about 0.93 US standard drinks, 1.65 UK units or 1.30 Australian standard drinks. This calculator is for information only and is not drinking advice. Official guidance on low-risk drinking differs by country.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate ABV?
Use ABV = (OG − FG) × 131.25, where OG is the gravity before fermentation and FG is the gravity after. For strong beers and wines, the advanced formula is more accurate.
What is a good original gravity?
It depends on the style. Many beers are 1.040 to 1.060, and strong beers and wines are higher.
What is apparent attenuation?
The share of the sugars the yeast has fermented, as measured by the drop in gravity. Most beers are 70% to 80%.
How do I calculate the ABV of a cocktail?
Add up the pure alcohol (volume × ABV) of each ingredient, divide by the total volume and multiply by 100.
What is a standard drink?
A measure of pure alcohol that differs by country: 14 g in the US, 10 g in Australia, and a UK unit is 10 ml (8 g).
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