What is the alcohol percentage of sake? Most sake is 15% to 16% ABV. Genshu, sake that is not diluted with water before bottling, is usually 17% to 20%, and Japanese law requires sake to be below 22%. Sparkling and low-alcohol sakes can be as light as 5% to 12%.
That makes sake a little stronger than most wine, even though it is often served warm and in small cups. A 720 ml bottle of 15% sake contains 10.8 UK units or about 6.1 US standard drinks. This guide covers sake strengths by style, common serving sizes, and how to count them.
Sake alcohol percentage chart
| Sake style | Typical ABV | UK units per 180 ml (1 gō) | US standard drinks per 180 ml |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkling or low-alcohol sake | 5%–12% | 0.9–2.2 | 0.5–1.2 |
| Nigori (cloudy) | 12%–16% | 2.2–2.9 | 1.2–1.6 |
| Regular sake (futsūshu, honjōzō, junmai, ginjō) | 15%–16% | 2.7–2.9 | 1.5–1.6 |
| Genshu (undiluted) | 17%–20% | 3.1–3.6 | 1.7–2.0 |
Premium grades such as junmai daiginjō describe how much the rice was polished and whether brewer's alcohol was added. They do not mean the sake is stronger. Most premium sake is still about 15% to 16%.
Why is sake about 15% to 16%?
Sake is brewed, not distilled, but its fermentation reaches higher alcohol than wine or beer, often 18% to 20% in the tank. Most brewers then add water to bring it down to around 15% to 16% before bottling. Genshu skips that step, which is why it is stronger.
Is sake stronger than wine?
Slightly. Most wine is 11% to 14.5%, and most sake is 15% to 16%. A 150 ml glass of 15.5% sake holds about the same alcohol as a 175 ml glass of 13.5% red wine. See the alcohol percentage chart for beer, wine and spirits for comparison.
How much alcohol is in common sake servings?
Sake is measured in gō: 1 gō is 180 ml, which is the size of a typical tokkuri (serving flask). A standard bottle is 720 ml (4 gō), and the large isshōbin is 1.8 L (10 gō).
| Serving | Volume | UK units at 15% | UK units at 16% | US standard drinks at 15% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small cup (ochoko) | 60 ml | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 |
| Glass | 90 ml | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| Tokkuri (1 gō) | 180 ml | 2.7 | 2.9 | 1.5 |
| Small bottle | 300 ml | 4.5 | 4.8 | 2.5 |
| Standard bottle (yongōbin) | 720 ml | 10.8 | 11.5 | 6.1 |
| Isshōbin | 1.8 L | 27.0 | 28.8 | 15.2 |
Cup sizes vary a lot, so these are only a guide. A shared tokkuri poured into small cups is easy to lose track of, but each flask is roughly one and a half US standard drinks.
Does warm sake have more alcohol?
No. Heating does not raise the alcohol content, and at normal serving temperatures very little alcohol evaporates. Warm sake can feel stronger because alcohol vapour reaches your nose sooner, but the ABV is the same as on the label.
The formula for any sake
UK units = ml × ABV ÷ 1,000
US standard drinks = fluid ounces × ABV (as a decimal) ÷ 0.6
Example 1: a 720 ml bottle of 15% junmai (UK units)
720 × 15 ÷ 1,000 = 10.8 units
Example 2: a tokkuri of 18% genshu (US standard drinks)
180 ml = 6.1 oz. 6.1 × 0.18 = 1.10 oz of pure alcohol, and 1.10 ÷ 0.6 = 1.8 standard drinks
Example 3: two tokkuri shared between two people at 16%
Each person drinks 180 ml. 180 × 16 ÷ 1,000 = 2.9 units each
The alcohol units calculator and the standard drink calculator work for any sake and serving.
Why sake is worth logging carefully
- Small cups hide volume. Three 60 ml cups is one tokkuri.
- Refills are the custom. In Japan, people pour for each other, so your cup rarely empties.
- Genshu looks like any other sake. A 20% genshu has a third more alcohol than a 15% sake in the same cup.
Counting flasks rather than cups is the easiest method. [Alcohol Tracker°](/) lets you save sake with its serving size and ABV on iPhone or Apple Watch, so a tokkuri or a bottle goes into your weekly total in one tap.
Never drive after drinking sake. Use a taxi, public transport, or a designated driver service instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the alcohol percentage of sake?
Most sake is 15% to 16% ABV. Undiluted genshu is usually 17% to 20%, and sparkling sake can be as low as about 5%. By Japanese law, sake must be below 22%.
How many units are in a bottle of sake?
A 720 ml bottle of 15% sake contains 10.8 UK units. At 16% it contains 11.5 units. A 1.8 L isshōbin at 15% contains 27 units.
How many standard drinks are in a bottle of sake?
A 720 ml bottle at 15% contains about 6.1 US standard drinks. That is a little more than a 750 ml bottle of 12% wine, which is about 5.
Can sake get you drunk faster than wine?
Per glass, sake usually has a little more alcohol than wine, and warm sake is often drunk quickly from small cups. The alcohol in each serving is what matters, not the drink type.
What is genshu?
Genshu is sake that has not been diluted with water after brewing. It is usually 17% to 20% ABV, compared with 15% to 16% for most sake.
The quick answer
Sake is usually 15% to 16% ABV, genshu 17% to 20%, and Japanese law keeps sake below 22%. A 180 ml tokkuri of 15% sake contains 2.7 UK units or 1.5 US standard drinks, and a 720 ml bottle contains 10.8 units or about 6 standard drinks.
Sources: National Tax Agency (Japan): Liquor administration, NIAAA: What is a standard drink?, CDC: About alcohol use, NHS alcohol units, and the UK Chief Medical Officers' low-risk drinking guidelines.
Keep exploring
Use the calculator or continue with a related guide:
Put the guide into practice
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Track units, standard drinks, cost, calories, dry days and estimated BAC on iPhone and Apple Watch.
