What Does ABV Mean? ABV vs ABW, Explained With a Conversion Chart
ABV means alcohol by volume: the share of a drink that is pure alcohol. Here is what the number means, how it differs from ABW, how to convert between them, typical ABV by drink, and how brewers measure it.
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ABV stands for alcohol by volume. It is the percentage of a drink's volume that is pure alcohol (ethanol). A beer labelled 5% ABV contains 5 mL of alcohol in every 100 mL, so a 355 mL (12 oz) can holds about 18 mL of pure alcohol. When a label says "alcohol percentage" or "% alc./vol.", it means ABV.
ABV vs ABW at a glance
| ABV (alcohol by volume) | ABW (alcohol by weight) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Volume of alcohol ÷ volume of the drink | Weight of alcohol ÷ weight of the drink |
| A typical 5% ABV beer | 5.0% | About 3.9% |
| Where you see it | Labels in Canada, the US, Europe and most of the world; brewing and winemaking | Older US state laws ("3.2 beer"), some lab and industrial work |
| Quick conversion for beer | ABV ≈ ABW × 1.25 | ABW ≈ ABV × 0.8 |
For the same drink, ABW is always the smaller number. Alcohol is lighter than water, about 0.79 g per mL against 1.00, so the alcohol makes up a smaller share of the weight than of the volume. The drink is not any weaker; it is the same alcohol, counted a different way.
How to convert ABV to ABW
ABW = ABV × 0.789 ÷ density of the drink
0.789 g/mL is the density of ethanol. The density of the drink depends on what else is in it: finished beer is about 1.010, wine about 0.99, and a 40% spirit about 0.95. To go the other way, ABV = ABW × density of the drink ÷ 0.789.
| Drink | ABV | ABW |
|---|---|---|
| Light lager | 4.2% | 3.3% |
| "3.2 beer" | 4.1% | 3.2% |
| Pilsner or lager | 5.0% | 3.9% |
| IPA | 6.5% | 5.1% |
| Double IPA | 9.0% | 7.0% |
| Wine | 12.5% | 9.9% |
| Rum, vodka, whisky | 40% | 33% |
Worked example with a spirit: a 750 mL bottle of 40% ABV rum holds 750 × 0.40 = 300 mL of pure alcohol. At 0.789 g per mL that is about 237 g of alcohol. By weight, that is about 33% of what is in the bottle.
What is "3.2 beer"?
For decades, several US states capped the beer sold in grocery and convenience stores at 3.2% alcohol by weight. That sounds weak, but 3.2% ABW is about 4% ABV, not far off a light lager. Most of those states have since dropped the rule, which is why you rarely see ABW on a label today.
Proof
In the US, proof is simply twice the ABV: an 80 proof spirit is 40% ABV. Canada and most other countries now label spirits by ABV only.
Typical ABV by drink
| Drink | Typical ABV |
|---|---|
| Light lager | 4 to 4.2% |
| Pilsner, helles, most lagers | 4.5 to 5.5% |
| Pale ale | 4.5 to 6% |
| IPA | 6 to 7.5% |
| Double IPA | 8 to 10% |
| Imperial stout, barleywine | 8 to 12% |
| Cider | 4.5 to 7% |
| Wine | 11 to 14% |
| Fortified wine (port, sherry) | 17 to 22% |
| Spirits | 40% and up |
How brewers measure ABV
Commercial labs measure alcohol directly. Homebrewers and most small breweries work it out from two gravity readings: the original gravity (OG) before fermentation and the final gravity (FG) after. Sugar makes wort denser than water; as yeast turn that sugar into alcohol and CO₂, the gravity drops. The size of the drop tells you how much alcohol was made.
ABV ≈ (OG − FG) × 131.25
Example: a pilsner that starts at 1.050 and finishes at 1.010 is (1.050 − 1.010) × 131.25 = 5.25% ABV.
The simple formula reads low for strong beers. Above about 7% ABV, this version is more accurate:
ABV = 76.08 × (OG − FG) ÷ (1.775 − OG) × (FG ÷ 0.794)
For a double IPA that goes from 1.090 to 1.018, the simple formula gives 9.5%; the more accurate one gives 10.3%.
Tips for accurate readings
- Correct for temperature. Most hydrometers read true at 60°F (15.6°C) or 68°F (20°C). A warm sample reads low.
- Use a hydrometer for the final gravity. A refractometer is fine for OG, but alcohol throws off its reading once fermentation starts, so it needs a correction formula for FG.
- Take two FG readings a couple of days apart. If they match, fermentation is finished. See our guide to bottling homebrew for why that matters.
- Pull samples without opening the tank. A tri-clamp sample valve on your fermenter lets you draw a gravity sample while the beer stays sealed.
Frequently asked questions
What does ABV mean?
Alcohol by volume: the percentage of a drink's volume that is pure alcohol. 5% ABV means 5 mL of alcohol in every 100 mL.
Is ABV the same as alcohol percentage?
Yes. When a label in Canada, the US or Europe gives an alcohol percentage, it is ABV.
What is ABW?
Alcohol by weight: the weight of the alcohol as a percentage of the weight of the drink. It is about 80% of the ABV figure for beer.
Is 5% ABW stronger than 5% ABV?
Yes. 5% ABW is about 6.4% ABV in a beer, because the same alcohol reads as a bigger number when it is measured by volume.
What does 80 proof mean?
40% ABV. US proof is twice the ABV.
How do I calculate the ABV of my homebrew?
Take a gravity reading before you pitch the yeast and another when fermentation is finished, then use (OG − FG) × 131.25. For beers above about 7%, use the more accurate formula above.
What is a normal ABV for beer?
Most beers are between 4% and 7% ABV. Light lagers sit around 4%, and strong styles such as double IPAs and imperial stouts run 8 to 12%.
Measuring with a refractometer? Alcohol throws off refractometer readings once fermentation starts. Our free refractometer calculator corrects them and gives you true gravity and ABV.