Which alcoholic beverages have the most (or least) calories?

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A typical 6 oz. glass of wine or 12 oz. beer has as many calories as a can of Coke (140). Some beers have twice that much.

But you’d never know the calories in alcoholic drinks from looking at many of their labels and non-chain-restaurant menus. (Chain restaurants must disclose calories for drinks on their menus, and some beer brewers and other alcohol companies label calories voluntarily.) When it comes to calories, here's how drinks compare.

And keep in mind that alcohol is responsible for 88,000 deaths each year in this country, mostly from car crashes, suicides, violence, falls, and liver disease. (Looking for some healthier non-alcoholic options and low-sugar drinks? We've got those too.)

How many calories are in beer?

A beer’s calories depend mostly on alcohol and, to a lesser extent, on carbs.

Light. Very-low-alcohol beers (2% to 3% alcohol) like Miller 64 start at around 60 calories in 12 oz. Most lights (4% alcohol) have about 100 calories.
Regular. An average 5% alcohol brew like Budweiser hovers around 150 calories.
IPAs. Heavy hitters (6% to 9% alcohol) like IPAs, double IPAs, and Belgian-style Trippels pack 200 to 300 calories. Gulp! A lower-alcohol “session” IPA cuts that to 140 or so.
Draft pours. Do the math. Even an average beer hits 200 or 250 calories when you’re served a 16 or 20 oz. glass.

How many calories are in wine?

Red or white, expect roughly 150 calories for 6 ounces, the amount in a restaurant pour. A 9 oz. glass reaches 220 calories. Even many higher-sugar whites (like Moscato or Riesling) are in the same ballpark. Our chart below shows how wines from some big brands vary.

A glass of sangria typically has 200 to 300 calories, thanks to fruit, juice, sugar, etc.

How many calories are in liquor and liqueur?

Rule of thumb: any gin, rum, tequila, vodka, or whiskey has 100 to 120 calories per 1.5 oz. shot, before you add any mixers. That’s because all of liquor’s calories come from its alcohol (40% to 50%).

Exceptions: “Cask strength” or “barrel proof” liquor can reach 150-or-so calories. Liqueurs (like Baileys or Cointreau) vary, depending on their alcohol, sugar, or other extras.

How many calories are in hard seltzer, cider, etc.?

Most hard seltzers match the calories of a light beer (100-ish). And sugar ranges from zero (Bon & Viv, Henry’s, Smirnoff) to half a teaspoon (Nauti, Truly, White Claw) in 12 oz. Sure beats other sweet sips:

Hard cider. Expect up to 200 calories and 3 to 5 teaspoons of sugar—some from juice—in 12 oz. Dry ciders are lower (150 calories).
Ritas. This brand of canned sparkling margaritas—made with high fructose corn syrup and, in some flavors, food dyes and sucralose—crams 190 to 220 calories into just 8 oz. How many of the 21 to 29 grams of carbs are added sugar? The company won’t say.

How many calories are in mixed drinks?

Drinks vary from one bartender to another. The usual ranges at chain restaurants that list calories on the menu:

Martini or Manhattan. Classic cocktails with little added sugar (Manhattan) or no added sugar (martini) typically fall in the 150-to-200-calorie range.
Moscow mule or mojito. Expect about 200 to 300 calories.
Margarita. A classic margarita—tequila, lime, triple sec—in a small glass limits the calories to 200. But sugary (often frozen) margs jump to 350…and oversized ones reach 500.
Blended frozen drinks. Large frozen mudslides or other boozy ice cream shakes hit 500 to 800-plus calories. That’s like slurping up a (540-calorie) Big Mac…or more. May-day!

How many calories, carbs, and sugar are in alcoholic drinks

Within each category of the charts below, alcoholic drinks are ranked from least to most calories, then (if shown) grams of sugar, and then grams of carbs. The % column lists percent alcohol by volume(ABV), when available. "NA" means that a number isn't available.

