Beer Keg Sizes: Dimensions, Weight & Servings Chart
Posted by Ron on 21st Sep 2026
Beer kegs come in several standard sizes, from compact 5-litre mini kegs to 15.5-gallon half barrels. A standard full-size keg, also called a half barrel, holds 15.5 US gallons (58.7 litres) and pours about 165 twelve-ounce servings. The right size depends on how much beer you need, the available space inside your kegerator, and the type of draft system you are using.
Quick answer: The most common commercial keg sizes in the United States and Canada are the half barrel (15.5 gal), quarter barrel (7.75 gal) and sixth barrel (5.16 gal). Homebrewers commonly use 5-gallon Cornelius kegs, while European breweries typically use 20L, 30L and 50L kegs. Use the chart below to compare capacity, dimensions, weight and servings.
| Keg Type | Capacity | Typical Dimensions H × D |
Typical Empty Weight | Approx. Full Weight | 12 oz Servings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Keg | 5L (1.32 gal) | Varies by brand | Varies | Varies by brand | ~14 |
| Cornelius Keg | 5 gal (18.9L) | About 23" × 9" | Varies by model | About 55 lb | ~53 |
| Sixth Barrel | 5.16 gal (19.5L) | About 23 3/8" × 9 1/4" | About 12–16.5 lb | About 55–58 lb | ~55 |
| Quarter Barrel | 7.75 gal (29.3L) | About 13 7/8" × 16 1/8" | Varies by model | About 87–90 lb | ~83 |
| Slim Quarter | 7.75 gal (29.3L) | About 23 3/8" × 11 1/8" | Varies by model | About 87–90 lb | ~83 |
| Half Barrel | 15.5 gal (58.7L) | About 23 3/8" × 16 1/8" | About 29–30 lb | About 160–170 lb | ~165 |
Dimensions and tare weight can vary slightly by manufacturer and keg design. Always check the product specifications before confirming fit inside a kegerator or cooler.
What Size Do Beer Kegs Come In?
Beer kegs come in quite a few standard keg sizes, mainly depending on how, where and by whom they are going to be used. Naturally, if you’re in the market for a keg, knowing the difference between various keg sizes will certainly help you make the right choice and get the best keg for your draft beer dispensing system.
Even though now we have different size beer kegs, they all can be traced back down to a historical unit of measure for liquid volumes known as “barrel” in the US. This barrel was equal to 31 US gallons and it’s from there that we got the half, quarter and sixth of a barrel.
All of these keg sizes can be easily converted into litres, fluid ounces, or simply beer bottles/cans, for your convenience. There is another, non-standard size keg that you’ve probably heard about - the Cornelius keg (we’ll get into that in just a few seconds).
So, to answer the question “What size is a keg of beer?” you first have to specify the type of keg, and only then can you tell how much beer it holds. Now, let’s take a closer look at all the different keg sizes in more detail.
Cornelius Keg Size
Also known as Corny kegs, these are commonly used (and prized!) by homebrewers - mainly, for their robust construction, ease of cleaning, and a wide range of applications.
Originally, Cornelius kegs were intended to be used for dispensing soft drinks but later (through sheer luck we guess) they were discovered by homebrewers to be an ideal fit for storing and dispensing beer as well.
Typical Cornelius kegs are as follows:
- 1.5 gal (6 litres)
- 2.378 gal (9 litres)
- 3 gal (11.355 litres)
- 5 gal (18.925 litres) - the most common variation
- 10 gal (37.85 litres)
What makes Corny kegs easy to clean is their wide removable lid, which provides access to the inside of the keg for hand washing. The lid also includes a pressure relief valve that allows you to release pressure safely before opening the keg. Corny kegs are easy to take apart when the posts, dip tubes, and seals need a thorough cleaning or replacement.
Looking to buy one? Check out our 5-gallon ball lock Cornelius keg, the size most homebrewers reach for first.
Mini Keg Size
As you might have guessed from its name, the mini keg is one of the smallest beer vessels available on the market. The standard mini keg holds 5 litres, equal to roughly 169 US fluid ounces. That provides about 14 twelve-ounce servings or 10 sixteen-ounce servings.
