Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Usable pours per keg
112
Cost per pour
$1.48
Pour cost %
21.1%
Usable ounces after loss
1,786
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One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter keg size.
- 2Enter keg cost ($).
- 3Enter pour size (oz).
- 4Enter foam/spillage loss (%).
- 5Enter price per pour ($).
- 6Read your usable pours per keg on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
A standard half-barrel keg holds 15.5 gallons, or 1,984 ounces. At a 16oz pour with roughly 8-10% loss to foam, spillage, and the first-pour waste that comes with line cleaning, real-world yield is closer to 110-124 usable pints rather than the theoretical 124 pints you'd get with zero loss. This calculator applies a configurable loss percentage to keg size and pour size, giving you a realistic pours-per-keg number, cost per pour, and pour cost percentage against your menu price. Draft beer typically targets 18-24% pour cost, tighter than liquor because keg pricing is more predictable and there's less recipe variability. A bar consistently seeing fewer pours per keg than this calculator predicts likely has a line-cleaning or pour-size problem worth auditing with a physical keg-to-pour count over one keg.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Keg size: Half barrel (15.5 gal)
- Keg cost: 165 $
- Pour size: 16 oz
- Foam/spillage loss: 10 %
- Price per pour: 7 $
Results
- Usable pours per keg: 112
- Cost per pour: $1.48
- Pour cost %: 21.1%
- Usable ounces after loss: 1,786
What each field means
Inputs
- Keg size
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: Half barrel (15.5 gal), Quarter barrel (7.75 gal), Sixth barrel (5.16 gal).
- Keg cost ($)
- The keg cost used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 165 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Pour size (oz)
- The pour size used in the calculation, measured in oz. Starts at 16 oz so you have a working example on load.
- Foam/spillage loss (%)
- The foam/spillage loss used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 10 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–30 %.
- Price per pour ($)
- The price per pour used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 7 $ so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Usable pours per keg
- Returned as a whole number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Cost per pour
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Pour cost %
- Returned as a percentage. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Usable ounces after loss
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How much foam/spillage loss is normal?
8-10% is typical for a well-maintained draft system with trained staff. Poorly balanced lines (wrong resistance for the run length), warm beer, or dirty lines can push loss to 15-20%, which on a $165 keg is $16-33 of lost product per keg.
What's a good pour cost target for draft beer?
18-24% is standard. It runs tighter than liquor pour cost because keg pricing from distributors is stable and predictable, with less of the recipe-driven cost variability that cocktails and mixed drinks have.
Why do quarter and sixth barrel kegs cost more per ounce?
Smaller format kegs (popular for craft and rotating taps) carry higher per-ounce distributor pricing because of lower volume discounts and more frequent changeouts, so pour cost on rotating craft taps often runs a few points higher than year-round domestic drafts.
How do I audit real keg yield against this calculator?
Count exact pours from one full keg using a metered system or manual tally, then compare to the calculator's estimate. A gap of more than 10-15 pours below the estimate points to over-pouring, foam waste, or a line-cleaning process that's dumping more product than expected.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Keg Yield Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/keg-yield-calculator
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/keg-yield-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keg Yield Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Keg Yield Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/keg-yield-calculator) (2026).