Free Mead Honey & Gravity Calculator
Calculate pounds of honey required per gallon, target Original Gravity (OG / Brix), residual sweetness, and potential alcohol by volume (ABV%).
🍯 Batch Volume & Target Sweetness
📊 Required Honey & Alcohol Potential
Recommended Tools & Equipment
Tested hardware and components for high reliability
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pounds of honey do I need for a 5-gallon batch of mead?
For a standard semi-sweet mead (1.110 OG / 14% ABV), you will need approximately 14 to 15 pounds (6.5 to 6.8 kg) of honey in a 5-gallon total batch.
How do you calculate potential ABV from Original Gravity and Final Gravity?
The standard formula is: ABV% = (Original Gravity - Final Gravity) × 131.25. For high gravity meads (OG > 1.120), advanced polynomial formulas (like Hall or HM) give greater precision.
How do I convert Brix to Specific Gravity (SG)?
Specific Gravity ≈ 1 + (Brix / (258.6 - ((Brix / 258.2) × 227.1))). As a quick mental rule of thumb: 1° Brix equals approximately 4 gravity points (e.g. 25° Brix ≈ 1.100 SG).
Should I boil honey before fermenting?
No! Never boil honey. Boiling drives off delicate volatile floral aromatics and destroys natural enzymes. Modern mead makers dissolve raw honey in warm water (80°F to 90°F) and use healthy yeast cultures to dominate fermentation.