Although mini kegs are a natural fit for mini kegerators, they can be compatible with larger kegerators as well.
Mini kegs are widely used in the retail beer trade. In fact, you might have seen one of these kegs in your local liquor store (especially if it’s Heineken).
This keg size works well for home use, tailgate parties, and picnics. Most retail 5-litre mini kegs are designed for one-time use and should be recycled when empty, although refillable mini-keg systems are also available.
Setting one up at home? Our Coolbar mini kegerator is built for exactly this size.
Sixth Barrel Keg Size
A sixth barrel keg looks similar to a Cornelius keg but holds slightly more beer. Its capacity is 5.16 gallons, compared with 5 gallons for a standard Corny keg. Typical dimensions are about 23 3/8 inches high by 9 1/4 inches in diameter. Depending on the manufacturer and keg design, it usually weighs between 12 and 16.5 pounds empty and approximately 55 to 58 pounds when full.
The other difference between this keg and the Corny keg is the use of a traditional keg valve system (instead of a ball-lock or pin-lock connection). This means you’re going to need a keg coupler for proper dispensing.
Due to its compact size and shape, the sixth barrel keg is ideal for restaurants, bars and homes with limited space.
Browse our 1/6 barrel stainless steel keg for the full spec sheet.
Half Barrel Keg Size
Half barrel kegs are probably the most common type of kegs out there. You might also know them as full-size kegs (which is slightly confusing). How many ounces are in a half-barrel keg? One thousand nine hundred eighty-four, to be precise (roughly 124 pints).
As for the dimensions of a half barrel keg, it is usually slightly over 23 inches tall and about 16 inches in diameter, weighing roughly 160 pounds (when full).
One half-barrel keg in litres is 58.67 (holds about 15.5 gallons), which amounts to 165 twelve-ounce glasses of beer. If you’ve got a full-size kegerator, it should hold one standard half-barrel keg, which is rather convenient for restaurants and bars that frequently use this keg type.
See our 1/2 barrel stainless steel keg for the full spec sheet.
Quarter Barrel Keg Size
Unlike the full-size (half-barrel) keg, this keg type comes in two distinct variations: regular quarter and slim quarter. Both these types have the same capacity - the 1/4 barrel keg size is 7.75 gal (29.3 litres). This amounts to roughly 62 pints of beer.
Being the shorter and stubbier of the two, the standard quarter barrel keg dimensions are 13 7/8" by 16 1/8". Its relatively small size should not be underestimated - this keg type is great for small parties and limited storage spaces since you can easily stack these kegs for storage in one kegerator or fridge. However, when stacked, only one keg can be tapped at a time.
Check out our 1/4 barrel stainless steel keg for the full spec sheet.
Half barrel vs quarter barrel comes down to space and turnover: go with a half barrel if you have the room and go through beer quickly, and a quarter barrel if storage space is tight or you want more variety on tap at once.
Slim Quarter Keg Size
As we’ve mentioned before, this is the second variety of the quarter barrel keg. The difference is in the size and shape - unlike its stubby brother, the slim quarter keg is taller and skinnier (hence, its alternative name - the tall quarter).
You, as a customer, get to choose the variety that fits your kegerator better and, therefore, save up some space while getting the same amount of beer in the end. Slim quarter kegs are great for dual and triple kegerators (allowing you to serve multiple styles of beer from one kegerator).
As for the slim quarter keg dimensions, kegs of this type fit 7.75 gallons (992 ounces) of beer. This equals approximately 62 pints, which is a considerable amount.
BeverageCraft currently stocks the 1/4 barrel keg in the standard shape; if you specifically need the slim/tall footprint, get in touch and we’ll help track one down.
How Many Beers Are in Each Keg Size?
One of the most common questions we get is how many cans or glasses of beer a given keg actually pours. Here’s how the standard sizes stack up:
| Keg Type | Volume | 12 oz Servings | 16 oz Pints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Keg | 5L (169 oz) | ~14 | ~10.5 |
| Cornelius Keg (5 gal) | 18.9L (640 oz) | ~53 | ~40 |
| Sixth Barrel | 19.5L (660 oz) | ~55 | ~41 |
| Quarter Barrel / Slim Quarter | 29.3L (992 oz) | ~83 | ~62 |
| Half Barrel | 58.7L (1,984 oz) | ~165 | ~124 |
How Much Does a Keg Weigh?
