| Size | US drinks | UK units | Irish | Australian | Canadian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 330 ml bottle | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 |
| 440 ml can | 1.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.4 |
| 500 ml can | 1.5 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| 1 litre bottle | 3.1 | 5.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.2 |
| 2 litre bottle | 6.2 | 11.0 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 6.5 |
US drinks: US standard drinks (0.6 fl oz of pure alcohol). UK units: 10 ml of pure alcohol. Irish: standard drinks of 10 g. Australian: standard drinks of 10 g. Canadian: standard drinks of 341 ml of 5% beer.
440 ml can of cider at other strengths
Find the % vol or ABV on your label. The numbers are our arithmetic, not typical strengths.
| Strength | US drinks | UK units | Irish | Australian | Canadian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4% | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 |
| 4.5% | 1.1 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| 5% | 1.2 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 |
| 5.5% | 1.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.4 |
| 7.5% | 1.9 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.9 |
Cans and bottles of cider
The NHS groups cider with lager and beer in its unit examples, because only size and strength matter: a 330 ml bottle at 5% is 1.7 units and a 440 ml can at 5.5% is 2.4 units. The HSE's rough guide counts a large 500 ml can of beer at 4.3% as 2 standard drinks (the exact sum gives 1.7), and a 500 ml can of cider at the same strength holds the same.
Big bottles of cider
A 1 litre bottle at 5% holds 5.0 UK units, and a 2 litre bottle at 5% holds 10.0. At 7.5%, a 2 litre bottle is 15.0 units, more than the 14 units a week the NHS advises adults not to regularly exceed.
Cider strength on the label
Strength is printed as ABV or % vol. At 4% a 440 ml can is 1.8 units; at 7.5% it is 3.3. The strength table shows a 440 ml can at each strength, in every country's measure.
Work it out for your cider
The calculator opens on the 440 ml can at 5.5%. Change the size or strength to match yours.
A typical strength is filled in. Check your label.
That is
1.4 US standard drinks
= 2.4 UK units
= 1.9 Irish standard drinks
= 1.9 Australian standard drinks
= 1.4 Canadian standard drinks
Each one is 1.4 × one US standard drink:
Common questions
How many units are in a can of cider?
The NHS counts a 440 ml can of 5.5% cider as 2.4 units. At 4.5% the same can is 2.0 units, and a 500 ml can at 4.5% is 2.3.
How many standard drinks are in a can of cider?
A 440 ml can at 5.5% is 1.4 US standard drinks and 1.9 Irish standard drinks. A 12 fl oz (355 ml) can at 5% is 1.0 US standard drinks, the same as a can of 5% beer.
How many units are in a bottle of cider?
A 330 ml bottle of 5% cider is 1.7 units in the NHS examples. A 500 ml bottle at 5% is 2.5 units and a 1 litre bottle at 5% is 5.0.
When to get help
This site offers self-help tools and information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor, or call one of the lines below, if:
- you feel shaky, sweaty, sick or anxious when you haven't had a drink;
- you find it hard to stop once you start, or you want to cut down and can't;
- drinking is causing problems with your health, work or the people close to you.
Before you stop: It can be very dangerous to stop drinking suddenly if you are dependent on alcohol. If you get withdrawal symptoms, get medical help before you try to stop drinking.
Free, confidential helplines
- United States:SAMHSA National Helpline1-800-662-HELP (4357)Treatment referral and information, 24/7.
- United States:988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text 988Free and confidential support for people in distress, 24/7.
- United Kingdom:Drinkline0300 123 1110The national alcohol helpline, free and in complete confidence. Weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm.
In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
Sources
- Alcohol units. NHS. nhs.uk
- Weekly low-risk alcohol guidelines. Health Service Executive (Ireland). hse.ie
- What Is A Standard Drink?. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). niaaa.nih.gov
- Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. ccsa.ca
- Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol. National Health and Medical Research Council. nhmrc.gov.au
Page last reviewed 2026-10-04.
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