Click below to jump to a section of the chart:

Beer (12 oz.)
Wine (6 oz.)
Liquor (1.5 oz.)
Liqueur (1.5 oz.)
Hard Cider (12 oz.)
Hard Seltzer (12 oz.)
Flavored Malt Beverages (12 oz., unless noted)

Beer (12 oz.)

	%	Calories	Carbs
Budweiser Select 55	2.4	55	2
Miller 64	2.8	64	2
Corona Premier	4	90	3
Budweiser Select	4.3	100	3
Busch Light	4.1	100	3
Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty Lo-Cal IPA	4	100	3
Michelob Ultra or Miller Lite	4.2	100	3
Victory Easy Ringer Lo-Cal IPA	4.3	100	3
Coors Light	4.2	100	5
Corona Light	4	100	5
Sufferfest Repeat Kolsch Style	3.5	100	5
Heineken Light	3.3	100	7
Lagunitas DayTime IPA	4	100	NA
Miller High Life Light	4.1	110	6
Bud Light	4.2	110	7
Busch	4.3	110	7
Pabst Blue Ribbon Easy	3.8	110	8
Bud Ice	5.5	120	4
Michelob Golden	4.6	120	7
Michelob Light	4.1	120	9
Sam Adams Light	4.3	120	NA
Guinness Draught Stout	4.2	130	10
Bud Light Platinum	6	140	4
Busch Ice	5.9	140	4
Allagash Saison	6.1	140	5
Dogfish Head SeaQuench Session Sour	4.9	140	8
Founders All Day IPA Session Ale	4.7	140	11
Heineken	5	140	11
Miller Genuine Draft	4.7	140	12
Miller High Life	4.6	140	12
Pabst Blue Ribbon Original	4.8	140	12
Sufferfest Head Start Stout	4.5	140	12
New Belgium Dayblazer Easygoing Ale	4.8	140	NA
New Belgium Slow Ride Session IPA	4.5	140	NA
Budweiser	5	150	11
Allagash White	5.2	150	12
Coors Banquet	5	150	12
Sierra Nevada Sierraveza	5	150	13
Corona Extra	4.6	150	14
Michelob Lager	4.8	160	14
Corona Familiar	4.8	160	15
New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale	5.2	160	NA
Sufferfest FKT Pale Ale	5.5	170	13
Blue Moon Belgian White	5.4	170	14
Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange IPA	6.8	170	14
Sufferfest Flyby Pilsner	5.1	170	14
Shock Top Belgian White	5.2	170	15
Bell's Amber Ale	5.8	180	16
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale	5.6	180	17
Samuel Adams Boston Lager	5	180	NA
Samuel Adams New England Pale Ale	5.5	180	NA
Bell's Official Hazy India Pale Ale	6.4	190	12
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA	6	190	17
Budweiser Copper Lager	6.2	200	16
New Belgium Voodoo Ranger IPA	7	200	NA
Samuel Adams Rebel IPA	6.5	200	NA
Dogfish Head American Beauty Hazy Ripple IPA	7	210	16
Bell's Two Hearted Ale	7	210	17
Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA	6.7	210	21
Sierra Nevada West Coast Style Stout	5.8	210	22
Bell's Kalamazoo Stout	6	220	23
Allagash Black	7.4	230	20
Allagash Tripel	9.1	240	13
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA	7.2	240	14
New Belgium Trippel	8.5	240	NA
Allagash Curieux	10.4	260	12
Victory Golden Monkey	9.5	260	NA
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA	9	290	26
Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Triple IPA	9.6	310	30

Wine (6 oz.)

