Alcohol units

How many units in a bottle of wine?

A standard 750 ml bottle of wine has between about 8 and 11 UK units, depending on its strength. A typical 13.5% bottle has 10 units. Here are the figures for every common strength and glass size, and how to work out any wine yourself.

Updated 1 November 2026 · 4-minute read · VANTH Studio, The Netherlands

Short answer: a standard 750 ml bottle of wine at 13.5% ABV contains 10 UK units, the figure the NHS uses. A 12% bottle has 9 units and a 14.5% bottle about 10.9. A standard 175 ml glass of 12% wine has 2.1 units, a small 125 ml glass 1.5 and a large 250 ml glass 3.

Units in a bottle of wine, by strength

The strength (ABV) on the label makes a big difference. These figures are for a standard 750 ml bottle:

Wine strength (ABV)	UK units per bottle
11%	8.3
12%	9
12.5%	9.4
13%	9.8
13.5%	10.1
14%	10.5
14.5%	10.9
15%	11.3

Colour doesn't change the maths: a red, white or rosé at the same strength and size has the same units. Many reds are 13.5% or stronger, while many whites, rosés and sparkling wines sit around 11–12.5%, but always check the label.

Units in a glass of wine

Glass sizes vary between bars and homes. A 250 ml "large" glass is a third of a bottle.

Glass	At 12%	At 13.5%	At 14.5%
Small (125 ml)	1.5	1.7	1.8
Standard (175 ml)	2.1	2.4	2.5
Large (250 ml)	3	3.4	3.6

A bottle holds six small glasses, about four standard glasses or three large ones. Pouring at home, most people pour more than they think, so a measured glass can be an eye-opener.

How to work it out for any wine

The NHS formula is: strength (ABV %) × volume (ml) ÷ 1,000 = units.

For a 175 ml glass of 13% wine: 13 × 175 ÷ 1,000 = 2.3 units. For a whole 750 ml bottle at 13%: 13 × 750 ÷ 1,000 = 9.75 units. One UK unit is 10 ml or 8 g of pure alcohol.

The alcohol units calculator does this for you, including how many times a week you drink it.

Standard drinks in the US and Australia

Other countries count standard drinks instead of units, and define them differently:

US: one standard drink is about 14 g of pure alcohol, the amount in a 5 fl oz (148 ml) glass of 12% wine. A 750 ml bottle at 12% is about 5 US standard drinks; at 13.5% about 5.7.
Australia and New Zealand: one standard drink is 10 g of pure alcohol. A 750 ml bottle at 13.5% is about 8 standard drinks.

How does a bottle compare to the weekly guideline?

The NHS advises men and women not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. A typical 13.5% bottle is about 10 units, so a bottle and a half a week reaches the limit. If you drink as much as 14 units a week, spread it over three or more days, and have several drink-free days each week if you want to cut down.

The World Health Organization says no level of drinking is safe for health, so lower is better. Ideas for cutting down are in how to cut back on alcohol and how many alcohol-free days a week.

Keeping track with LastGlass

A glass here and a glass there are easy to lose track of. In LastGlass, a one-minute daily check-in records whether you drank and how much, and Drinks and units in Settings shows it in UK units or your country's standard drinks. Choose a drink less goal or alcohol-free days, see your week on the calendar, and add risky times for the evenings when a second bottle tends to appear. The core app is free; no account needed.

If you drink heavily or get shaking, sweating or anxiety when you stop, talk to a doctor before cutting down suddenly.

Frequently asked questions

How many units are in a bottle of red wine?

About 10 UK units for a 750 ml bottle at 13.5%, which the NHS uses as its example. Many red wines are stronger, so a 14.5% bottle has about 10.9 units. Units depend on strength and size, not colour, so check the ABV on the label.

How many units are in a bottle of white wine or rosé?

The same formula applies: a 750 ml bottle at 12% has 9 units, and at 11% about 8.3 units. White, rosé and sparkling wines often have a lower ABV than reds, but some are just as strong.

How many units are in a large glass of wine?

A large 250 ml glass of 12% wine has 3 units, according to the NHS. At 13.5% it has about 3.4 units. That is a third of a bottle.

Is a bottle of wine a week within the guideline?

A 13.5% bottle is about 10 units, which is within the UK low-risk guideline of no more than 14 units a week. But a bottle in one evening is a lot in one go: the NHS advises spreading drinking over three or more days and having several drink-free days each week if you want to cut down.

How many standard drinks are in a bottle of wine in the US?

A US standard drink contains about 14 g of pure alcohol, the amount in a 5 fl oz glass of 12% wine. A 750 ml bottle of 12% wine is about 5 US standard drinks, and a 13.5% bottle about 5.7.

Sources

Sources checked 2026-11-01. This guide is general information, not personal medical advice. Guidelines differ by country.