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Generated on: July 20, 2026 at 09:33 PM

Keg Servings Calculator

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Keg sizeHalf barrel (15.5 gal)
Pour size330 ml

Serving counts are theoretical maximums based on the keg volume divided by your pour size. Actual yield is typically about 5% lower because of foam, draft-line waste, and the flat beer left at the bottom of the keg. Please drink responsibly.

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Food & Cooking

Keg Servings Calculator

Work out how many glasses you can pour from a keg. Choose a keg size and your pour size to see the number of servings.

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≥ 0 ml

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A Half barrel (15.5 gal)-litre keg poured at 330 ml per glass yields about ... servings. Expect a few fewer in practice — roughly 5% is lost to foam and the last flat pours at the bottom.

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Keg Servings

Working out how many glasses a keg will pour is just a matter of dividing the keg's volume by the size of each serving. The main US keg sizes are the half barrel (58.7 litres / 15.5 gallons), the quarter barrel (29.3 litres / 7.75 gallons), the sixth barrel or "sixtel" (19.5 litres / 5.16 gallons), and the 5-gallon Cornelius or "corny" keg (18.9 litres) that homebrewers favour. The half barrel is the keg most people picture behind a bar; the smaller sizes suit kegerators and modest gatherings.

Servings from a keg

Divide the keg volume by your pour size to get the number of glasses:

servings=⌊keg volumepour size⌋\text{servings} = \left\lfloor \frac{\text{keg volume}}{\text{pour size}} \right\rfloor

The floor brackets mean you round down, since a partial glass is not a full serving.

Worked example — a half barrel poured at 330 ml:

servings=⌊58.7 L0.33 L⌋=⌊177.8⌋=177\text{servings} = \left\lfloor \frac{58.7 \text{ L}}{0.33 \text{ L}} \right\rfloor = \lfloor 177.8 \rfloor = 177

So a half barrel gives roughly 177 small glasses. Pour fuller 500 ml glasses instead and the same keg yields about 117.

Worked example — a half barrel poured at 12 fl oz:

servings=⌊1984 fl oz12 fl oz⌋=⌊165.3⌋=165\text{servings} = \left\lfloor \frac{1984 \text{ fl oz}}{12 \text{ fl oz}} \right\rfloor = \lfloor 165.3 \rfloor = 165

So a half barrel gives roughly 165 can-sized servings. Pour full 16 fl oz pints instead and the same keg yields about 124.

Why you get a little less in practice

The figure above is a theoretical maximum. In the real world you should expect to lose around 5% of a keg to foam, the beer left sitting in the draft lines, and the flat pours at the very bottom once the keg starts to blow. A keg that calculates to 165 servings will more realistically hand out around 155 good glasses. Chilling the keg thoroughly before tapping and setting the right pressure on the regulator both cut down on foaming and waste.

Planning a party

To size your order, estimate total drinks before choosing a keg. A common rule of thumb is about two drinks per guest in the first hour and one per hour after that. Multiply that out, divide by the servings for your chosen keg, and round up so you do not run dry. For drinks planning across beer, wine, and spirits, the Party Drinks Calculator covers the whole bar, and the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Calculator is a useful reference for keeping the night responsible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many beers are in a keg?

A standard half-barrel keg holds about 58.7 litres. Poured at 355 ml per glass — a typical can-sized serving — that is roughly 165 beers. At a fuller 500 ml pour you get about 117. These are theoretical maximums: in practice foam, line waste, and the flat beer at the bottom trim the count by around 5%.

A standard half-barrel keg holds about 15.5 gallons, or 1,984 fluid ounces. Poured at 12 fl oz per glass — a typical can-sized serving — that is roughly 165 beers. At a full 16 fl oz pint you get about 124. These are theoretical maximums: in practice foam, line waste, and the flat beer at the bottom trim the count by around 5%.

What are the standard keg sizes?

The common US keg sizes are the half barrel (58.7 litres), the quarter barrel (29.3 litres), the sixth barrel or "sixtel" (19.5 litres), and the 5-gallon Cornelius or "corny" keg (18.9 litres) used mostly for homebrew. The half barrel is the keg most people picture; the sixth barrel and corny suit smaller gatherings and kegerators.

The common US keg sizes are the half barrel (15.5 gal), the quarter barrel (7.75 gal), the sixth barrel or "sixtel" (5.16 gal), and the 5-gallon Cornelius or "corny" keg used mostly for homebrew. The half barrel is the keg most people picture; the sixth barrel and corny suit smaller gatherings and kegerators.

How many kegs do I need for a party?

Estimate the total number of drinks first: a common rule of thumb is about two drinks per guest in the first hour and one per hour after that. Multiply guests by the expected hours of drinking, then divide by the servings figure above for your chosen keg and pour size.

For a relaxed gathering many hosts plan one half barrel per 50–60 guests over an afternoon, but adjust for how heavily your crowd drinks and always round up rather than running dry.

Disclaimer

Serving counts are theoretical maximums based on the keg volume divided by your pour size. Actual yield is typically about 5% lower because of foam, draft-line waste, and the flat beer left at the bottom of the keg. Please drink responsibly.

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