Jeff Flowers on July 24, 2014 47 Comments Comparing Keg Sizes & Types: Below, we present a chart that compares eight common types of kegs, including how much beer they hold, their overall size, shape, dimensions, as well as their most common uses and nicknames you may hear them referred too as. Capacity (gal / oz) Cans / Bottles (12oz) Pints (16oz) Height / Weight Width (Diameter) Mini Keg 1.32 / 169 14 10.6 9⅞” / 13lbs. 6¾” Cornelius Keg 5.0 / 640 53 40 23″ / 49lbs. 9″ Sixth Barrel 5.16 / 661 56 42 23⅜” / 58lbs. 9¼” Quarter Barrel 7.75 / 992 82 62 13⅞” / 87lbs. 16⅛” Slim Quarter 7.75 / 992 82 62 23⅜” / 87lbs. 11⅛” Half Barrel 15.5 / 1984 165 124 23⅜” / 161lbs. 16⅛” Rubber Barrel 7.75 / 992 82 62 13⅞” / 87lbs. 17″ Beveled Barrel 7.75 / 992 82 62 13⅞” / 87lbs. 17″ Keg Sizes Detailed: While the comparison chart above gives you a quick way to compare different sizes of kegs against others, below we have gone into more detail on each type of keg. Mini Keg: Designed for mini kegerators, this size keg only holds 5 liters of beer, or 169.07 ounces to be exact. This is the perfect sized keg for one-time use and/or portable purposes. This may include watching the game with a couple of friends, weekend camping trip or a small dinner party with family. The downside of mini-kegs, is that you may have a hard time finding them with a specific beer you want. Here’s a list of the most common mini keg beers. Nicknames: Bubba Keg Common Uses: One-time Use, Portable Applications Dimensions: 9⅞” x 6¾” Capacity: 1.32 gallons / 169 ounces Cornelius Keg: Commonly used by homebrewers as an alternative to bottling their beer, Cornelius kegs were originally developed by the soft drink industry. While Pepsi and Coca-Cola both have uses for them, they have grown in popularity by those that brew their own beer or soda from home. They are easy to fill up and clean. There are two types of connectors that are available for the Cornelius keg, including ball-lock and pin-lock. Both have different connectors that you would need to become familiar with. Nicknames: Corny Keg, Homebrew Keg, Soda Keg Common Uses: Home Brewing, Wine, Coffee, Kombucha Dimensions: 23″ x 9″ Capacity: 5.0 gallons / 640 ounces Sixth Barrel Keg: Commonly used for personal use in dual or triple-tap kegerators, the sixth barrel is roughly the same size as the Corny Keg, just slightly larger. This smaller sized keg functions just like their larger counterparts with the only difference being that it holds less beer than other types of kegs. This size keg is also a great choice for restaurants and/or bars that have little space, but want to have a large variety of beer available for customers. Nicknames: Sixtel, Torpedo, Log Common Uses: Dual-Tap Kegerators, Home Brewing, Individual Use Dimensions: 23⅜” x 9¼” Capacity: 5.16 gallons / 661 ounces Quarter Barrel Keg: Short and stubby in size, the Quarter barrel keg is the same width (16⅛”) as a full barrel, yet approximately 10″ shorter in terms of height. Commonly called a “Pony Keg” or a “Stubby Keg,” this popular keg size will hold the equivalent of sixty-two pints or eighty-two bottles off beer. Nicknames: Pony Keg, Stubby Quarter Common Uses: Small Parties Dimensions: 16⅛” x 13⅞” Capacity: 7.75 gallons / 992 ounces Slim Quarter Keg: The Slim Quarter holds the exact same amount of beer as the aforementioned Quarter barrel, however, the over shape and size resembles the sixth barrel keg. This variation in size makes it a popular choice for anyone with a dual-tap kegerator. With a tall and skinny build, the Slim Quarter is the same height as the Sixth barrel, but has a slightly larger width. This extra width allows it to hold an extra two gallons, which equals an extra 27.5 bottles of beer. Nicknames: Tall Quarter, The Slim Common Uses: Dual-Tap Kegerators; Small Parties Dimensions: 11⅛” x 23⅜” Capacity: 7.75 gallons / 992 ounces Half Barrel Keg: When you think of your average beer keg, the Half barrel size is probably what comes into your mind. Undoubtedly, you’ve probably seen this size keg at a party or large event. This full size keg is the largest that is available to you, and what is commonly used in bars and restaurants across the world. Most home kegerators will fit this size keg, however, the smaller versions are typically more popular amongst craft beer drinkers. Nicknames: Full Size Keg, Barrel of Beer, Full Keg Common Uses: Home Bar, Large Events, Business, Frat Parties Dimensions: 16⅛” x 23⅜” Capacity: 15.5 gallons / 1984 ounces Will That Size Keg Fit In Your Kegerator? This is a common question that everyone has after buying a kegerator. Don’t be shy… Please leave a comment down below or give us a call at 1-866-950-8710. The same goes for any other questions you may have about the shape or size of kegs? More Kegerator Info: Kegerator Parts List & Definitions Step-by-Step: Kegerator Assembly Guide Troubleshooting Your Kegerator: Problems & Solutions 18 Frequently Asked Questions About Kegerators
