Standard Drink Calculator
A U.S. standard drink is 14 grams of pure alcohol — about a 12 oz beer at 5%, a 5 oz glass of wine at 12%, or a 1.5 oz shot of 40% liquor. Enter the drink's size and the ABV from the label, and set how many you had to see the total.
This free standard drinks calculator also counts UK alcohol units, Canadian standard drinks, and Australian standard drinks. Pick the definition under the result.
How many standard drinks are in common drinks?
| Drink | Size | ABV | Standard drinks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Beer | 12 oz | 4.2% | 0.8 |
| Beer | 12 oz | 5% | 1.0 |
| IPA Beer | 12 oz | 6% | 1.2 |
| Wine | 5 oz | 12.5% | 1.0 |
| Shot | 1.5 oz | 40% | 1.0 |
| White Claw | 12 oz | 5% | 1.0 |
| Margarita | 6 oz | 15% | 1.5 |
| BuzzBallz | 6.76 oz | 15% | 1.7 |
| Long Island Iced Tea | 8 oz | 14% | 1.9 |
| Four Loko | 23.5 oz | 14% | 5.5 |
How to calculate standard drinks
Size × ABV gives the volume of pure alcohol. Multiply by ethanol's density (0.789 g/ml) to get grams, then divide by 14. A 12 oz beer at 5% holds 0.6 oz (17.7 ml) of pure alcohol — about 14 grams, or one standard drink.
Standard drinks count alcohol, not glasses. A tall can, a heavy wine pour, or a cocktail with two shots can each be two or more. Our guide to standard drink sizes has more examples, and what is one drink covers how many are in a bottle of wine, a fifth, or a handle.
Alcohol unit calculator: UK units, Canada, and Australia
Countries define a standard drink differently, so the same drink gives a different count. Choose a definition from the menu under the result. The U.S. uses 14 grams, Canada uses 13.45 grams, Australia uses 10 grams, and the UK counts 8 grams (10 ml) as one unit. One U.S. standard drink is 1.75 UK units.
Standard drink calculator FAQ
What is a standard drink?
In the U.S., a standard drink is 14 grams (0.6 fluid ounces) of pure alcohol: about a 12 oz beer at 5%, a 5 oz glass of wine at 12%, or a 1.5 oz shot of 40% liquor.
How do you calculate standard drinks?
Multiply the drink’s volume by its ABV to get the volume of pure alcohol, multiply by 0.789 g/ml (ethanol’s density) to get grams, then divide by 14. A 12 oz beer at 5% is about 14 grams, or one standard drink.
How many grams of alcohol are in a standard drink?
14 grams in the U.S. Other countries use different amounts: Canada uses 13.45 grams, Australia uses 10 grams, and the UK counts 8 grams as one unit.
What is the difference between a standard drink and a UK alcohol unit?
A UK unit is 8 grams of pure alcohol (10 ml) and a U.S. standard drink is 14 grams, so one U.S. standard drink is 1.75 UK units. Pick the UK definition in the calculator to see units.
How many standard drinks are in a bottle of wine?
About five for a 750 mL bottle of 12% wine, and almost six at 14%. A fifth of 40% liquor is about 17.
Does a standard drink mean one glass or one serving?
No. Standard drinks count alcohol, not glasses. A tall can, a heavy wine pour, or a cocktail with two shots can each be two or more.
How do I count a cocktail, seltzer, or canned drink?
Enter the total size and the ABV from the label. For a cocktail without a label, count each 1.5 oz shot of 40% liquor as one standard drink.
Does the standard drink count tell me my BAC?
No. BAC also depends on your weight, sex, and timing. Use the BAC calculator for that.
Standard drinks alone don't tell you your BAC — that also depends on your weight, sex, and timing. Use the BAC calculator for that.