Blood Alcohol Chart
Alex Harmon ·Updated June 2026·Widmark Formula
BAC by body weight and number of standard drinks — for men and women
This chart shows estimated blood alcohol content (BAC) for different body weights and drink counts, calculated using the Widmark formula — the same method used by law enforcement and courts. Green cells are under the legal limit. Yellow is approaching the limit. Red means you are over the 0.08% DUI threshold in all 50 states.
What counts as one standard drink? One 12 oz regular beer (5% ABV), one 5 oz glass of wine (12% ABV), or one 1.5 oz shot of spirits (40% ABV). Each contains 14 grams of pure alcohol.
BAC Chart — Choose Your Gender
Gender affects alcohol distribution ratio (r-factor). Select yours for the most accurate estimate. Time elapsed = 0 hours after last drink.
Based on Widmark formula. Male r-factor: 0.73 · Female r-factor: 0.66. Values are estimates — individual factors (food, medication, health conditions) affect actual BAC.
🍺 Use Our Real-Time BAC Calculator →How to Read This Chart
Find your weight in the left column. Then read across to the number of standard drinks you've had. The number in the cell is your estimated BAC at that moment, assuming you drank all those drinks within a short window and no time has elapsed. For every hour since your last drink, subtract approximately 0.015% from your BAC.
Example: You weigh 160 lbs (male), you've had 3 drinks, and 1 hour has passed. Chart shows 0.082% at 0 hours. Subtract 0.015 for one hour = 0.067% — under the legal limit, but still impaired.
Time to Sober Up
Your liver metabolizes alcohol at a fixed rate — roughly 0.015% per hour regardless of coffee, food, sleep, or cold showers. The only thing that sobers you up is time. Use the table below to estimate when you'll reach 0.00%:
| Your BAC | Hours to Reach 0.00% | Safe to Drive? |
|---|---|---|
| 0.02% | ~1.3 hours | Yes (under limit) |
| 0.04% | ~2.7 hours | Yes (under limit) |
| 0.08% | ~5.3 hours | No — wait at least 5 hrs |
| 0.10% | ~6.7 hours | No — wait at least 7 hrs |
| 0.15% | ~10 hours | No — wait until morning |
| 0.20% | ~13.3 hours | No — may still be impaired at noon next day |
What Does Each BAC Level Feel Like?
BAC doesn't just affect driving — it affects your entire body and judgment in a progression that most people underestimate because alcohol impairs your ability to assess your own impairment.
Important: These BAC levels reflect population averages. Tolerance does not mean your brain and body are less impaired — it means you feel less impaired while your driving ability is equally degraded. High-tolerance drinkers are just as dangerous on the road as low-tolerance drinkers at the same BAC.
Factors That Affect Your BAC Beyond Weight and Gender
The chart gives you a useful estimate, but real-world BAC is affected by more variables than weight and gender alone:
Food: Eating before drinking slows alcohol absorption significantly. A full stomach can lower peak BAC by 30–50%. The chart assumes drinking on an empty stomach.
Drinking speed: Three drinks in 20 minutes hits differently than three drinks over 3 hours. The chart assumes all drinks consumed at once. Slower drinking gives your liver time to process alcohol, lowering peak BAC.
Age: Older adults metabolize alcohol more slowly. A 60-year-old may reach higher BAC than the chart suggests at the same weight.
Medications: Antibiotics, antihistamines, antidepressants, blood thinners, and many other medications interact with alcohol. Some increase impairment. Some increase toxicity. Read the full guide on alcohol and medications →
Health conditions: Liver disease impairs metabolism. Diabetes creates complex interactions. See how alcohol affects blood sugar →
Hydration: Dehydration concentrates alcohol in your blood, raising BAC.
The Legal Limit: 0.08% in All 50 States
Since 2004, every U.S. state has a per se DUI law at 0.08% BAC. This means that if you test at or above 0.08%, you are legally presumed to be impaired — regardless of how you feel. No further evidence of impairment is required for a DUI conviction in most states.
Special limits apply in these situations:
Commercial drivers (CDL): 0.04% BAC — half the standard limit. Applies when operating any commercial vehicle including trucks, buses, and taxis.
Drivers under 21: Zero-tolerance laws apply in every state. Limits range from 0.00% to 0.02% depending on state. In practice, any detectable BAC can result in license suspension and charges.
Aggravated DUI: Most states have enhanced penalties starting at 0.15% or 0.16% BAC, including mandatory jail time and longer license suspensions.
→ See DUI laws and penalties for your state
How the BAC Formula Works
This chart uses the Widmark formula, developed in 1932 and still used in courtrooms today:
r = 0.73 for males · r = 0.66 for females
Then subtract 0.015 per hour elapsed since first drink
Each "drink" equals 14 grams of pure alcohol. The r-factor (Widmark factor) accounts for how much of your body can absorb alcohol — men have a higher ratio of water to fat, so alcohol is more diluted. Women's lower r-factor means the same amount of alcohol is distributed into a smaller volume, resulting in higher BAC.
→ Full guide: how to calculate BAC manually
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I "sober up" faster with coffee or food?
No. Coffee makes you a more alert drunk but does not lower your BAC. Food consumed after drinking doesn't slow absorption the way food consumed before does. Only time reduces BAC — the liver metabolizes alcohol at roughly 0.015% per hour regardless of what you eat or drink.
Is the BAC chart accurate for everyone?
It's a well-validated estimate, not a guarantee. The Widmark formula is the same method used by forensic toxicologists and courts. However, individual factors — genetics, liver health, medications, drinking speed, food — can push your real BAC higher or lower than the chart predicts. Use it as a guide, not a clearance certificate.
What's the difference between BAC of 0.08% and 0.08 g/dL?
They're the same thing. BAC of 0.08% means 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, which is the same as 0.08 g/dL. You may also see it expressed as 80 mg/dL or 80 mg%. All refer to the same measurement — 0.08% is simply the most common notation in U.S. legal contexts.
Why does gender matter so much for BAC?
Women typically have less body water proportionally (more body fat, which doesn't absorb alcohol) and lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme in the stomach lining, meaning more alcohol passes into the bloodstream unprocessed. The result is a meaningfully higher BAC for the same drink count and weight, which is why the female chart shows higher values than the male chart.
What is the highest survivable BAC?
The highest recorded survivable BAC levels are around 1.00%–1.50%, though these are extreme outliers in people with severe alcohol dependency. At 0.30%, most non-tolerant individuals lose consciousness. At 0.40%+, there is a significant risk of fatal respiratory depression. Most alcohol poisoning deaths occur between 0.35% and 0.60%.