Beer Carbonation Chart, Keg PSI, and Beer Serving Pressure Explained
Kegging your beer raises a big question: what keg PSI do you use for a
given beer style and temperature? Classic homebrew books publish a printed
beer carbonation chart, but this page acts as an interactive version of
that chart. Instead of squinting at a table, you enter your kegerator temperature and
target carbonation level, and the calculator returns the correct
beer serving pressure in PSI.
What is a volume of CO₂?
Carbonation is measured in “volumes of CO₂.” One volume means your beer contains an amount
of dissolved CO₂ equal to its own volume at standard conditions. Low-carbonation cask-style
ales are usually 1.5–2.0 volumes, most American ales and lagers sit around 2.2–2.6 volumes,
and highly sparkling styles like German wheat beers and many Belgian ales can be 2.6–3.5
volumes or more. This keg carbonation calculator converts those volumes of
CO₂ into a practical keg PSI setting.
Typical carbonation levels and keg serving pressure by style
Use these ranges as a quick reference beer carbonation chart. Exact PSI will depend on your
fridge temperature, so plug the numbers into the calculator for precise results.
- British ales, porters, stouts: 1.5–2.0 vols CO₂, often 8–11 PSI at 36–40°F.
- American pale ales, IPAs, ambers, lagers: 2.2–2.6 vols CO₂, usually 10–14 PSI.
- German pilsners and other Continental lagers: 2.4–2.7 vols CO₂, about 11–15 PSI.
- Wheat beers and many Belgian ales: 2.6–3.5 vols CO₂, roughly 14–20+ PSI.
- Strong ales and barleywines: 1.8–2.3 vols CO₂, often 8–12 PSI.
- Mixed-fermentation and sour beers: commonly 2.4–3.0 vols CO₂, depending on style.
If you are searching for a beer carbonation chart or wondering “How much
should I carbonate this beer style?”, you can use these ranges along with the calculator to
set the right keg serving pressure for your system.
Using a calculator instead of a static beer carbonation chart
Printed carbonation tables are handy, but they are limited to a few temperatures and can be
hard to read on a phone. This tool works as a dynamic beer carbonation chart. Enter the exact
temperature of your keg, choose a beer style to prefill a recommended carbonation level, and
the calculator outputs the correct beer serving pressure in PSI.
Whether you want the ideal carbonation for an Irish stout, American IPA, German pils, or a
Belgian tripel, this calculator saves you from manual chart lookups and guesswork.
Balancing keg PSI, line length, and foam
Many homebrewers respond to foamy pours by lowering keg PSI, which eventually leaves the beer
under-carbonated. Instead, you want to keep the correct keg serving pressure
to maintain your target volumes of CO₂ and adjust line length, line diameter, and restriction
to control foam. Once the beer is in equilibrium, a well-balanced system usually pours most
styles cleanly at 10–14 PSI at typical kegerator temperatures.
- Use this calculator to set keg PSI based on temperature and carbonation level.
- Balance your draft lines rather than running very low beer serving pressure.
- Keep temperature consistent for stable carbonation and predictable pours.
Force carbonation vs. long-term beer serving pressure
Some brewers use “burst carbonation” with higher pressure for a short time, then drop to a
lower serving pressure. This calculator focuses on the equilibrium pressure: the PSI that will
maintain your target carbonation if the beer stays at a steady temperature. For force carbing,
you might start higher, but you will eventually bring the regulator back to the recommended
keg serving pressure shown here to keep carbonation stable over time.
Answering common keg carbonation questions
If you searched for “beer carbonation chart,” “keg PSI chart,” “beer serving pressure,” or
“how much pressure to carbonate a keg,” this page is designed for you. Use the calculator to:
- Find the right carbonation level for a specific BJCP beer style.
- Convert target volumes of CO₂ into a precise keg PSI setting.
- Determine a good all-purpose beer serving pressure for your kegerator.
- Double-check if your current temperature and regulator pressure match your carbonation goals.
Combined with the built-in style presets, this keg carbonation calculator replaces a static
beer carbonation chart and gives you a fast way to dial in perfect carbonation for every keg.