A UK pint of beer at 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) contains about 2.3 alcohol units. The same 568 ml pint at 5% contains about 2.8 units, while a strong 6% pint contains about 3.4 units. The glass size stays the same; the strength changes the alcohol amount.
The label settles the answer.
This is the primary page for pint, lager, ale, stout, and cider unit calculations. For can-size questions, see how many units are in a can of beer; the UK alcohol units guide covers the 14-unit guideline and drink-free-day context.
This guide shows how many units are in a pint of beer across common strengths, how half pints compare, and why the word “pint” can mean something different outside the UK.
How many units are in a pint of beer?
Use this chart for a full UK imperial pint of 568 ml:
| Beer strength | Units in one pint |
|---|---|
| 3.0% ABV | 1.70 |
| 3.5% ABV | 1.99 |
| 3.6% ABV | 2.04 |
| 4.0% ABV | 2.27 |
| 4.5% ABV | 2.56 |
| 5.0% ABV | 2.84 |
| 5.2% ABV | 2.95 |
| 5.5% ABV | 3.12 |
| 6.0% ABV | 3.41 |
| 6.5% ABV | 3.69 |
| 7.0% ABV | 3.98 |
| 8.0% ABV | 4.54 |
Check the pump clip, tap list, can, bottle, or menu for the actual ABV. Beer style alone is not enough: two IPAs, lagers, or stouts can have very different strengths.
The pint-units formula
One UK alcohol unit is 10 ml or about 8 g of pure alcohol. Calculate units with:
units = volume in ml × ABV ÷ 1,000
For a 568 ml pint at 4%:
568 × 4 ÷ 1,000 = 2.272 units
For a 568 ml pint at 5.2%:
568 × 5.2 ÷ 1,000 = 2.9536 units
Round only at the end. Use the Alcohol Units Calculator when you know the exact strength, then see the UK alcohol units guide for weekly-guideline context.
Units in a half pint
A UK half pint is 284 ml, so it contains exactly half the units of a full pint at the same ABV.
| Beer strength | Half-pint units | Full-pint units |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5% | 0.99 | 1.99 |
| 4.0% | 1.14 | 2.27 |
| 5.0% | 1.42 | 2.84 |
| 6.0% | 1.70 | 3.41 |
| 7.0% | 1.99 | 3.98 |
A half pint can make serving size easier to control, but it is not automatically one unit. At 7% ABV, a half pint is almost two units.
Beer, lager, ale, stout, and cider
The formula is identical for every beverage. The useful inputs are volume and ABV, not colour or style.
- A 3.6% session beer pint is about 2.0 units.
- A 4.2% pale ale pint is about 2.4 units.
- A 5% lager pint is about 2.8 units.
- A 6.5% IPA pint is about 3.7 units.
- An 8% imperial stout pint is about 4.5 units.
- A 5% cider pint is about 2.8 units.
Some venues serve strong beer in smaller glasses. Use the actual volume rather than assuming a pint.
Is a pint always 568 ml?
No. In the UK, an imperial pint is 568 ml. A US liquid pint is 16 US fl oz, about 473 ml. In other countries, venues may use “pint” informally for different glass sizes.
At 5% ABV:
| Serving | Volume | UK units |
|---|---|---|
| UK pint | 568 ml | 2.84 |
| US pint | 473 ml | 2.37 |
| 500 ml glass | 500 ml | 2.50 |
| 400 ml glass | 400 ml | 2.00 |
If the venue publishes millilitres, use that number. If not, ask or record the uncertainty.
Pint units versus US standard drinks
UK units and US standard drinks are different measurement systems. One US standard drink contains about 14 g of pure alcohol, while one UK unit contains about 8 g.
A UK pint of 5% beer contains about 22.4 g of alcohol. That is roughly 1.6 US standard drinks and 2.84 UK units. Both numbers can be correct; use the one relevant to local guidance. For a U.S. result from an exact serving size and ABV, use the Standard Drink Calculator.
The standard drink guide explains the difference and links to a calculator.
How many pints are 14 units?
The answer depends on ABV:
| Pint strength | Units per pint | Approximate pints totaling 14 units |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5% | 1.99 | 7.0 |
| 4.0% | 2.27 | 6.2 |
| 5.0% | 2.84 | 4.9 |
| 6.0% | 3.41 | 4.1 |
The NHS advises adults who drink regularly not to exceed 14 units a week on a regular basis, to spread intake over three or more days, and to include several drink-free days when cutting down. The guideline is not a target and does not make any occasion risk-free.
Do not use units or an “hours per unit” shortcut to decide whether to drive. Unit calculations describe pure alcohol consumed; they do not measure BAC or impairment.
How to log a pint accurately
- Confirm whether the serving is a full pint, half pint, or another size.
- Find the ABV.
- Enter volume and ABV.
- Keep the original drink details with the calculated units.
- Count each serving rather than relying on the final total from memory.
Alcohol Tracker° can save repeat drinks and keep units, time, calories, cost, and dry days in one history. For cans and smaller containers, see how many units are in a can of beer.
Worked examples for a night with several pints
Add the units for each actual serving rather than multiplying by a single assumed beer strength. Two pints of 4% lager contain about 4.54 units. Three pints contain about 6.82. If the third drink is a 6.5% IPA, the evening total becomes 2.27 + 2.27 + 3.69, or about 8.24 units.
Mixed rounds make a diary more important. A half pint of one beer followed by a full pint of another needs two lines or two saved presets. If ABV is unknown, record the best available estimate and mark it as uncertain.
Does foam or a short pour change the calculation?
Units depend on the liquid beer consumed. A head of foam occupies some glass volume, and licensed serving rules may allow customary head space, but estimating millilitres from foam is rarely useful for a personal diary. Use the stated serving and ABV unless the pour was clearly different. The larger practical errors usually come from assuming the wrong glass size, missing a drink, or ignoring a much higher ABV.
Beer units, calories, and hydration
Units measure pure alcohol; they do not measure calories, carbohydrate, hydration, or impairment. Two beers with the same units can have different calories, and water consumed alongside beer does not cancel the alcohol. Food and hydration may affect how someone feels and the timing of absorption, but they do not turn a unit total into a BAC measurement or driving rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many units are in a pint of 4% beer?
A 568 ml UK pint at 4% ABV contains 2.272 UK units, normally rounded to about 2.3. Multiply 568 by 4 and divide by 1,000.
How many units are in a pint of 5% lager?
A 568 ml pint at 5% contains 2.84 UK units. A half pint at the same strength contains 1.42 units.
How many units are in a pint of Guinness?
Use the ABV shown for the specific product and market; variants can differ. If the pint is 568 ml, multiply 568 by the listed ABV and divide by 1,000. At 4.2%, the result is about 2.39 units.
Is one pint one unit?
Usually not. A full pint would contain one unit only at about 1.76% ABV. Most regular beers are stronger, so a typical UK pint contains roughly two to three units, with strong beers containing more.
Can pint units tell me when I can drive?
No. Units measure the alcohol consumed, not real BAC or impairment. Absorption and elimination vary. Never use a unit count, calculator, or countdown to decide whether to drive after drinking.
The quick answer
How many units are in a pint of beer? For a 568 ml UK pint, the common range is about 2 units at lower strength to 3 units at higher regular strength. Check the ABV and calculate the exact result; strong craft beers can contain four units or more per pint.
Sources: NHS alcohol units guide, NHS England unit-conversion methodology, and Drinkaware explanation of alcohol units.
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.
