Mead Calculator
Enter your batch size and honey to get the original gravity and ABV, or enter a target OG or ABV to see how much honey to buy.
How to use the Mead Calculator
- In Calculate, choose “OG and ABV from the honey I have”, “Honey needed for a target OG” or “Honey needed for a target ABV”.
- Enter the Finished batch volume in US gallons, liters or quarts. This is the volume after you top up with water.
- For the first mode, enter the Honey in pounds or kilograms.
- For the second mode, enter the Target original gravity (OG), for example 1.100.
- For the third mode, enter the Target ABV (%).
- Enter the Final gravity (FG) you expect. 1.000 is a dry mead; a sweet mead finishes higher, such as 1.020 to 1.035.
- Under More options, change the Gravity points per lb of honey per gallon if your own batches differ from the default of 37.
- Read the OG, potential ABV and honey needed, then the water to add, and open How it was calculated for the steps. The table under the results scales the honey to 1, 3, 5, 6 and 10 gallon batches, so you can resize a recipe without starting again.
The example buttons load samples. Reset restores the defaults, Copy link stores your inputs in the page address, Copy result copies the result lines, and Print / save as PDF prints the inputs and steps with the date.
How much honey do you need for a gallon of mead?
It depends on the strength you want. Published batches give about 37 gravity points for each pound of honey in a gallon of finished must. A batch with 2.5 lb per gallon reached an OG of 1.092 to 1.094 in the McConnell and Schramm experiments, and 15 pounds in 5 gallons (3 lb per gallon) is about 1.110 in Brew Your Own’s recipe. For a target OG of 1.090 in 1 gallon, the tool gives (1.090 − 1) × 1000 ÷ 37 = 2.43 lb. The common rule of thumb is 35 points per pound, which is a little lower; change it in More options if you prefer it.
How do you calculate the ABV of mead?
Subtract the final gravity from the original gravity and multiply by 131.25. A 5 gallon batch with 15 lb of honey has an OG of 1.111. If it ferments completely dry to 1.000, the potential ABV is 0.111 × 131.25 = 14.6 %. If it stops at 1.020, the ABV is 11.9 % and the mead keeps some sweetness. The tool shows the ABV for the FG you enter, so it is the most the batch can reach, not a promise of what your yeast will do.
How much water do you add?
Honey weighs about 11 pounds 12 ounces per gallon (a specific gravity of about 1.41). Fifteen pounds of honey therefore takes up about 1.28 gallons, so you add about 3.72 gallons of water to reach 5 gallons. The tool treats the two volumes as additive. In practice, mix, then top up with water to the final mark, and take a gravity reading to correct the numbers.
How accurate is it?
The points per pound come from a handful of published batches, and real honey varies in water and sugar content. McConnell and Schramm give an average of 17.2 percent water. Treat the result as a starting point for the recipe and measure the actual OG with a hydrometer. For temperature correction of the reading, use the original gravity calculator.
Sources
- D. McConnell and K. Schramm, An Analysis of Mead, Mead Making — honey about 11 lb 12 oz per gallon (specific gravity 1.41), 17.2 % water on average, twelve batches at 2.5 lb/gal reaching OG 1.092 to 1.094 (read 2026-10-17)
- Brew Your Own, Mead: From Nectar to Nirvana — 15 lb of honey in 5 gal gives an OG around 1.110; 12 lb 9 oz in 5 gal gives OG 1.093 (read 2026-10-17)
- Brewer’s Friend, Alcohol by volume calculator updated (2011) — ABV = (OG − FG) × 131.25
- NIST SP 811 — US gallon = 3.785411784 L, pound = 0.45359237 kg
Worked examples
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| 15 lb in 5 gal | OG 1.111, up to 14.6 % ABV |
| OG 1.090, 1 gal | 2.432 lb (1.103 kg) of honey |
| 12 % ABV, FG 1.000, 5 gal | 12.36 lb (5.604 kg) of honey |
| 7 kg in 19 L | OG 1.114, up to 13.6 % ABV |
Calculated by the tool above with these values.
Frequently asked questions
Is the calculator free, and is anything I type uploaded?
Yes, it is free. It runs in your browser, needs no sign-up, and nothing you type is uploaded.
Can I use the results in commercial work?
Yes. Results, steps and printouts can be used in any work, including a recipe card or a batch record, and no attribution is needed. They are estimates, so check them with a hydrometer. Rules for selling mead are set by the authorities that apply to you.
How many pounds of honey for a 5 gallon batch of mead?
It depends on the strength. 12.5 lb gives an OG near 1.092, 15 lb gives about 1.111. Use “Honey needed for a target OG” to get the figure for your target.
How much honey for a dry mead of 12 percent ABV?
For a 5 gallon batch that finishes at 1.000, the tool says about 12.4 pounds (OG 1.091). A mead that finishes higher needs more honey for the same ABV, because the leftover sugar does not turn into alcohol.
Does the calculator tell me how much yeast or nutrient to use?
No. It plans honey, gravity and alcohol only. Yeast and nutrient needs depend on the strain and the OG, so follow the yeast maker’s guidance.
Why is my measured OG different?
Honey differs in water content, honey and water do not mix exactly by volume, and the batch volume is hard to read exactly. Measure with a hydrometer at the temperature it is calibrated for, and use that reading in the ABV calculator.
Related tools
- ABV calculator: use it to work out the real alcohol by volume from your measured OG and FG.
- Original gravity calculator: use it to correct a hydrometer reading for temperature or to dilute a must.
- Brix to SG calculator: use it to convert a refractometer reading to specific gravity.
- Priming sugar calculator: use it to carbonate a sparkling mead in bottles.
- Yeast starter calculator: use it to size a starter for a strong must.
- Proof calculator: use it to convert ABV to proof.
- Beer recipe calculator: use it to plan a beer recipe by OG, color and bitterness.
- All calculators: browse the full set of tools on this site.