frank says September 26, 2014 at 2:34 pm Jeff, I just purchased quick connect so I can switch readily between cornies and conventional halves and quarters. Unfortunatlely my tall 1/4 of Yeungling is too tall for the kegerator with the quick connect. Are their shorter quick connects that may solve my problem? other suggestions? thanks! Reply
Mike says November 11, 2014 at 8:04 am Sorry for the late response. If you have not already found a solution to your issue, we will be carrying a 90 degree elbow that you can connect to the top of the commercial coupler that should give you the necessary clearance to attach the quick connect at a 90 degree angle. Please check back on our site in the couplers section soon. Reply
useful. thnks. says December 28, 2014 at 1:12 pm Thanks for this list of different sized kegs. Very handy. I always thought that there was only one size. The full barrell. Reply
Carol Crocker says April 14, 2020 at 4:41 pm Your replies are old which leads me to believe you no longer supply kegs but I’m asking anyway. I’m having no luck finding a keg of any kind to stock my kegarator. Can you direct me ? All the liquor stores in my area no longer supply any kegs . Reply
Kegerator.com says June 22, 2020 at 11:42 am You can find our available kegs here https://www.kegerator.com/kegerator-kegs/. Cheers! Reply
Dee alday says December 15, 2020 at 7:01 pm I have a 1\6 th barrell kegerator. If I mount o2 on outside shouldn’t I be able to go with a bigger keg.looking at keg dimensions I should be able to.any help would be appreciated Reply
Kegerator.com says January 4, 2021 at 5:02 pm Hi Dee, Without knowing the brand and model of the kegerator, I would think a slim quarter keg may be possible if the dimensions match up. Cheers! Reply
Paul says January 30, 2015 at 9:26 am I recent bought a 6 ft.³ single tap kegerator and need to know what size keg is the best size to use. Any suggestions? Reply
John Straight says March 23, 2015 at 7:36 pm Some are and some are not. Heineken and New Castle have a self- contained pressure source, which makes them not reusable without some major modification. Many European imports use external pressure sources or no pressure to push beer. These kegs can be reused. This type can be purchased from a number of on-line brewing suppliers. Reply
Darius says May 3, 2015 at 1:53 pm 5 gallons Cornelius kegs with Pin locks are my favorite keg size Reply
thomas killay says July 2, 2015 at 4:45 am With the holiday fast approaching we want the exhilaration of drinking ice cold nectar from a keg for maximus festivas 😉 We are having a few guests and have reserved a sixth barrell but the looming thought when having a keg is that when friends and neighbors “get wind” there is always a chance that a few stragglers will pop in making this size keg seem inadequate. We have a small fridge that could convert into a kegerator but we dont have the necessary equipment which leads to my question, if we decided to go with a quarter or half barrell is it possible to use a disposable smaller sized co2 like the approx. 30 ounce size they use for paintball guns that they sell at Wa*%#rt for $20 so we may be able to preserve the unused beer for more than 24 hours and would a disposable tank be compatible with the pump style taps that the package stores offer? I spoke with the distributor and several package stores and the prices I was quoted for co2 tanks and conversion kits from recommended local retailers were such that I would find better value in purchasing a brand new kegerator which is why I would be thrilled if this other idea could work. One of the reviews that I read for the 30 ounce tank the customer mentioned that he was going to use it for a beer keg. I also read that a traditional lager normally needs 10-12 psi of co2 pressure and a 5 pound (90 ounce) co2 tank will usually last for 2-4 half barrells depending on temperature conditions. The alternative is to dump the unused beer if we end up just packing it on ice because it will turn sour on Sunday without the co2. Package stores/distributors should offer the co2 option even if you just stick it in a regular refrigerator during or after your party/event. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you Reply
Mike O says January 12, 2016 at 8:19 am A conversion kit with a standard co2 tank would be the most budget friendly way to go if you already have a refrigerator to convert. If you didnt and did not want to deal with converting a standard fridge than a traditional kegerator setup would be most likely what your looking for. As far as those little 12 gram co2 cartridges, it would take multiples of those plus the specialty parts to connect it to a kegerator system which could work, but it would be much more efficient and cost effective to do a standard co2 tank setup like a 5 pound tank. If you kept the keg refrigerated, the keg should last you 2-3 months. Reply
EJ says September 25, 2015 at 6:25 am My Kegerator is double tap but can hold 3 1/6 kegs (one for reserve). I’m struggling because I’ve always kept bud light on tap plus one better beer. For the life of me I can’t find bud light in a 1/6, only bud. Is it an urban legend? Lastly, have you ever seen somebody pull off stacking two 1/4 kegs in a kegerator, running the beer line through the handle?? Reply
Mike O says January 12, 2016 at 8:29 am I have rarely seen Bud Light in 1/6 barrels, I have seen them in 1/4 slims before but it is dependent on your beer distributor. I have seen people stack two 1/4 kegs before, you’ll want to look for keg stackers. Restaurants/bars use them all the time so it is definitely a possibility. Reply
Byron Ames says October 7, 2015 at 10:59 am Has any one created a hook up for co2 for the mini kegerator ? I can’t get the cartridge to seal ! Reply
Mike O says January 12, 2016 at 8:27 am Unfortunately I have not seen anyone convert them to a full co2 tank but you may want to check homebrew/beer forums Reply
Eric says December 30, 2015 at 1:12 am I have a Kenmore Keg Fridge (the last one from the catalogs purchased 22+ years ago.) works great with a 8LB co2 bottle. — What will fit in the box (yes I can measure but,,) — Will 2 sixths or 2slim fit?? — Is it easy to change from one tap to two?? — Is it worth it?? — Will the 8LB co2 bottle run both?? — Does co2 go “bad” Reply
Mike O says January 12, 2016 at 8:25 am — What will fit in the box (yes I can measure but,,) Without knowing the interior dimensions it would be hard to say, but yes you would definitely need to measure and use the dimension from the above keg chart to see what would fit. — Will 2 sixths or 2slim fit?? See chart for dimensions. — Is it easy to change from one tap to two?? It is, just a matter of drilling an additional hole through the fridge and some extra parts inside. — Is it worth it?? If you already have an existing fridge to convert you can save money by converting it rather than buying a premade kegerator. — Will the 8LB co2 bottle run both?? Yes it would. You would need to split the air lines, either with a splitter or air distributor. — Does co2 go “bad” Its more the tank you want to worry about expiring. They require to be hydro tested every 5 years to make sure they are safe to use. If the tank is as old as the fridge I would definitely get it either inspected or replaced. Reply
randy farrar says April 19, 2016 at 4:51 pm i have a dual tap edgestar kegerator. will 2- slim quarter kegs fit Reply
adam says July 20, 2016 at 5:01 pm I have a beverage air under counter fridge that has been converted to a kegerator it is a hair over 23 and a half inches tall inside the standard half barrel keg is 23 and 3/8 inches tall without the tap on it us there any way this is gonna fit Reply
Jerry Novak says October 24, 2016 at 11:22 am After about a half a keg of my sixth barrel first keg, just foam comes out, so the beer is flat. I tired adjusting the pressure with the regulator, but it won’t adjust. Any advice? I’ve heard that the regulators are junk. Reply
Ben Zollinger says March 31, 2017 at 1:21 pm Hey do you know of any commercially available kegerator that will fit a 15.5 gallon and a 5 gallon leg? Reply
Patrick ORourke says August 22, 2017 at 12:46 pm I have a EDGESTAR DUAL TAP KEGERATOR – STAINLESS STEEL (ES KC2000SSTWIN). Need to know the exact term for the type of kegs that will fit it. I had to return a 5 gal PubKeg, aka, Rehrig keg because it was to wide. I have been calling them slim kegs or Sixth BBL kegs.but it seems some are wider than others-an example is Charleville Whiskey Scented Santa beer comes in a wider slim keg. I need to be able to tell my keg guy exactly the keg name that I need. Help? Reply
Jim says August 30, 2017 at 9:39 pm Do anyone sell a plastic barrel that would accommodate a 6th barrel keg and ice? Sort of a portable kegerator for camping. Reply
Eric says December 27, 2017 at 8:47 am I recently built an outside bar and want to put a kegerator underneath with a quarter keg system. I only have about a 33″ height clearance. I want to convert a mini fridge and was curious what is the minimum height needed for inside clearance of fridge for a quarter keg to fit correctly I know the quarter keg is approximately 23 3/8 but then need room for coupler. Thank you Reply
Paul says March 30, 2018 at 5:45 pm Hi Jeff, you have an error in this chart, or rather a lack of complete information. Ball & Pin Lock Cornelius kegs have different dimensions. you are only showing pin lock dimensions. Ball lock cornelius keg dimensions are: Diameter: 8.5″ Height: 25″ Otherwise you have one of the most useful keg comparison articles around. keep up the good work! Reply
William says April 2, 2018 at 5:08 pm I have a BR2001BL/SS edgestar kegerator. Can it fit 2 smaller kegs, and if so what size? Or can it only fit one 1/2 barrel? Reply
Jarad says June 21, 2018 at 10:49 pm Love this article but it doesn’t include bulge kegs. I got a 1/2 barrel of miller light and the keg didn’t fit because of the nonstandard format for a pretty common beer. Had to clean out my main fridge and move food to the kegerator or I would have lost the beer. Just check to see if your half barrel is standard or bulge Reply
Luke says August 12, 2018 at 2:08 pm So I see on my local list of keg sizes the 1/3 keg size I don’t find anything online about it how much dose. That hold in gallons if you know Reply
JBBrown says October 8, 2018 at 4:18 pm What is the difference in a keg of Miller or coors as to all other brands…wife drinks coors and the kegerator I purchased says it is not comparable Can you explain…she did advise if I cannot put coors in the kegerator is there a way to dispense wine…any advise would be appreciated Reply
Cj says January 7, 2020 at 10:06 am I have an Edgestar Dual Tao Kegerator. Will it fit two slim quarter kegs? Reply
Kegerator.com says January 16, 2020 at 3:02 pm Thanks for the question CJ! Depending on the width of the model you have, the 24-inch dual tap Edgestar models will hold one (1) slim quarter keg and one (1) sixth barrel keg, with the smaller 20-inch wide models only holding up to two sixth barrel kegs. Unfortunately, neither will hold two slim quarter kegs. Hope this helps! Reply
Darius Tuskenis says April 22, 2020 at 12:59 pm could I put a half-barrel keg to dual top kegerator? thank you. Reply
Denver says April 28, 2020 at 12:48 am Hi I’m trying to fit a whole kegorator into a wine barrel. The wine barrel has a 21inch diameter and is about 32 inches in height. Would there be a kegorator that would fit into this space. Cheers Reply
Darcy says May 3, 2020 at 12:20 pm Do you have any kegerator models that will fit 2 slim 1/4 barrels? Reply
Kegerator.com says June 22, 2020 at 11:29 am I believe you would need to purchase a commercial-rated unit and it would likely be 59-60″ minimum width. Please verify warranty, as it could be altered when using a commercial unit in a residential setting. https://www.kegerator.com/commercial-kegerators/ Reply
Brian says June 10, 2020 at 4:14 pm Where is a good place to go to get kegs? I’d like the smaller versions to have two types. One is Yuengling light, the other would be something more genetically traditional (Bud, Miller etc) Reply
Kegerator.com says June 19, 2020 at 2:08 pm I’ve always utilized my local liquor or convenience store, but I believe BevMo also provides them if there’s one in your area. Cheers! Reply
William bell says June 11, 2020 at 12:32 am My beer Meister I use a half a keg of michalob ultra, it does not fit coots light because of the round size, is miller lite the same as coors? Thanks Reply
Trac Basinger says June 20, 2020 at 10:20 am Does anybody have a Kegerator for pony kegs for sale. Maybe once I can rebuild Reply
Gary says June 23, 2020 at 10:49 am Can you put 30 liter quarter keg and 1/6 20 liter in keg at the same time ? We have a double tap, BM 240 kegerator. Reply
Stephen W Webb says July 9, 2020 at 1:00 pm Can I fit a 1/6 keg and a regular (not slim) 1/4 BBL in an EdgeStar KC2000TWIN (assume not) or a Kegco HBK309S-2 Keg Dispenser? Thanks Steve Reply
Mark Yackovich says August 25, 2020 at 11:27 am Do you make a model that can fit 2 slim quarter kegs? Reply
Elliot says August 31, 2020 at 12:06 am Will the quarter barrel keg use the same regular pump tap that the Half Barrel Keg uses? I would like to purchase if my regular tap will fit. Thanks !! Reply
Q says January 24, 2021 at 2:45 pm I have a kegerator and we use a 1/6 keg of ultra but wondering what size quarter will fit in my kegerator? Reply
Patti says February 6, 2021 at 10:22 am What outdoor Kegerator will be best to handle coors light kegs. Reply
