Carbonation Calculator
Cold beer holds CO₂ more easily, so colder beer needs less pressure for the same fizz. About 2.5 volumes at 4°C is ~12 PSI.
CO₂ volumes tell you how carbonated your beer is. A British bitter might be 1.5 volumes; a German wheat beer pushes 4.0+. If you're kegging, you need to know what PSI to set at your serving temperature — the calculator above gives you that number instantly.
How We Calculate It
CO₂ equilibrium pressure depends on temperature. Colder beer absorbs more CO₂ at the same pressure. We use an empirical polynomial fit to the CO₂ solubility curve. Enter your desired volumes and serving temp, and the calculator solves for the pressure needed.
Typical CO₂ Volumes by Style
1.5–2.0: British ales, cask-conditioned
2.2–2.7: American ales, lagers, most styles
2.7–3.5: Belgian ales, saisons
3.5–4.5: German wheat beers, highly carbonated styles
What PSI should I set for kegging?
It depends on temperature and target carbonation. At a typical 3–4°C keg, most ales at 2.4–2.5 volumes sit around 10–12 PSI. Colder beer needs less pressure for the same fizz.
How many CO₂ volumes for my style?
British and cask ales 1.5–2.0, most American ales and lagers 2.2–2.7, Belgian ales and saisons 2.7–3.5, German wheat beers 3.5–4.5.
How long does force carbonation take?
Set-and-forget at serving pressure takes about 1–2 weeks to equilibrate. Higher-pressure or shake methods are faster (a few days) but easier to over-carbonate.
Does this work for bottle conditioning?
No — this is for force carbonation with a CO₂ tank. Bottle priming uses a measured amount of sugar instead, which is a separate calculation.