Forced Carbonation Pressure Calculator

About this calculator

Forced carbonation dissolves CO2 into beer under pressure rather than waiting for natural bottle conditioning, and the pressure needed to reach a target carbonation level (measured in volumes of CO2) depends heavily on the beer's temperature, because colder liquid holds more dissolved gas at a given pressure — the relationship is captured in CO2 solubility tables or the corresponding regression formula that homebrewers and commercial brewers both rely on.

Homebrewers with a kegging setup and CO2 tank use this to dial in a regulator to a precise PSI for a target style — British ales are typically carbonated to lower volumes than German lagers or Belgian styles, for instance — and getting the pressure-to-temperature match right avoids both flat beer and over-carbonated, gushing pours.

This calculator takes your beer's temperature and target carbonation volumes, and returns the regulator pressure in PSI needed to reach and hold that carbonation level.