How many ml is an English pint?

An English pint is a common unit of measurement for volumes of liquids such as beer, cider, milk, etc. Understanding how many milliliters (ml) are in a pint allows you to easily convert between the two units.

Quick Answer

An English pint contains 568 ml. Therefore, if you have 1 pint of liquid, it is equivalent to 568 ml. This conversion applies to any liquid measured in pints.

What is an English Pint?

An English pint, often simply called a “pint”, is a unit of volume that has been used in England for hundreds of years. It is commonly used to measure amounts of beer, cider, milk, and other liquids.

The imperial pint is legally defined in the United Kingdom and Ireland as exactly 568.26125 milliliters. It is often abbreviated as “pt” or “p”.

Some key facts about the English pint:

  • Has been used as a unit of measurement since the early 13th century
  • Part of the imperial system of units
  • Standardized in 1824 by the British Parliament
  • Used throughout the British Empire and Commonwealth countries historically
  • Still widely used informally in the UK and Ireland for measuring beer, cider, milk, etc.

The imperial pint is different from the US customary pint, which is equal to 473 ml. So be careful not to confuse the two! The English/imperial pint is about 19% larger than the US pint.

How the Pint Relates to Other Units

The pint is commonly used alongside other imperial units such as quarts, gallons, fluid ounces, etc. Here is how the English pint relates to some other volume units:

  • 1 pint = 4 gills
  • 2 pints = 1 quart = 1.1365 liters
  • 8 pints = 4 quarts = 1 gallon = 4.54609 liters
  • 1 pint = 20 imperial fluid ounces

Knowing these conversions allows you to estimate volumes in other units based on a pint measurement or vice versa.

Converting Pints to Milliliters

The key conversion to know is:

1 pint = 568 ml

This allows you to easily convert any pint measurement to milliliters:

  • 1 pint = 568 ml
  • 2 pints = 1136 ml
  • 3 pints = 1704 ml
  • 6 pints = 3408 ml
  • 0.5 pints = 284 ml

To convert, you simply multiply the number of pints by 568 milliliters per pint. Some examples:

  • 4 pints x 568 ml/pint = 2272 ml
  • 12 pints x 568 ml/pint = 6816 ml
  • 0.25 pints x 568 ml/pint = 142 ml

Converting Milliliters to Pints

You can also easily convert milliliters to pints using the same relationship:

To convert milliliters to pints, simply divide the milliliters by 568 ml/pint.

Examples:

  • 1136 ml / 568 ml/pint = 2 pints
  • 3408 ml / 568 ml/pint = 6 pints
  • 284 ml / 568 ml/pint = 0.5 pints

Handy Conversion Table

Here is a handy reference table showing some common pint and milliliter conversions:

Pints Milliliters
1 pint 568 ml
2 pints 1136 ml
3 pints 1704 ml
4 pints 2272 ml
5 pints 2840 ml
10 pints 5680 ml

Things Commonly Measured in Pints

Here are some of the liquids that are often measured in pints in England:

  • Beer – Pints of beer are served at pubs and bars throughout the UK and Ireland. The standard serving size is 568ml.
  • Milk – Milk used to be commonly delivered daily in pint bottles in the UK. Many people still refer to a 568ml serving as a “pint of milk”.
  • Cider – Pints are a popular way to serve cider, particularly at pubs and bars.
  • Blood – Blood donated in the UK is measured in pints. Blood banks often talk about donations in terms of “pints of blood”.
  • Water – Before widespread plumbing, water drawn from village pumps and wells may have been measured in pints.

Pints are ingrained in British culture and remain widely used, especially for beer. So knowing how they convert to milliliters is useful for everyday situations.

Interesting Facts About Pints

Here are some interesting trivia facts about the history and use of the English pint:

  • The word “pint” comes from the Old French word “pinte” meaning a liquid measure of a certain size.
  • As early as the 13th century, the English pint was defined as 8 troy pounds of wheat in weight converted to liquid volume.
  • The imperial pint was standardized by the British Parliament in 1824 as the volume occupied by 10 pounds avoirdupois weight of distilled water weighed in air.
  • The saying “quart into a pint pot” meaning to squeeze a large amount into a small space originally referred to trying to fit 2 pints (1 quart) into a 1 pint container.
  • British law originally mandated that a pint of beer must be served in a glass marked with a crown stamp as a verification of the true 20 fluid ounce pint volume.
  • Spillage of large amounts of beer resulted in the “beer orders” of 1989 which required pubs to allow guests to order beer in half pints or third pints if desired.
  • The US removed the pint as an official unit of measurement in 1976 and now only recognizes US fluid ounces and cups as consumer units for beverages.

