Alcohol calorie calculator
The calories in an alcoholic drink come from alcohol — 7 kcal per gram — and sugar. The calculator works out calories and grams of pure ethanol for a drink from the table, or for your own strength and volume, and converts the grams into standard drinks by three definitions.
Ethanol provides 7 kcal per gram, as in the FAO energy conversion report. Grams of alcohol are volume × strength × 0.789, where 0.789 is the density of ethanol. A 50 ml shot of 40% vodka: 50 × 0.4 × 0.789 ≈ 16 g of alcohol, about 110 kcal.
There is no single definition of a standard drink. In the United Kingdom a “unit” is 8 g of alcohol, in the United States a standard drink is 14 g, and a review of definitions in 37 countries found 10 g most common, with a range of 8 to 20 g. The calculator shows all three so the number can be compared with any source.
How it works
- Choose a drink from the table, or “my own drink”, and give its strength.
- Enter the serving size and the number of servings.
- Read the calories, the grams of pure ethanol and the number of standard drinks.
What WHO says about a safe level
In a statement published in The Lancet Public Health in January 2023, WHO says that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption: the risk to health starts with the first drink and rises with the amount.
With alcohol dependence, pregnancy, breastfeeding or medication, questions about alcohol are for a doctor.
| Definition | Grams of pure alcohol |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom (NHS) | One “unit” is 8 g of pure alcohol, 10 ml |
| Most common worldwide (review of 37 countries, 2016) | 10 g; the range is 8 to 20 g |
| United States (NIAAA) | 14 g: a 12 oz can of 5% beer, 5 oz of 12% wine, 1.5 oz of 40% spirits |
| In millilitres of pure alcohol | 8 g is 10 ml, 10 g is 13 ml, 14 g is 18 ml |
Frequently asked questions
- How many calories are in a glass of dry red wine?
- A 150 ml glass has about 114 kcal and 16 g of pure alcohol. Almost all of those calories come from the alcohol: dry wine has hardly any sugar.
- How many grams of alcohol are in a 0.5 L bottle of vodka?
- At 40% a bottle holds 158 g of pure ethanol and about 1095 kcal.
- What is a standard drink?
- A conventional amount of pure alcohol. There is no single definition: 8 grams in the United Kingdom, 14 grams in the United States, 10 grams most commonly worldwide, and from 8 to 20 grams across countries.
- Is there a safe amount of alcohol?
- In its 2023 statement WHO says there is no safe level of alcohol consumption: the risk to health starts with the first drink.
Further reading
More calculators: Calorie calculator, TDEE calculator, BMI calculator, Ideal weight calculator.
This calculator gives an estimate for general information. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a prescription for treatment or a diet, and it does not replace a consultation with your doctor. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, take medication, or follow a diet prescribed to you, decisions about food belong with your doctor.