Two pints, two standards
If you’ve ever followed a British recipe with American measuring cups — or poured a pint at a US bar expecting the same volume as London — you’ve likely hit the US vs Imperial pint gap.
US Customary pint: 16 fluid ounces (473 mL)
Imperial (UK) pint: 20 fluid ounces (568 mL)
That’s a 25% difference. Enough to throw off a cocktail, a batter, or a brew.
Where each standard applies
- United States: The 16 fl oz pint is standard in recipes, packaging, and bars.
- United Kingdom & Commonwealth: The 20 fl oz Imperial pint is the legal and cultural norm.
- Ireland: Also uses the Imperial pint for draught beer.
Quick conversion reference
| Fluid oz | US pt | Imperial pt |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1.00 | 0.80 |
| 20 | 1.25 | 1.00 |
| 32 | 2.00 | 1.60 |
| 40 | 2.50 | 2.00 |
Use our live converter to explore any value with a visual glass diagram.
Bottom line
Always check which pint your source uses. When precision matters, work in fluid ounces — they’re the same in both systems.