Planning drinks for your event means understanding exactly how many servings you'll get from each keg. If you're organising a garden party, corporate event, or wedding reception, knowing how many pints are in an 8L keg is essential for accurate planning and budgeting. Let's break down the numbers and help you calculate precisely what you need.
An 8-litre keg contains approximately 14 pints of beer or lager. This assumes you're using the UK imperial pint measurement of 568ml (20 fluid ounces).
Here's the simple calculation:
In practical terms, you can expect to pour 14 full pints from an 8L keg with minimal wastage.
Before diving deeper into 8L kegs, it's helpful to understand the range of keg sizes available and how many pints each contains.
5L Mini Keg:
8L Keg:
20L Keg:
30L Keg:
50L Keg (Standard Full Size):
For most home parties and smaller celebrations, the 8L keg offers the perfect balance between variety and quantity.
Understanding that an 8L keg provides 14 pints helps you plan accurately for different event sizes.
For 10 guests (2-hour event):
For 15 guests (3-hour event):
For 20 guests (4-hour event):
The general rule is to estimate one pint per person per hour for beer drinkers, then adjust based on your specific circumstances.
Guest preferences:
Time of day:
Event type:
Weather:
The 8L keg size offers several practical benefits for event planning.
With 14 pints, an 8L keg is manageable without being wasteful. It's large enough to serve a good-sized group but small enough to ensure freshness. Once opened, beer starts to lose quality, so smaller kegs prevent waste at smaller events.
Rather than committing to one large keg, multiple 8L kegs allow you to offer variety:
For wedding bar hire, offering two or three different beer styles in 8L kegs creates a more premium experience than a single large keg.
8L kegs are compact and portable:
For smaller events, 8L kegs prevent over-ordering. The cost per pint may be slightly higher than larger kegs, but you eliminate waste from unfinished beer.
Getting the most from your 8L keg means serving it properly.
Basic setup:
Temperature:
To maximise the 14 pints from your 8L keg:
Common wastage causes:
For events where you want perfect pours every time, The Sesh Bars' mobile bar hire services can handle all aspects of beer service, ensuring you get the full 14 pints from each 8L keg with minimal waste.
| Keg Size | Pints | Best For | Price Range |
| 5L | 9 | 4-8 people | £15-£30 |
| 8L | 14 | 10-20 people | £25-£45 |
| 20L | 35 | 30-40 people | £60-£100 |
| 30L | 53 | 45-55 people | £85-£140 |
| 50L | 88 | 70-90 people | £120-£200 |
| Guests | Event Duration | Estimated Pints Needed | 8L Kegs Required |
| 10 | 2 hours | 20 pints | 2 kegs (28 pints) |
| 15 | 2 hours | 30 pints | 3 kegs (42 pints) |
| 20 | 2 hours | 40 pints | 3 kegs (42 pints) |
| 10 | 4 hours | 40 pints | 3 kegs (42 pints) |
| 15 | 4 hours | 60 pints | 5 kegs (70 pints) |
| 20 | 4 hours | 80 pints | 6 kegs (84 pints) |
Understanding the cost per pint helps with budgeting.
Budget lager (£25 per 8L keg):
Mid-range lager (£35 per 8L keg):
Craft beer (£45 per 8L keg):
Cost-saving tips:
The 8L format is increasingly popular, with many breweries offering this size.
Lagers:
Pale Ales:
Craft beers:
Ciders:
Proper storage ensures you get the full 14 pints at optimal quality.
The most common error is underestimating consumption. Beer drinkers typically consume more than expected, especially in warm weather. Always order 20% more than your calculations suggest.
Warm beer produces excessive foam, meaning you'll get fewer than 14 pints from your 8L keg. Invest in proper chilling equipment or ice supplies.
Using oversized glasses leads to over-pouring. A UK pint glass should hold 568ml to the brim, with the beer filled to the pint line, leaving space for foam.
If your guests are self-serving, brief them on proper technique. Poor pouring can waste 10-20% of your keg through excess foam.
An 8L keg will stay fresh for 3-5 days once opened if kept properly refrigerated and sealed. Without refrigeration, quality deteriorates within 24 hours.
In theory, yes. In practice, you'll likely get 13-14 pints due to minor foam wastage and the difficulty of extracting the very last drops from the keg. Professional pouring minimises waste.
Generally, yes. An 8L keg (14 pints) costs £25-£45, which is £1.79-£3.21 per pint. Bottled beer typically costs £2-£3 per bottle (just over a pint). Kegs also create less waste and look more impressive at events.
Most 8L kegs are recyclable. Check if your supplier operates a deposit return scheme. Some breweries collect and reuse kegs. Otherwise, check with your local recycling centre for metal recycling.
No, kegs come pre-filled from the brewery. However, you can purchase multiple 8L kegs of different beers to offer variety at your event.
One 8L keg (14 pints) will serve 7-14 people, depending on consumption rates. For a 2-hour event, assume 10-12 people. For a 4-hour event, assume 7-8 people.
An 8L keg containing 14 pints is the ideal size for small to medium gatherings. It offers flexibility, freshness, and variety options without the commitment of larger kegs. Whether you're hosting 10 or 20 guests, understanding that each 8L keg provides 14 servings helps you plan accurately and avoid both shortages and waste.
For larger events or if you want professional service to ensure perfect pours and maximum efficiency, consider professional bartender hire in London who can manage multiple kegs and ensure your guests enjoy perfectly served beer throughout your celebration.
Remember to chill your kegs properly, use correct glassware, and always order slightly more than you think you'll need. With proper planning, your 8L kegs will provide the perfect amount of refreshment for your event. Cheers!
