Keg Drink Count Calculator
how many drinks in a keg
Calculating how many drinks are in a keg is essential for event planning and beverage management. The answer varies based on keg size and serving portions.
Standard Keg Sizes and Servings
A full-size half-barrel keg, the most common type, holds 15.5 gallons of beer. This equals approximately 165 12-ounce servings or 124 16-ounce pints. Smaller keg sizes include quarter-barrels (82 servings) and sixth-barrels (55 servings).
- Half-barrel: 165 twelve-ounce drinks
- Quarter-barrel: 82 twelve-ounce drinks
- Sixth-barrel: 55 twelve-ounce drinks
- Pony keg: 62 twelve-ounce drinks
- Mini keg: 10 fourteen-ounce drinks
Factors Affecting Total Servings
Actual drink counts may vary due to foam, glass size, and pouring technique. Different beer types produce different amounts of head. Professional bartenders typically account for 20% waste from foam and spillage.
Consider your audience's drinking habits when estimating needs. Larger glasses or heavy pourers will reduce total servings per keg.