Keg size chart, plus wine and liquor bottle sizes
How much beer is in each keg, how many glasses are in a bottle of wine, and how many drinks in a bottle of liquor — the three conversions every party bar needs. Keg sizes come from KegWorks and the federal definition of a barrel; drink sizes from NIAAA’s standard drink.
Beer keg sizes
| Keg | Gallons | Liters | 12 oz beers | 16 oz pints | 24-can cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half barrel (full size) | 15.5 | 58.7 | 165 | 124 | 6.9 |
| Quarter barrel (pony) | 7.75 | 29.3 | 82 | 62 | 3.4 |
| Slim quarter | 7.75 | 29.3 | 82 | 62 | 3.4 |
| Sixth barrel | 5.16 | 19.5 | 55 | 41 | 2.3 |
| Cornelius (homebrew) | 5 | 18.9 | 53 | 40 | 2.2 |
| 50 L (European) | 13.2 | 50 | 140 | 105 | 5.9 |
| Mini keg (5 L) | 1.32 | 5 | 14 | 10 | 0.6 |
“A keg” almost always means the half barrel. A pony keg is a quarter barrel; a slim quarter holds the same beer in a taller, narrower shell that fits some kegerators better. A sixth barrel is a popular way to offer a second beer. At a party, some of every keg goes to foam — especially from a hand pump on a keg that has just been moved — so plan about 10% less than the clean-pour count. How many beers in a keg works through it, and how many kegs for 100 guests applies it to a wedding.
Wine bottle sizes
| Bottle | Fluid ounces | 5 oz glasses | 4 oz pours (toast) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half bottle (375 ml) | 12.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 |
| Standard (750 ml) | 25.4 | 5.1 | 6.3 |
| Liter (1 L) | 33.8 | 6.8 | 8.5 |
| Magnum (1.5 L) | 50.7 | 10.1 | 12.7 |
| 3 L (3 L) | 101.4 | 20.3 | 25.4 |
A standard 750 ml bottle pours about five 5 oz glasses — see how many glasses of wine in a bottle. For a champagne toast at a 4 oz pour, about six — how many bottles of champagne for a toast for 100 guests.
Liquor bottle sizes
| Bottle | Fluid ounces | 1.5 oz drinks | 1 oz pours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 ml | 6.8 | 4.5 | 6.8 |
| 375 ml | 12.7 | 8.5 | 12.7 |
| 750 ml (fifth) | 25.4 | 16.9 | 25.4 |
| 1 L | 33.8 | 22.5 | 33.8 |
| 1.75 L (handle) | 59.2 | 39.4 | 59.2 |
The fifth is the standard bottle: about 17 drinks — how many shots in a fifth. For a party bar, how many bottles of liquor for 100 guests does the full count.
One standard drink, three ways
NIAAA defines a standard drink as any drink with about 0.6 fl oz (14 g) of pure alcohol: 12 oz of regular beer at about 5%, 5 oz of table wine at about 12%, or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits at about 40%. Stronger beers, bigger glasses and free pours all hold more than one standard drink, which is why a jigger and marked cups keep a party bar on plan. For the guest count, plan by drinkers, not guests: some guests drink beer, some wine, some cocktails and some nothing.
Comparing kegs, cans and bottles
- A half barrel ≈ 6.9 cases of 24 twelve-ounce cans.
- A case of wine (12 × 750 ml) ≈ 60 five-ounce glasses.
- A handle ≈ 39 drinks at 1.5 oz.
- One standard drink each: a 12 oz beer, a 5 oz glass of wine, a 1.5 oz shot.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a full keg?
A full-size keg is a half barrel: 15.5 US gallons, about 165 twelve-ounce beers or 124 pints (KegWorks). The barrel itself is 31 gallons by federal definition.
How many cases of beer equal a keg?
About 6.9 cases of 24 twelve-ounce cans for a half barrel, 3.4 for a quarter and 2.3 for a sixth barrel.
Sources
- KegWorks — Guide to beer keg sizes (opens in a new tab) — Half barrel 15.5 gal (about 165 twelve-ounce pours, 124 pints); quarter 7.75 gal (82 / 62); sixth 5.16 gal (55 / 41); Cornelius 5 gal; 5 L mini keg 1.32 gal (about 14 twelve-ounce pours).
- eCFR 27 CFR 25.11 — Definitions: barrel (Cornell LII copy) (opens in a new tab) — A barrel of beer, as a unit of measure, is 31 U.S. gallons.
- NIAAA — What is a standard drink? (opens in a new tab) — One standard drink holds 0.6 fl oz (14 g) of pure alcohol: 12 fl oz of regular beer (about 5%), 5 fl oz of table wine (about 12%), or 1.5 fl oz of distilled spirits (about 40%).
- eCFR 27 CFR 4.72 — Standards of fill for wine (Cornell LII copy) (opens in a new tab) — Authorized wine container sizes include 750 mL, 1.5 L and 3 L.
- eCFR 27 CFR 5.203 — Standards of fill for distilled spirits (Cornell LII copy) (opens in a new tab) — Authorized spirits sizes include 750 mL, 1 L and 1.75 L.
- CDC — Moderate alcohol use (page dated January 14, 2025) (opens in a new tab) — Defines moderate drinking for adults of legal drinking age as two drinks or less in a day for men and one drink or less for women, citing the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines.