What is the alcohol content of cider?

Most everyday hard cider sits around 4.5–8% ABV: BJCP 2025 lists that range for Common Cider, while French-style cidre is often about 3–6% ABV. Stronger styles such as applewine and ice cider run higher. Fresh US-style apple cider is unfermented juice and is not alcoholic unless labelled hard cider.

Updated 2026-10-05

Key facts

Common Cider. BJCP 2025 lists 4.5–8% ABV. [1]
French Cider. About 3–6% ABV in the same guidelines. [1]
Stronger styles. New England Cider about 7–13% ABV; applewine about 9–12% ABV. [1]
Naming. Merriam-Webster lists fermented juice and fresh expressed juice as senses of cider. [2]

What is a typical ABV for hard cider?

The guide what is cider — how strong summarises that strength varies. For Common Cider expect about 4.5–8% ABV. [1] That overlaps many beers. Units: how many units are in cider; extremes: what the strongest cider is. A sweet 4% can and a tannic 8% farmhouse cider sit in different places on the same style chart.

Legal bands also differ: US federal hard-cider tax class (26 USC 5041(g)) is ≥0.5% and <8.5% ABV, still (≤0.64 g CO₂/100 ml), and apple or pear only (no other fruit flavouring). [3] [4] UK cider for duty is under 8.5% ABV and must contain at least 35% apple or pear juice. [5]

Is all cider alcoholic?

Not every drink labelled cider is alcoholic. In much of the US, apple cider on a juice shelf is unfermented. Cambridge defines British cider as "an alcoholic drink made from apples", which Americans often call hard cider. [6] Soft sparkling drinks, dealcoholised bottles and alcohol-free brands exist too — see what alcohol-free cider is and is sparkling cider alcoholic.

How does cider compare with beer strength?

Ranges overlap rather than one always winning — BJCP Common Cider at 4.5–8% ABV matches many beers. [1] For the full beer-versus-cider comparison, see is cider beer.

Related answers: is cider beer · alcohol-free cider

Find it on Cider Radar

Browse cider makers on the map and open a producer profile to see the styles they bottle.
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Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.

Questions

Is grocery apple cider alcoholic?

Often not in the US, where apple cider can mean fresh juice. [2] Dealcoholised bottles: what alcohol-free cider is.

Where do strength rules differ?

US federal hard-cider tax class (26 USC 5041(g)) is ≥0.5% and <8.5% ABV, still (≤0.64 g CO₂/100 ml), and apple or pear only (no other fruit flavouring). [3] [4] UK cider for duty is under 8.5% ABV and at least 35% apple or pear juice. [5] Beer comparison: is cider beer.