Keg weight depends on the container size, its construction, and whether you are looking at the empty tare weight or the weight after filling. Beer itself adds about 8.3 pounds per US gallon, so the difference becomes significant once you move up to a quarter or half barrel.
A full half-barrel keg typically weighs about 160 to 170 pounds, while an empty stainless steel half barrel usually weighs around 29 to 30 pounds. A full quarter barrel generally weighs about 87 to 90 pounds. Depending on the manufacturer and keg design, a sixth barrel usually weighs between 12 and 16.5 pounds empty and approximately 55 to 58 pounds when full. A filled 5-gallon Cornelius keg is usually close to 55 pounds, although its exact weight depends on the model.
Handling note: Never plan storage or transport from liquid capacity alone. Check the manufacturer’s tare weight and use proper lifting equipment when moving a full half-barrel keg.
Beer Keg Sizes and Dimensions Chart
If you haven’t gotten confused yet, you sure know your way around a beer keg. If you have though, this nice little keg sizes chart sums up all of the information we’ve given you so far. Here, you can easily compare different keg types and understand what size is a beer keg. Save or print this chart for quick reference next time you’re sizing up equipment.
Beer Keg Sizes in the US
Beer keg sizes in the US have everything to do with the original unit of measurement that was known as the barrel and is equal to 31 gallons. With time, it slowly evolved into what we now know as a keg (15.5 gallons), which is also referred to as a half-barrel (go figure). From there on, barrel beer keg sizes get much more logical - you’ve got a half-barrel keg (15.5 gallons) followed by a quarter barrel keg (7.75 gallons) and a sixth barrel keg (5.16 gallons). Corny kegs are a thing of their own (remember, they came from the soft drink industry), which is why their standard size (5 gallons) has nothing to do with barrels.
The table below will give you an idea of the most common gallon keg sizes (including keg sizes 1/6).
Beer Keg Sizes in Canada
Although Canada normally uses the metric system, that’s not always the case when it comes to beverages, especially beer. Because of the proximity to the US and often shared markets, it’s not uncommon for Canadian breweries, homebrewers, and bar owners to measure beer in gallons.
Switching between the metric and imperial system is usually not a problem since there are only a few key keg sizes in gallons to remember. The typical size of a keg used by homebrewers and draft beer enthusiasts is 5 US gallons (18.9 litres), which is the standard capacity of the Corny keg.
The table below offers a quick comparison between imperial and metric units for the most popular types of beer kegs.
European Beer Keg Sizes
As for Europe, things are a bit different than in North America. Since most European beer equipment manufacturers and breweries conform to the standard of the metric system, it’s no surprise people will not understand gallons or fluid ounces (except for the UK, but more on that later).
So, what size are beer kegs in Europe? For example, in Germany, the standard keg sizes litres are 20, 30, and 50. Also, it’s not uncommon to measure beer in… beers! That is a standard beer bottle, which is equal to 0.5 litres (16.9 ounces). Therefore, a 20-litre keg holds about 40 half-litre servings, a 30-litre keg about 60, and a 50-litre keg about 100.
A common UK brewery keg holds 11 imperial gallons, which is approximately 50 litres.
If you are looking for empty kegs for sale or simply want to find an affordable Corny keg, be sure to browse the BeverageCraft selection. We offer top-notch draft beer equipment and accessories at really affordable prices.
Which Keg Size Fits Your Kegerator?
Kegerator capacity depends on the cabinet dimensions, the compressor hump, the diameter of each keg, and the number of taps. A full-size single-tap kegerator commonly holds one half-barrel keg. Dual- and triple-tap units are more often arranged for slimmer sixth-barrel or Cornelius kegs, but the actual fit varies by model.
Measure the usable height and width inside the cabinet before ordering a keg, and remember to leave room above it for the coupler and beer line. For model-by-model planning, see our guide to how many kegs fit in a kegerator.