The aus pint in ml is usually 570 ml, a rounded-off version of the traditional imperial pint of about 568 ml. The catch is that Australia has no single national set of glass names, so what lands in front of you when you ask for a “pint” depends on the state, the pub and sometimes the tap.
Key takeaways
- An Australian pint is generally 570 ml, almost identical to a UK pint (about 568 ml).
- A US pint is smaller, at about 473 ml, so American recipes and glasses do not match.
- Other glass sizes such as middy, pot and schooner vary by state; South Australia is the notable oddity.
- If in doubt, ask the bartender for the size in millilitres.
Where the 570 ml figure comes from
The imperial pint is 20 imperial fluid ounces, which equals roughly 568.26 ml. When Australia switched to the metric system during the 1970s, pubs and brewers rounded the pint to a tidy 570 ml. That is a difference of under two millilitres, so for any practical purpose an Australian pint and a British pint are the same drink. It is also why measuring tools, beer glasses and bottling lines in Australia tend to use 570 ml as the “large” size.
It does not follow that every glass labelled as a pint holds exactly that. Pubs often fill to a line that leaves room for the head, so the liquid inside can be a little under the glass’s brim capacity. The legal and trade measurement rules vary, so treat the number as a guide, not a guarantee.
Australian beer glass names and sizes
This is where visitors trip up. The same word means different things from one state to the next, and a few of the names are used almost nowhere else in the world.
| Glass | Typical size | Where you will hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Pot | about 285 ml | Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania |
| Middy | about 285 ml | New South Wales, Western Australia |
| Schooner | about 425 ml | New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia |
| Pint | about 570 ml | Widely sold as the large glass |
| Butcher | about 200 ml | South Australia, sometimes Tasmania |
These are general guides, not a legal definition. Names shift between towns, and some pubs have their own habits. The surest method is to point at the glass and ask what size it is in millilitres.
The South Australia exception
South Australia is famous for flipping the usual language. A “schooner” there is the smaller glass, often 285 ml, and the bigger glass may be called a “pint”, usually 425 ml, with the true 570 ml serve described as an “imperial pint”. If you order a pint in Adelaide and expect 570 ml, you may be surprised, so say “imperial pint” if you want the full measure.
Comparing pints around the world
| Country or system | Pint in ml | Pint in fluid ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (pub pint) | 570 ml | about 20 imperial fl oz |
| United Kingdom (imperial) | about 568 ml | 20 imperial fl oz |
| United States (liquid) | about 473 ml | 16 US fl oz |
There is also a mismatch in ounces: an imperial fluid ounce is slightly smaller than a US fluid ounce, which is why the pints differ by more than the ounce count alone suggests. If you cook from both British and American recipes, that gap matters. We have separate breakdowns of how many ounces are in one pint and what a pint is equal to if you want to convert further.
How to order without getting confused
- Look at the glasses behind the bar. Larger tall glasses are typically pints or schooners.
- Say the size in millilitres or use the local word if you know it.
- If you are in South Australia, ask for an “imperial pint” for 570 ml.
- Check the price board, which often lists sizes and prices side by side.
- If you are driving, remember that the number of standard drinks, not the glass size, determines how much alcohol you have had.
Standard drinks and why they matter
Australian guidance describes alcohol in standard drinks rather than in pints. A 570 ml glass of mid-strength beer holds fewer standard drinks than the same glass of full-strength beer, and craft beers can be much stronger again. The label or tap handle should show the percentage alcohol by volume. For current official guidance on alcohol and health, consult the national health authority or your doctor, because limits are updated from time to time.
Converting a pint to other units
If you need a quick mental conversion, use these approximations for the Australian or imperial pint: 570 ml is just over half a litre, so two pints are a bit over 1.1 litres. A 285 ml pot is half of that, which makes it the Australian equivalent of a UK half pint. For exact UK figures, see the pint-to-ounces guide, and for background on the unit itself, the Wikipedia page on the pint covers the history.
Frequently asked questions
How many ml is a pint of beer in Australia?
Generally 570 ml, rounded from the imperial pint of roughly 568 ml. Individual pubs may fill to a line below the rim.
Is an Australian pint the same as a UK pint?
For practical purposes, yes. The difference is under two millilitres.
Is an Australian pint bigger than a US pint?
Yes. The US liquid pint is about 473 ml, so an Australian pint is around 100 ml bigger.
What is a schooner in Australia?
Usually a mid-sized glass of about 425 ml, though in South Australia the word often means a smaller 285 ml glass. Ask if unsure.
Can I order half a pint in Australia?
The nearest equivalents are the pot or the middy at around 285 ml. Names depend on the state, so ask for the size directly.
Conclusion
Treat 570 ml as the Australian pint, remember that smaller glasses go by different names depending on where you are, and do not hesitate to ask the bartender for millilitres. That single question works in every state, and it avoids the South Australia surprise.
Key takeaways about aus pint in ml
Here is a short summary of aus pint in ml so you can find the main points quickly.
- The aus pint in ml is usually 570 ml, a rounded-off version of the traditional imperial pint of about 568 ml.
- The imperial pint is 20 imperial fluid ounces, which equals roughly 568.26 ml.
- It does not follow that every glass labelled as a pint holds exactly that.
- These are general guides, not a legal definition.
Check official sources before acting on anything related to aus pint in ml, because details can change over time.
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For general background, you can look up aus pint in ml on Wikipedia.
