Updated:
Readtime: 8 min
The Lowdown:
Confused by schooners, pints, pots, and middies? Our complete guide to Australian beer glass sizes explains exactly what to order in every state and territory.
Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here.
Australians have cherished beer since the early 1800s, but understanding beer glass sizes in the land down under can be quite a challenge. Despite the country’s shift to the metric system in 1970, beer measurements have remained oddly inconsistent. From schooners to pints, and deciphering the millilitres in each, navigating Australian beer sizes can feel like an academic endeavour. Whether you’re preparing for an interstate footy trip or just looking to order with confidence, our comprehensive guide demystifies Australia’s diverse range of beer glass sizes state by state.
You’ll like: Which Australian beers are the best? Find out here.
Beer Glass Sizes in Australia By State
| State | 1,140ml (40 fl oz) | 570ml (20 fl oz) | 425ml (14 fl oz) | 285ml (10 fl oz) | 200ml (7 fl oz) | 140ml (5 fl oz) |
| Victoria | Jug | Pint | Schooner | Pot | Glass | Pony |
| New South Wales | Jug | Pint | Schooner | Middy | Seven | Pony |
| Australian Capital Territory | Jug | Pint | Schooner | Middy | – | Pony |
| Queensland | Jug | Pint | Schooner | Pot | – | Pony |
| Western Australia | Jug | Pint | Schooner | Middy | Glass | Pony |
| South Australia | Jug | Imperial Pint | Pint | Schooner | Butcher | Pony |
| Tasmania | Jug | Pint | Schooner | Ten | Eight | – |
| Northern Territory | Jug | Pint | Schooner | Handle | Seven | – |
Beer Glass Size Comparison in Australia
1. Schooner Size – 425 ml
The size of a schooner glass is considered an incontrovertible fact in most of the country, with the average schooner ml measuring in at a respectable and thirst-quenching 425ml. Of course, adopting a universal glass size would make too much sense, so thankfully we have South Australia to ruin what would otherwise be a rare instance of Australian beer bonhomie.
Down there (and nowhere else in the world) 425ml is considered a pint. No wonder they call it the Wine State. Alas, the schooner vs pint debate wages on.
Size: 425ml (~14 fl oz)
State: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, TAS, VIC, WA
RELATED: Check out our list of popular beer types explained. A complete guide here.
2. Pint Size – 570 ml
If you’ve been asking yourself ‘how big is a pint, really?’, you’ve got the Brits to thank. Arguably England’s greatest colonial export, the ol’ pint of beer is the heavyweight of Australian beer glasses. Based on a metric conversion of 20 imperial fluid ounces, the average pint size in Australia is 570ml, making it the slightly intimidating older brother to the more-popular schooner size, but seems to be gaining traction around the country.
It’s also one of the few beer sizes where South Australia almost manages to tow the party line, where it’s known as an imperial pint. So, next time somebody hits you with the ‘how many mls in a pint?’ pop quiz, you’ll be able to answer (90 per cent) confidently with 570ml.
Size: 570ml (~20 fl oz)
States: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, TAS, VIC, WA
3. Pony Size – 140 ml
When it comes to beer sizes, Australia has some interesting names. If there’s anything more baffling than Australian glass sizes it’s the names of the sizes themselves, and the pony is no exception. The smallest of the conventional beer sizes, the pony can be found throughout most of mainland Australia and comes in at a quaint 140ml. It’s unlikely to make even the tiniest of equines tipsy, but at least it’s something.
Size: 140ml (~5 fl oz)
States: ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, WA
4. Pot/Middy Size – 285 ml
Also known as a ‘handle’ in the Northern Territory, a ‘seven’ in Tasmania, and a ‘schooner’ in South Australia (don’t ask), the pot of beer or middy truly is the beer-of-many-names. It’s standard-issue in Victoria, but will leave most beer-drinkers elsewhere in the country feeling a bit shortchanged.
Size: 285ml (~10 fl oz)
State: All of Australia (under various names)
5. Jug Size – 1,140 ml
The receptacle of choice for groups of mates, alcoholics or students looking for a cheap night out, the jug is the great leveller when it comes to Aussie beer sizes. Unlike other beer sizes, you can order a jug anywhere in the country safe in the knowledge you’ll be getting 1140ml (or 40 fluid ounces) of golden beer-y goodness.
Size: 1,140ml (~40 fl oz)
States: Anywhere in Australia (yes, even SA)
6. Butcher Size – 200 ml
A fitting name for a beer size from the state that has made an absolute dog’s breakfast of following naming protocol, the butcher isn’t big enough to make any kind of impression, but also not small enough that it can be safely ignored. So kind of like South Australia then.
Size: 200ml (~7 fl oz)
State: South Australia
7. Small Beer – 115 ml
What this beer lacks in volume, it doesn’t make up for in originality of name, but there’s something charmingly prosaic about it.
Size: 115ml (~4 fl oz)
State: Tasmania
8. Bobbie/Bobby – 170 ml
When it comes to beer sizes, Australia has some funny names. WA has made a name for itself as one of the homes of Australian craft beer, but it’s evidently also the home of some unusual beer sizes as well. Not to be outdone by the Apple Isle, WA also has its own 115ml offering, in the form of the humble Shetland glass size.
Size: 170ml (~6 fl oz)
State: Western Australia
FAQs
Because Australia has never done anything the easy way. Each colony developed its own pub culture long before Federation, and by the time anyone thought to standardise things, the names were too entrenched to shift. The metric conversion in 1970 tidied up the millilitres but left the terminology in the hands of the states, which predictably went their own way. South Australia, in particular, is thought to have been shaped by the Temperance movement’s push for smaller pours in the early 20th century (a legacy that continues to confuse interstate visitors to this day).
In most of the country, no. A schooner is 425ml and a pint is 570ml, making the pint the larger of the two. In South Australia, however, 425ml is called a pint, and the 570ml glass is an imperial pint. So the answer is: it depends entirely on which side of the South Australian border you’re standing on.
It varies by state. In Victoria and Queensland, the pot (285ml) is the standard pub order. In New South Wales, most people default to a schooner (425ml). In South Australia, the pint (their version, the 425ml one) is the go-to. There is no national consensus, and there probably never will be.
As of 2026, a schooner will set you back anywhere from $8 to $14 depending on the venue, the suburb, and how much the pub thinks it can get away with. A pint runs $12 to $18 in most city bars, with the upper end reserved for Saturday nights and places with exposed brick. Sydney and Melbourne are among the most expensive cities in the world for a pint. Regional pubs are generally kinder to your wallet, and if someone offers you a $5 schooner, you should probably marry them.
If you want the biggest single glass on the menu, ask for a pint (570ml) in most states, or an imperial pint if you’re in South Australia and want to be taken seriously. If you’re with a group and have given up on individual accountability, a jug (1,140ml) is the move.
Alternatives to Beer Glass Sizes
Quick Guides to the Best Beer Apps, Blogs & Podcasts
- May These 7 Useful Beer Apps Be Your Guide
- 17 Australian Beer Blogs
- 5 Australian Beer Podcasts Worth Listening to
For Craft Beer Lovers
- 100 Best Craft Beers in Australia to Drink in 2024
- Best Home Brew Kits for the Perfect Craft Beer
- Aussie Craft Beers Worth Adding to Your Bar Fridge
Comments
We love hearing from you. or to leave a comment.