Keg to Bottle Yield Calculator
A keg yield is simply the keg volume divided by the serving size, in the same unit. This calculator takes the keg volume in fluid ounces, your bottle or serving size, and a loss percentage for foam and line waste, then returns both the theoretical and the realistic number of servings. Set the serving size to 12 fluid ounces for bottles or cans, or 16 for US pints. A US half-barrel keg holds 1,984 fluid ounces.
Keg yield formula
theoretical servings = keg volume / serving size
usable volume = keg volume * (1 - loss% / 100)
realistic servings = usable volume / serving size
gallons = keg volume / 128 (128 fl oz per US gallon)
Both volumes must use the same unit. The loss factor accounts for foam, the first pour, line priming and dregs. There are 128 US fluid ounces in a US gallon.
Worked example: a half-barrel keg
- A US half barrel holds 15.5 gallons = 1,984 fluid ounces.
- Into 12 fl oz bottles: 1,984 / 12 = about 165 bottles theoretically.
- With 5 percent loss, usable volume is 1,884.8 fl oz, about 157 bottles.
- Switching to 16 fl oz pints gives 1,984 / 16 = 124 pints theoretically.
- Real bars often quote about 124 pints or 165 bottles per half barrel.
Keg yield: frequently asked questions
How many bottles are in a keg?
Divide the keg volume by the bottle volume in the same unit. A US half-barrel keg holds 15.5 US gallons, which is 1,984 fluid ounces, so it fills 1,984 divided by 12 = about 165 twelve-ounce bottles, before accounting for foam and line losses.
What are the common keg sizes?
In the US, a half barrel is 15.5 US gallons (1,984 fl oz), a quarter barrel is 7.75 gallons, and a sixth barrel (sixtel) is about 5.16 gallons. Enter your keg volume directly so the calculator works for any size, including European 50 litre or 30 litre kegs converted to your chosen unit.
Why is the real yield a little lower?
Some beer is always lost to foam, the first pour, line priming and the small amount left at the bottom of the keg. This calculator gives the theoretical maximum from the volumes. Expect a few percent fewer servings in practice, more if the beer is over-carbonated or poured warm.
How do I count pints and cans too?
Set the bottle volume to your serving size: 16 fl oz for a US pint, 12 fl oz for a standard can, or whatever your glass holds. The calculator divides the keg volume by that size, so changing the serving size instantly gives the pint or can count.
Official sources
- NIST Handbook 44: US volume units (128 fl oz per gallon).
- Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau: standard keg and barrel volumes.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 19 June 2026. See our methodology.