How many bottles do I need for a 23-litre batch?

A 23L batch with 1.5L trub loss yields about 21.5L of packagable beer. That is approximately 65 x 330ml bottles, 43 x 500ml bottles or 29 x 750ml bottles. Always prepare a few extra bottles in case.

How much priming sugar do I need per bottle?

For moderate carbonation (2.4 CO2 volumes), you need approximately 6 grams of table sugar per litre. For a 330ml bottle, that is about 2g. Always dissolve priming sugar in boiled water and add to the entire batch before bottling for even carbonation.

What size bottles should I choose?

330ml bottles are great for session beers and sharing. 500ml is the standard UK homebrew size. 750ml suits Belgian styles and higher ABV beers where you want to serve less volume. PET bottles are ideal for beginners as they eliminate breakage risk.

How many caps should I buy?

Buy 5-10% more caps than bottles. Caps are cheap and it is frustrating to run out mid-bottling. This calculator includes a 5% buffer automatically.

How many bottles fit in a case box?

Standard case boxes hold 12 bottles for 330ml and 500ml sizes, or 6 bottles for 750ml. You can buy flat-pack bottle boxes from homebrew suppliers.

BrewCalcs

Bottle Count Calculator

Calculate exactly how many bottles, caps and supplies you need for your batch.

Batch Volume

Volume measurement

Trub Loss

Beer left behind in fermenter

Bottle Size

Enter the bottle size

How We Calculate This

Bottle Count Formula

Packagable Volume = Batch Volume - Trub Loss - Fill Loss

Bottles Needed = Packagable Volume / (Bottle Size - Headspace), rounded up.

Priming Sugar

Calculated at 6g per litre for moderate carbonation (~2.4 CO2 volumes using table sugar).

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify values and adjust based on your equipment and ingredients.