nrtechstudio
Tools / Standard Drink Calculator
Standard Drink Calculator
How many standard drinks are in your beer, wine, or shot? Enter any serving by volume and ABV — or pick a preset — and get standard drinks, pure alcohol grams, beer/wine/shot equivalents, and a running session total. Based on the US NIAAA definition: 1 standard drink = 14 g of pure alcohol (≈ 0.6 fl oz).
Educational tool only. This calculator counts the quantity of alcohol in drinks. It does not estimate intoxication or blood alcohol level, and it is not encouragement to drink. Never drive after drinking.
Must be greater than 0.
US standard
– standard drinks
- Pure alcohol
- –
- ≈ Calories from alcohol
- –
–
Same alcohol as
–× 12 oz beer (5%)
–× 5 oz wine (12%)
–× 1.5 oz shots (40%)
Session drinks (added from the Single drink tab)
No drinks added yet. Calculate a drink, then tap “+ Add to session”.
– total standard drinks
- Drinks in session
- –
- Total pure alcohol
- –
- ≈ Total calories from alcohol
- –
Reference: one US standard drink each
Per NIAAA, each of these servings contains about 14 g (≈ 0.6 fl oz) of pure alcohol:
| Beverage | Serving | Typical ABV |
|---|---|---|
| Regular beer | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 5% |
| Malt liquor / hard seltzer | 8–10 fl oz | 7% |
| Table wine | 5 fl oz (148 mL) | 12% |
| Fortified wine (sherry, port) | 3–4 fl oz | 17% |
| Cordial / liqueur / aperitif | 2–3 fl oz | 24% |
| Distilled spirits (vodka, whiskey, …) | 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) | 40% (80 proof) |
Standard-drink size by country
| Country | Grams of pure alcohol |
|---|---|
| United States (NIAAA) | 14 g |
| United Kingdom | 8 g (1 unit) |
| Australia | 10 g |
| Canada | 13.6 g |
Methodology
Pure alcohol (g) = volume (mL) × (ABV ÷ 100) × 0.789, where 0.789 g/mL is the density of ethanol at 20 °C. Standard drinks = pure alcohol (g) ÷ grams per standard drink (14 for the US). Alcohol energy is approximated at 7 kcal per gram of pure alcohol; a finished beverage has more calories from carbohydrates and sugars. US proof = 2 × ABV%.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standard drink?
In the United States, a standard drink (also called an alcoholic drink-equivalent) is any beverage containing 14 grams of pure alcohol — about 0.6 fluid ounces of pure ethanol. The definition comes from the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
What is the formula for calculating standard drinks?
Pure alcohol in grams = volume in milliliters × (ABV ÷ 100) × 0.789, where 0.789 is the density of ethanol in g/mL. Standard drinks = pure alcohol in grams ÷ 14. For example, 355 mL of 5% beer: 355 × 0.05 × 0.789 = 14.0 g, which is 1.0 standard drink.
How many standard drinks are in a 12 oz beer?
A 12 fl oz (355 mL) regular beer at 5% ABV contains about 1.0 US standard drink. Stronger beers contain more: the same 12 oz at 6.5% ABV is about 1.3 standard drinks, and at 9% ABV about 1.8.
How many standard drinks are in a bottle of wine?
A standard 750 mL bottle of wine at 12% ABV contains about 5.1 US standard drinks (750 × 0.12 × 0.789 ÷ 14). A single 5 fl oz glass at 12% ABV is 1.0 standard drink.
How many standard drinks are in a shot of liquor?
A 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) shot of 80-proof spirits (40% ABV) is 1.0 US standard drink. A 100-proof (50% ABV) shot of the same size is about 1.25 standard drinks.
How do you convert proof to standard drinks?
In the US, proof is twice the ABV percentage: 80 proof = 40% ABV. Convert proof to ABV first (proof ÷ 2), then apply the formula: volume in mL × (ABV ÷ 100) × 0.789 ÷ 14.
Is a standard drink the same in every country?
No. A US standard drink is 14 g of pure alcohol, but the UK uses 8 g per unit, Australia 10 g, and Canada 13.6 g. This calculator lets you switch between the US, UK, Australian, and Canadian definitions.
Does this calculator tell me how drunk I am or my blood alcohol level?
No. Standard drinks measure the quantity of alcohol in a beverage, not intoxication. Blood alcohol depends on body weight, sex, food, time, and other factors — this tool does not estimate it. Never drive after drinking.
How many calories are in a standard drink?
Pure alcohol has about 7 kilocalories per gram, so one US standard drink (14 g) contains roughly 98 kcal from alcohol alone. Real beverages contain more calories from carbohydrates and sugars.
What counts as moderate or low-risk drinking?
US Dietary Guidelines describe moderate drinking as up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 per day for men — these are upper bounds, not recommendations, and some people should not drink at all. This calculator is an educational tool, not medical advice; talk to a health professional about your own situation.
See also: Unit Converter — convert milliliters, fluid ounces, and other units used in drink measurements.
Free tool by NRTechStudio