Alcohol Calorie Calculator
Calculate the calories in a drink from its volume and ABV, based on the 7 calories per gram of pure alcohol.
Last updated · View algorithm, constants and default inputs (JSON)
About this calculator
Alcohol provides about 7 kilocalories per gram — close to fat, and more than either carbohydrate or protein. Mixers and sugary additions are not included, so a cocktail will usually be higher than the figure shown here.
Worked example
calculated with the default values below
Drink volume 500 ml · Alcohol by volume (ABV) 5 % · Number of drinks 1 drinks Calories 138 kcal · Pure alcohol 19.7 g · U.S. standard drinks (14 g each) 1.41 drinks · Calories per drink 138 kcal
General background references
Disclaimer
These calculators are for general information only and are not a medical device, a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Reference ranges describe populations, not individuals, and do not account for pregnancy, medication, disability or athletic training. Discuss your own situation with a qualified healthcare professional.
Implementation source
This record describes the implementation used by this page. It is not independent validation. External references, when available, support only the stated formula or definition; estimates and custom rules retain their own assumptions.
Formula and variables
kcal = V × (ABV ÷ 100) × 0.789 × n × 7
- kcal
- total calories
- V
- volume per drink (ml)
- ABV
- strength (%)
- n
- number of drinks
Ethanol density 0.789 g/ml and 7 kcal/g; one standard drink = 14 g of ethanol.
Frequently asked questions
What calories does this alcohol calculator include?
It estimates ethanol calories only: volume × ABV ÷ 100 × 0.789 grams per millilitre × 7 kcal per gram, multiplied by the number of drinks. A 500 ml drink at 5% ABV contains about 19.7 g of ethanol and contributes about 138 kcal from alcohol. Sugar, mixers and other ingredients are not inputs, so the displayed value can be lower than the drink’s actual total calories.