	%	Calories	Carbs	Sugar
FitVine Prosecco	11	110	4	1
Carlo Rossi White Zinfandel*	8	110	10	6
Yellow Tail Sauvignon Blanc	11.6	120	1	1
Yellow Tail Super Crisp Chardonnay	11.7	120	1	1
Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio	11.9	120	2	2
Yellow Tail Riesling	11.3	120	2	2
Carlo Rossi Sweet Rosé*	9.2	120	8	6
Yellow Tail Moscato	7.5	120	10	11
Yellow Tail Pink Moscato	7.5	120	10	11
Carlo Rossi Pink Moscato Sangria*	6.5	120	14	12
Carlo Rossi Moscato Sangria*	6.8	120	16	12
FitVine Pinot Grigio	13.4	130	3	0
FitVine Rosé	12.4	130	3	0
Yellow Tail Chardonnay	13.2	130	1	1
Sutter Home White Zinfandel	NA	130	10	NA
Sutter Home Moscato Sangria	NA	130	17	NA
FitVine Chardonnay	13.4	140	3	0
FitVine Sauvignon Blanc	13.4	140	3	0
FitVine Pinot Noir	13.9	140	4	0
FitVine Cabernet Sauvignon	13.9	140	5	0
FitVine Syrah	13.9	140	5	0
Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon	13.9	140	1	1
Yellow Tail Merlot	13.9	140	1	1
Yellow Tail Pinot Noir	14	140	1	1
Yellow Tail Shiraz	13.9	140	1	1
Yellow Tail Shiraz Cabernet	13.8	140	1	1
Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc*	12	140	5	1
Carlo Rossi Cabernet Sauvignon*	12.9	140	6	1
Barefoot Rosé*	10.5	140	11	6
Barefoot White Zinfandel*	9	140	12	7
Sutter Home Chardonnay	NA	140	5	NA
Sutter Home Merlot	NA	140	5	NA
Sutter Home Pinot Grigio	NA	140	5	NA
Sutter Home Pinot Noir	NA	140	5	NA
Sutter Home Rosé	NA	140	5	NA
Barefoot Carbernet Sauvignon*	12.7	150	6	1
Barefoot Malbec*	13	150	6	1
Barefoot Chardonnay*	13	150	6	2
Barefoot Pinot Noir*	13	150	6	2
Barefoot Pinot Grigio*	12	150	7	2
Yellow Tail Sangria	11.5	150	10	11
Barefoot Riesling*	8	150	18	13
Carlo Rossi Sweet Red*	8	150	19	14
Sutter Home Sauvignon Blanc	NA	150	3	NA
Sutter Home Zinfandel	NA	150	5	NA
Sutter Home Malbec	NA	150	6	NA
Sutter Home Cabernet Sauvignon	NA	150	7	NA
Sutter Home Moscato	NA	150	14	NA
Barefoot Merlot*	13.5	160	6	1
Cupcake Vineyards Prosecco	NA	160	9	5
Cupcake Vineyards Riesling	NA	160	11	7
Carlo Rossi Chardonnay*	12	160	12	8
Barefoot Moscato*	9	160	17	12
Barefoot Pink Moscato*	9	160	18	13
Sutter Home Riesling	NA	160	9	NA
Sutter Home Sweet Red	NA	160	10	NA
Sutter Home Pink Moscato	NA	160	16	NA
Cupcake Vineyards Pinot Grigio	NA	170	6	1
Cupcake Vineyards Rosé	NA	170	6	1
Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc	NA	170	6	1
Carlo Rossi Red Sangria*	10	170	22	17
Sutter Home Sangria	NA	170	14	NA
Sutter Home Red Moscato	NA	170	16	NA
Cupcake Vineyards Malbec	NA	180	8	0
Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay	NA	180	6	1
Cupcake Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon	NA	180	8	1
Cupcake Vineyards Pinot Noir	NA	180	8	1
Cupcake Vineyards Petite Sirah	NA	180	8	2
Cupcake Vineyards Moscato	NA	180	18	13
Cupcake Vineyards Merlot	NA	190	8	1
Cupcake Vineyards Shiraz	NA	190	8	1

*Barefoot and Carlo Rossi wines may vary by roughly 10 calories per serving. Calories listed reflect the low end of the range.

