Free tool
Alcohol units calculator for beer and cider
Enter the size and strength of a beer or cider to see how much alcohol it contains, in UK units, US standard drinks and the 10-gram standard drink used in Ireland, Australia and the Netherlands.
Calculate the units
The short version
- UK units = volume in ml × ABV ÷ 1,000, so a UK pint (568 ml) of 5% beer is 2.8 units.
- One UK unit is 10 ml, or 8 g, of pure alcohol.
- A US standard drink is 14 g of alcohol, about a 12 fl oz beer at 5%.
- UK guidance is no more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, spread over three or more days.
How many units in a pint, can or bottle
| Drink | ABV | UK units | US drinks | 10 g drinks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half pint (284 ml) | 4% | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| Pint (568 ml) | 4% | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| Pint (568 ml) | 5% | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.2 |
| Pint of cider (568 ml) | 4.5% | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.0 |
| Bottle (330 ml) | 5% | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Bottle (330 ml) | 8% | 2.6 | 1.5 | 2.1 |
| Can (440 ml) | 5% | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| Can (440 ml) | 6.5% | 2.9 | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| Bottle or can (500 ml) | 5% | 2.5 | 1.4 | 2.0 |
| US can (12 fl oz, 355 ml) | 5% | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| US pint (16 fl oz, 473 ml) | 6% | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.2 |
Strength varies a lot within one style, so check the ABV on the label rather than guessing. A hazy IPA can be anywhere from 6% to 9%.
How it is calculated
ABV is the percentage of the drink that is pure alcohol. A 568 ml pint at 5% contains 568 × 0.05 = 28.4 ml of alcohol. One UK unit is 10 ml, so that's 2.84 units.
Other countries count in grams. Alcohol weighs about 0.789 g per ml, so 28.4 ml is about 22.4 g: 1.6 US standard drinks of 14 g, or 2.2 standard drinks of 10 g.
What the guidance says
The UK Chief Medical Officers advise men and women not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, spread over three or more days, with several drink-free days each week. They also say no level of drinking is completely safe. Other countries set different limits, so check with your national health service.
The calculator shows how much alcohol is in a drink. It can't tell you whether you're safe to drive or how quickly alcohol will leave your body. If you're worried about your drinking, the NHS and Drinkaware offer free, confidential support.
Questions people ask
How many units are in a pint of beer?
A UK pint (568 ml) of 4% beer is 2.3 units, and a pint of 5% beer is 2.8 units.
How many units are in a 440 ml can?
At 5%, a 440 ml can holds 2.2 units. At 6.5%, a common strength for IPAs, it's 2.9 units.
What is a US standard drink?
In the US, a standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol, roughly a 12 fl oz (355 ml) beer at 5%.
How many units a week is safe?
The UK Chief Medical Officers advise no more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, spread over three or more days, and say no level of drinking is completely safe.
Related guides
- Beer styles explainedWhat 15 common styles taste like, how strong they are and which glass to use.
- How to keep a beer journalWhat to note for each beer, a copyable template and how to rate consistently.
- The best beer tracker apps in 2026Eight iPhone beer trackers compared on catalogue, privacy, sync and price.
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