What is the alcohol by volume (ABV) of different beers?
NIAAA lists regular beer at about 5% alcohol by volume, some light beers at 4.2%, malt liquor at about 7% and some craft beers at 10%. A 12 fl oz beer at 10% ABV contains two U.S. standard drinks.
Free download
Alcohol Content and Calories Chart (PDF)
ABV, proof, calories, carbs and grams of alcohol per serving for beer, wine, spirits and liqueurs. Every line shows its source and the date we read it. Print it or keep it on your phone.
- Typical beer, wine and spirits strengths from the NIAAA
- USDA values for typical drinks and the makers' own figures for Kahlua, Baileys, Cointreau, Patron, Tito's and more
Thank you
Your chart is ready
We use your email only for this download.In this article
Beer ABV at a glance
| Type | ABV (NIAAA) |
|---|---|
| Some light beers | 4.2% |
| Regular beer | about 5% |
| Malt liquor and flavored malt beverages | about 7% |
| Some craft beers | 10% |
Why ABV matters
NIAAA counts 12 fl oz of regular beer (about 5%) as one standard drink, and 8 to 10 fl oz of malt liquor (about 7%) as one. A 12 oz bottle at 10% ABV holds two standard drinks.
Find your own beer
These are typical values, not brands. Your label shows the real ABV. Use our standard drink calculator or see how many drinks are in a bottle.
We found no single official list of beer brands and their ABV, so we do not rank brands here.
People also ask
What is the average ABV of beer?
NIAAA gives about 5% for regular beer.
How much alcohol is in light beer?
NIAAA gives 4.2% ABV for some light beers.
Can a beer be two standard drinks?
Yes. NIAAA says a 12 oz beer at 10% ABV contains two standard drinks.
Sources
About · How we verify this · Editorial policy · Corrections
