How many units are in a can of cider? A 440 ml can at 4.5% ABV contains about 2 UK units, and at 5% it contains 2.2 units. A 500 ml bottle at 5% contains 2.5 units, and a 2 litre bottle at 5% contains 10 units.
Cider is easy to under-count because it feels like a long, light drink, yet many ciders are stronger than lager and come in larger containers. Fruit ciders are often 4%, while dry and craft ciders reach 6% to 7.5%. This guide covers every common can, bottle, and pint size, with a formula you can use on any label.
How many units are in cider, by container?
In the UK, one unit is 10 ml or 8 grams of pure alcohol. The table shows units for common cider sizes and strengths.
| Container | Volume | 4% ABV | 4.5% ABV | 5% ABV | 6% ABV | 7.5% ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small bottle | 330 ml | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Can | 440 ml | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.3 |
| Bottle or tall can | 500 ml | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.8 |
| Pint | 568 ml | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 4.3 |
| Litre bottle | 1 L | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.5 |
| Large bottle | 2 L | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 12.0 | 15.0 |
| Large bottle | 3 L | 12.0 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 18.0 | 22.5 |
How many units are in a 440ml can of cider?
A 440 ml can contains 1.8 units at 4%, 2 units at 4.5%, 2.2 units at 5%, and 3.3 units at 7.5%. A four-pack of 440 ml cans at 4.5% therefore holds about 8 units.
How many units are in a 500ml bottle of cider?
A 500 ml bottle contains 2 units at 4%, 2.25 units at 4.5%, and 2.5 units at 5%. Many flavoured fruit ciders are 4%, which makes the 500 ml bottle exactly 2 units.
How many units are in 2 litres of cider?
A 2 litre bottle contains 8 units at 4%, 10 units at 5%, and 15 units at 7.5%. A single 2 litre bottle of 5% cider is more than two-thirds of the UK weekly low-risk guideline, and a 7.5% bottle is above it.
Cider strength by style
| Style | Typical ABV | Units per 500 ml |
|---|---|---|
| Low-alcohol cider | up to 1.2% | up to 0.6 |
| Fruit cider | 4%–4.5% | 2.0–2.3 |
| Standard apple cider | 4.5%–5% | 2.3–2.5 |
| Dry or craft cider | 5.5%–6.5% | 2.8–3.3 |
| Strong cider | 7%–7.5% | 3.5–3.8 |
| Perry (pear cider) | 4.5%–6% | 2.3–3.0 |
Scrumpy and farmhouse ciders vary widely, and draught cider in pubs may differ from the bottled version of the same brand. If the strength is unclear, ask or check the tap label.
The cider units formula
For any can, bottle, or glass:
units = volume in ml × ABV ÷ 1,000
Example 1: a 440 ml can at 4.5%
440 × 4.5 ÷ 1,000 = 1.98, or about 2 units
Example 2: a 500 ml bottle of craft cider at 6%
500 × 6 ÷ 1,000 = 3 units
Example 3: a 2 litre bottle at 5%
2,000 × 5 ÷ 1,000 = 10 units
The alcohol units calculator does the same arithmetic. For a pint, see how many units are in a pint, which covers draught cider alongside lager and ale.
Cider in US standard drinks
In the US, a standard drink is 14 grams of pure alcohol, roughly a 12 oz serving at 5% ABV. A 12 oz (355 ml) can of hard cider at 5% is therefore about 1 standard drink, and a 16 oz can at 6.9% is about 1.8 standard drinks. The standard drink calculator converts any size and strength.
How cider fits into the weekly guideline
The UK Chief Medical Officers advise that it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, spread over three or more days.
| Amount of cider | Units | Share of 14-unit guideline |
|---|---|---|
| One 440 ml can at 4.5% | 2.0 | 14% |
| One 500 ml bottle at 5% | 2.5 | 18% |
| A four-pack of 440 ml cans at 4.5% | 7.9 | 57% |
| A 2 litre bottle at 5% | 10.0 | 71% |
| Six 500 ml bottles at 4% | 12.0 | 86% |
Seven 440 ml cans at 4.5% add up to roughly the full 14 units. If you want to reduce, choosing a lower-strength cider or a smaller container cuts units without changing the habit. More ideas are in practical ways to reduce alcohol intake.
Units do not measure impairment. Never use a cider count or units calculation to decide whether you can drive.
Track cider by can and strength
Cider ABV varies enough that logging "a can" is not precise. Recording the volume and ABV printed on each can or bottle gives a much truer weekly total.
Alcohol Tracker° lets you log drinks by size and strength and keeps the running weekly total. You can [see Alcohol Tracker° for iPhone and Apple Watch](/) if you want an easier way to track.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many units are in a can of cider?
A 440 ml can contains about 2 units at 4.5% ABV and 2.2 units at 5%. A 330 ml can or bottle at 4.5% contains about 1.5 units.
How many units are in a bottle of fruit cider?
Many fruit ciders are 4% ABV in 500 ml bottles, which is 2 units per bottle. Check the label, because some flavours and brands are 4.5% or higher.
How many units are in a pint of cider?
A 568 ml pint contains 2.6 units at 4.5%, 2.8 units at 5%, and 3.4 units at 6%.
Is cider stronger than beer?
Often, yes. Standard ciders are commonly 4.5% to 5%, while many standard lagers are 4% to 4.5%. Some strong ciders reach 7.5%, so per container cider can contain noticeably more units.
How many units are in a 2 litre bottle of strong cider?
A 2 litre bottle at 7.5% ABV contains 15 units, which is more than the UK weekly low-risk guideline of 14 units in one bottle.
The quick answer
How many units are in a can of cider? A 440 ml can at 4.5% is about 2 units, a 500 ml bottle at 5% is 2.5, a pint at 5% is 2.8, and a 2 litre bottle at 5% is 10. Multiply millilitres by ABV and divide by 1,000 for any other size.
Sources: NHS alcohol units, UK Chief Medical Officers' low risk drinking guidelines, and CDC: About standard drink sizes.
Keep exploring
Use the calculator or continue with a related guide:
Put the guide into practice
Keep a clearer drink diary.
Track units, standard drinks, cost, calories, dry days and estimated BAC on iPhone and Apple Watch.
