Brix to Specific Gravity Converter
Convert a Brix reading to specific gravity (SG), or SG to Brix, for unfermented wort, must, or juice. For example, 12 °Bx is about 1.048 SG.
The formula
SG = 1.000019 + 0.003865613 × Bx + 0.00001296425 × Bx² + 0.00000005701128 × Bx³
This cubic is fitted to the standard sugar tables and is accurate to within about a gravity point across the range brewers use. SG to Brix is solved as the exact inverse of the same formula, so converting back and forth gives the number you started with. It is the same conversion the ABV calculator and the BrewNote app use.
Brix to SG table
| Brix | Specific gravity |
|---|---|
| 0 °Bx | 1.000 |
| 2 °Bx | 1.008 |
| 4 °Bx | 1.016 |
| 6 °Bx | 1.024 |
| 8 °Bx | 1.032 |
| 10 °Bx | 1.040 |
| 12 °Bx | 1.048 |
| 14 °Bx | 1.057 |
| 16 °Bx | 1.065 |
| 18 °Bx | 1.074 |
| 20 °Bx | 1.083 |
| 22 °Bx | 1.092 |
| 24 °Bx | 1.101 |
| 26 °Bx | 1.110 |
| 28 °Bx | 1.120 |
| 30 °Bx | 1.129 |
| 35 °Bx | 1.154 |
| 40 °Bx | 1.179 |
Common gravities in Brix
| Specific gravity | Brix | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| 1.040 | 10.0 °Bx | Session beer |
| 1.050 | 12.4 °Bx | Cider, standard beer |
| 1.060 | 14.7 °Bx | Strong beer |
| 1.080 | 19.3 °Bx | Wine must |
| 1.100 | 23.8 °Bx | Mead |
| 1.120 | 28.1 °Bx | Sack mead |
When not to convert directly
- During or after fermentation. Alcohol skews a refractometer, so use the refractometer correction calculator.
- Refractometer readings of wort. Wort reads slightly differently from a pure sugar solution. A refractometer reads wort slightly higher than a pure sugar solution, so divide the reading by your wort correction factor (often about 1.04) before converting. The converter does this when you enter a factor.
- Hydrometer readings at the wrong temperature. Correct them first with the hydrometer temperature correction calculator.
References
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert Brix to specific gravity?
Use SG = 1.000019 + 0.003865613 × Bx + 0.00001296425 × Bx² + 0.00000005701128 × Bx³. For example, 12 °Bx is about 1.048 SG. A rough rule of thumb is that each degree Brix adds about 4 gravity points.
Is Brix the same as Plato?
Close enough for homebrewing. Both measure percent sugar by weight, and they differ by less than a tenth of a degree across normal wort and must gravities.
Can I convert a Brix reading taken after fermentation?
Not directly. Alcohol makes a refractometer read high, so a fermenting or finished sample needs a correction that also uses the original gravity. Use the refractometer correction calculator instead.