Why Pints Are Popular in England

Pints became entrenched as a traditional unit of measure in England due to a number of historical factors:

  • Serving beer in pints allowed pubs to quickly pull large volumes of beer from kegs or casks using a pint pitcher, allowing faster service.
  • The imperial system of measurement, including pints, was used throughout the British Empire providing familiarity across many countries.
  • Pints were a convenient volume, allowing people to consume a desired amount of beer or milk without waste.
  • Glasses in pint sizes were mass manufactured and available at low cost throughout the country.
  • The pint aligned with Queen Victoria’s reputation for sensibility and temperance, being smaller than the larger ale gallons previously used.

So the English pint became entrenched through tradition and convenience. Most British consumers still prefer to purchase beers, ciders, and milks by the pint today.

Typical Serving Amounts

Here are some typical volumes served in pints for common drinks in England:

  • Beer – The most common serving size for a beer at a pub is 1 pint (568 ml). Less commonly, some establishments may also serve half pints or two-pint steins.
  • Cider – Like beer, cider is most often served in pint glasses containing 568ml of liquid.
  • Milk – Dairy milk was once commonly delivered in pint glass bottles holding 568ml. The “pint of milk” is still a typical single serving volume used today.
  • Wine – Wine is not typically served in pints. Standard restaurant wine servings are 175ml or 250ml.
  • Spirits – Spirits such as whisky, gin or vodka are usually served in 25ml or 50ml servings. They are not served in pints.

Knowing typical pint serving sizes allows you to estimate the number of servings available in larger containers. For example, a 5 liter keg of beer contains about 9 pints.

Pint Glasses and Mugs

Pints of beer, cider and milk are traditionally served in pint glasses or mugs. Features include:

  • Volume markings – May contain etched or painted markings showing the half pint, pint, quart and two-pint volumes.
  • Thick, sturdy glass – Allows maintaining volume line accuracy even when squeezed.
  • Wide mouth – Allows fast pouring with less foam and full aroma experience.
  • Handle – Provides grip and balance for a full pint mug.
  • Engraved logos – May bear the brewery or pub name and logo.

While specially marked glasses help verify the volume, from a technical standpoint any container or glass can be filled to a pint volume.

Nonic Pint

The nonic pint glass has become a very popular pint glass style. Features include:

  • Curved bulge near top – Provides strength and convenient grip point for fingers.
  • Indented sides – Allow easy stacking and prevent sticking together when cool.
  • Thick, heavy base – Provides stability when sitting on surface.
  • Volume markings – Etched indicating half pint, pint and quart volumes.

The nonic glass takes its name from its nonic shape, with nine sides curved indentations on the lower portion.

Tulip Pint

The tulip pint glass is a classic pint glass style. Features include:

  • Tulip bulb shape – Allows head to accumulate and aromas to concentrate.
  • Narrow mouth – Concentrates and directs aromas into nose and palate.
  • Thin, fine rim – Provides a nice mouthfeel during drinking.
  • Stemmed foot – Captures sediment and allows holding glass without hand warming the liquid.
  • Volume markings – Usually shows half and full pint.

The tulip glass shape helps provide a richer, more aromatic drinking experience making it popular for ale beers in particular.

Willi Becher

The Willi Becher pint glass is a German glass design commonly used for serving Bavarian wheat beers. Features include:

  • Cylindrical top – Allows foam head to accumulate and cling to sides of glass.
  • Medieval ridges – Add decorative flair reminiscent of old time German beers.
  • Curved sides – Provides strength and easier grip than straight sides.
  • Volume markings – Display half liter and full liter volumes.
  • Thick, sturdy glass – Durable enough for heavy use in beer halls.

The Becher shape enhances the drinking experience for flavorful wheat beers. The design is still commonly used in beer halls today.

Countries that Use Pints

While the imperial pint originated in England, its use spread throughout the British Empire. Countries that still use pints today include:

  • United Kingdom
  • Ireland
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • South Africa
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Hong Kong
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore

However, even in these countries, metric system milliliters are becoming increasingly common on labels and for official volumes.

Why the Metric System Uses Milliliters

Most of the world today uses the metric system rather than imperial units like pints. The metric system uses milliliters as the common unit for measuring liquids. Here are some reasons why:

  • Universality – Milliliters are understood everywhere, not just former British Empire countries.
  • Simplicity – No complex conversion factors like with inches, pounds, pints, etc.
  • Decimal basis – Allows easy conversions using multiples of 10.
  • Part of coherent SI system – Milliliters integrate seamlessly with the other metric units.
  • Measurability – With digital scales and graduated cylinders, milliliters are easy to precisely measure.

Still, in daily British life, the pint remains a convenient and culturally traditional unit. Many beer drinkers still think in pints rather than milliliters!

Conclusion

In summary, knowing that an English pint contains 568 milliliters allows easy conversion between the two volume units. The pint remains widely used informally in Britain, especially for serving beer, cider and milk. But as the metric system has spread worldwide, milliliters have become the standard scientific and consumer volume unit. While the trusty pint is firmly ingrained in British culture, international travelers will be better served knowing the 568 ml per pint conversion.

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