How many calories are in cider?

A pint of 4.5% cider has about 216 kcal, according to Drinkaware, and USDA data give about 200 kcal for a 12 fl oz can of hard cider. Alcohol has 7 kcal per gram and sugar 4 kcal per gram, so stronger or sweeter ciders have more calories.

Updated 2026-10-02

Key facts

A pint. Drinkaware gives about 216 kcal for a pint of 4.5% cider. [1]
Per 100 g. USDA's FoodData Central lists hard cider at 56 kcal per 100 g, with 4.0 g of alcohol and 5.92 g of sugars; its 12 fl oz can portion is about 200 kcal. [2]
Energy factors. Food-labelling rules count alcohol at 7 kcal per gram and carbohydrate at 4 kcal per gram. [3] [4]
For comparison. The NHS gives up to 222 kcal for a pint of 5% beer. [5]

Where do the calories in cider come from?

Mostly from alcohol, and the rest mainly from sugar left after fermentation. One UK unit is 8 g of alcohol, so each unit brings about 56 kcal (8 × 7). [6] [3] [4]

Serving	Units [6]	Calories from alcohol (calculated)
Pint (568 ml) at 4.5%	2.6	about 143 kcal
330 ml bottle at 5%	1.65	about 92 kcal
440 ml can at 5.5%	2.4	about 136 kcal
500 ml bottle at 7.5%	3.75	about 210 kcal

Every 10 g of sugar adds about 40 kcal. [3] [4] Fresh, non-alcoholic apple cider is a different drink; see calories in apple cider. How to work out units from the label is in how many units are in cider, and the strength of different styles in how strong cider is.

Is cider higher in calories than beer?

Not by much at similar strength: Drinkaware's 216 kcal for a pint of 4.5% cider sits close to the NHS figure of up to 222 kcal for a pint of 5% beer. [1] [5] Within cider, sugar makes the difference, so a sweet cider has more calories than a dry one of the same strength; see does dry cider have less sugar and cider sweetness levels.

Why don't cider labels show calories?

In the UK and EU, drinks above 1.2% ABV are exempt from the mandatory nutrition declaration. [7] [4] In the US, TTB allows a voluntary "Serving Facts" statement with calories on alcohol labels, but does not require it. [8] Without a label figure, the strength and the tables above give a fair estimate.

Related answers: how many units are in cider · does dry cider have less sugar

Find it on Cider Radar

Guide: how strong is cider? · Guide: cider sweetness levels

Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.

We don't give health advice. For questions about your health, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

Questions

How many calories are in a can of cider?

It depends on size and strength. USDA data give about 200 kcal for a 12 fl oz can of hard cider; a 440 ml can at 5.5% has about 136 kcal from its alcohol alone, before any sugar. [2] [6] [3] [4]

Does dry cider have fewer calories?

It has fewer calories from sugar, at 4 kcal per gram, but alcohol has 7 kcal per gram, so a strong dry cider can still have more calories than a weaker sweet one. [3] [4]