Liquor (1.5 oz.)

	%	Calories
Gin, rum, tequila, vodka, or whiskey, any brand, 80 proof	40	100
Bombay Sapphire Gin	47	110
Bulleit Bourbon or Rye	45	110
Gin, rum, tequila, vodka, or whiskey, any brand, 100 proof	50	120
Booker's Bourbon	62.5	150

Liqueur (1.5 oz.)

	%	Calories	Carbs	Sugar
Baileys Almande Almondmilk Liqueur	13	70	NA	6
DeKuyper Peachtree Peach Schnapps	15	80	10	10
Kahlúa	20	130	20	20
Baileys Original Irish Cream	17	140	11	9
Cointreau	40	140	10	10

Hard cider (12 oz.)

	%	Calories	Carbs	Sugar
Crispin Pearsecco	4.5	140	9	7
Angry Orchard Stone Dry	5.5	150	11	7
Crispin Rosé	5	160	13	10
Crispin Brut	5.5	170	13	10
Crispin Browns Lane	5.8	170	14	12
Angry Orchard Rosé	5.5	170	17	12
Crispin Original	5	170	15	13
Crispin Pacific Pear	4.5	170	18	15
Crispin Blackberry Pear	5	180	16	13
Stella Artois Cidre	4.5	180	22	16
Angry Orchard Crisp Apple	5	190	24	20
Crispin Honey Crisp	6.5	200	16	14
Crispin The Saint	6.9	230	20	17

Hard seltzer, all flavors (12 oz.)

	%	Calories	Carbs	Sugar
Smirnoff	4.5	90	1	0
Bon & Viv	4.5	90	1-2	0
Henry's	4.2	90	2	0
Truly	5	100	2	1
White Claw	5	100	2	2
Nauti	4.5	100	4	1-2
Pabst Blue Ribbon Stronger Seltzer	8	230	3	1

Flavored malt beverages (12 oz., unless noted)

	%	Calories	Carbs	Sugar
Redd's Apple Ale	5	170	17	12
Henry's Hard Lemon Lime Soda	4.2	190	26	24
Henry's Hard Orange Soda	4.2	190	28	24
Ritas Sangria Spritz Strawberry Blueberry	6	200	20	NA
Ritas Sangria Spritz Pear Orange	6	200	21	NA
Ritas Lemon-Ade-Rita (8 oz.)	8	200	23	NA
Ritas Mang-O-Rita (8 oz.)	8	200	23	NA
Ritas Water-Melon-Rita (8 oz.)	8	200	23	NA
Ritas Straw-Ber-Rita (8 oz.)	8	200	24	NA
Ritas Rosé Spritz White Peach	6	210	23	NA
Henry's Hard Grape Soda	4.2	220	35	33
Ritas Lime-A-Rita (8 oz.)	8	220	29	NA
Best Damn Root Beer	5.5	240	33	NA
Best Damn Cream Soda	5.5	260	38	NA
Redd's Wicked Apple Ale	8	270	30	26
Ritas Coco-Nut-Rita (25 oz.)	8	590	66	NA
Ritas Cherry-Lime-Rita (25 oz.)	8	590	67	NA
Ritas Grape-Fruit-Rita (25 oz.)	8	600	70	NA
Ritas Peach-A-Rita (25 oz.)	8	600	71	NA
Ritas Grape-A-Rita (25 oz.)	8	610	73	NA

Notes: NA means that the number is not available. Most calories have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percent alcohol by volume may vary slightly from year to year for some wines and other drinks. Sugar is grams of total sugar. Many beers do not disclose sugar content.

Sources: company information and USDA.

Photos (top to bottom): Love the wind/stock.adobe.com, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., New Africa/stock.adobe.com, monticellllo/stock.adobe.com, White Claw Seltzer Works, wollertz/stock.adobe.com.