BAC Chart

The BAC Chart is a reference tool covering bac chart, blood alcohol content chart, blood alcohol level chart, bac by weight chart. Use the chart below to look up values instantly. Printable and downloadable versions are available on this page.

Disclaimer: This chart is for reference only. BAC estimates are approximate and affected by individual metabolism, food intake, medications, and other factors. Never use this chart to determine whether it is safe to drive. The only safe amount of alcohol before driving is zero.

BAC Reference Chart — Men

Blood Alcohol Content Estimation — Men (Standard Drinks vs Body Weight)
Body Weight (lbs) 1 Drink 2 Drinks 3 Drinks 4 Drinks 5 Drinks 6 Drinks 7 Drinks 8 Drinks
100 lbs 0.04 0.08 0.11 0.15 0.19 0.23 0.26 0.30
120 lbs 0.03 0.06 0.09 0.12 0.16 0.19 0.22 0.25
140 lbs 0.03 0.05 0.08 0.11 0.13 0.16 0.19 0.21
160 lbs 0.02 0.05 0.07 0.09 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.19
180 lbs 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.11 0.13 0.15 0.17
200 lbs 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.07 0.09 0.11 0.13 0.15
220 lbs 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.07 0.09 0.10 0.12 0.14
240 lbs 0.01 0.03 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.09 0.11 0.13

Source: Widmark formula for BAC estimation — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Blood Alcohol Content by Drinks and Body Weight
Weight ↓ / Drinks →12345678
100 lbs0.030.070.110.150.200.240.280.32
120 lbs0.020.060.090.130.160.200.230.27
140 lbs0.020.050.080.110.140.170.200.23
160 lbs0.010.040.060.090.120.140.170.20
180 lbs0.010.030.060.080.100.130.150.17
200 lbs0.010.030.050.070.090.110.130.15
220 lbs0.000.020.040.060.080.100.120.14
240 lbs0.000.020.040.060.070.090.110.13
Below 0.02 — Minimal
0.02–0.04 — Slight relaxation
0.05–0.07 — Mild impairment
0.08–0.09 — DUI threshold ⚠️
0.10–0.14 — Significant impairment
0.15+ — Severe impairment
Centered premium hero image for a Bac Chart tool with elegant shadowed title, a clean BAC input field, blank dropdown, small toggle, and Generate button, set over a high-contrast chart analysis background with subtle grid lines and alignment arrows.

BAC Reference Chart — Women

Blood Alcohol Content Estimation — Women (Standard Drinks vs Body Weight)

Women metabolise alcohol differently — lower body water percentage produces higher BAC at the same intake.

Body Weight (lbs) 1 Drink 2 Drinks 3 Drinks 4 Drinks 5 Drinks 6 Drinks 7 Drinks 8 Drinks
100 lbs 0.05 0.09 0.14 0.18 0.23 0.27 0.32 0.36
120 lbs 0.04 0.08 0.11 0.15 0.19 0.23 0.26 0.30
140 lbs 0.03 0.07 0.10 0.13 0.16 0.19 0.22 0.25
160 lbs 0.03 0.06 0.09 0.11 0.14 0.17 0.20 0.23
180 lbs 0.03 0.05 0.08 0.10 0.13 0.15 0.18 0.20
200 lbs 0.02 0.05 0.07 0.09 0.11 0.14 0.16 0.18
220 lbs 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.17
240 lbs 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.09 0.11 0.13 0.15

Source: Widmark formula with female body water ratio adjustment — NIAAA

BAC Effects Reference

BAC Level Effects — What Each Level Feels Like and Does
BAC Level Typical Effects Driving Impact
0.02 to 0.03 Slight relaxation, mild mood elevation, slight warmth Decline in visual function. Reduced ability to track moving targets.
0.04 to 0.06 Lowered inhibitions, increased warmth and sociability, reduced coordination beginning Reduced reaction time. Impaired attention. Legal to drive but risky.
0.07 to 0.09 Obvious impairment — balance, coordination, and speech affected. Confidence often elevated (false confidence) Above 0.08 is the legal DUI limit in all 50 US states. Significant crash risk increase.
0.10 to 0.12 Clearly impaired movement, judgement, and reaction time Very dangerous to drive — crash risk is 7 times that of a sober driver.
0.13 to 0.15 Gross motor impairment, dysphoria (anxiety and restlessness) may begin Extremely dangerous — over 12 times the crash risk of sober.
0.16 to 0.20 Severe impairment — loss of balance, vomiting risk, memory blackouts begin Do not drive under any circumstances.
0.25 and above Life-threatening — loss of consciousness, respiratory depression risk Incapacitation — not capable of driving.

Source: NHTSA alcohol and highway safety research

BAC Estimator

Enter your weight, sex, number of drinks, and hours drinking to estimate your current BAC and time to sober up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the legal BAC limit for driving in the US?

The legal blood alcohol concentration limit for driving in all 50 US states is 0.08% for adults 21 and over. Commercial drivers are held to 0.04% and drivers under 21 face zero-tolerance laws in most states.

How many drinks does it take to reach 0.08 BAC?

This varies significantly by body weight and sex. For a 160-pound man approximately 3 standard drinks in one hour produces a BAC near 0.07 to 0.08. For a 120-pound woman approximately 2 drinks can reach 0.08.

How long does it take BAC to return to zero?

The body metabolises approximately one standard drink per hour — a BAC of 0.08 takes roughly 5 to 6 hours to fully clear. Coffee, cold showers, and food do not speed up alcohol metabolism.

What is a standard drink?

One standard drink in the US contains 14 grams of pure alcohol. This equals 12 oz of regular beer (5% ABV), 5 oz of wine (12% ABV), or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (40% ABV / 80 proof).

Why do women have higher BAC than men at the same intake?

Women generally have a higher proportion of body fat and lower proportion of body water than men of the same weight — since alcohol distributes in body water, the same amount of alcohol is more concentrated in women. Women also have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (the enzyme that metabolises alcohol) in the stomach.

Is BAC 0.05 dangerous?

At 0.05 BAC reaction time and tracking ability are meaningfully impaired. Several countries including Australia, the EU, Canada, and Japan set their legal limit at 0.05 — the US 0.08 limit is higher than the international standard.

What is a BAC of 0.15?

A BAC of 0.15 represents serious impairment — gross loss of motor control, very poor judgement, and significant nausea risk. In most US states 0.15 is the threshold for aggravated or extreme DUI charges with harsher penalties.

Can you estimate your own BAC accurately?

Self-assessment of BAC is notoriously inaccurate — intoxication impairs the very judgement needed to recognise impairment. People consistently underestimate their BAC at higher levels. The only reliable method is a breathalyser or blood test.

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