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Bottling and capping gear

Pry-off and swing-top bottles, bench and wing cappers, bottle fillers, bottling buckets and priming sugar, plus the safe carbonation limits for glass.

Best bottle cappersHow to bottle homebrewBottling vs keggingPriming sugar calculator
Brown bottles lined up next to a white bottling bucket on a kitchen floor
Photo: Ginkgo100 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Priming sugar calculatorGrams of corn sugar, table sugar or DME by style and temperature.
Avoid bottle bombsBottle only after the gravity reads the same 2–3 days in a row, measure priming sugar with a calculator, use standard bottles only to about 3 volumes, store them in a closed box at room temperature and refrigerate once carbonated.Source: BYO carbonation priming chart

How to choose a bottle capper and bottling kit

A bottle capper is the one bottling tool you buy once. Wing (two-lever) cappers are small and cheap; bench cappers stand on their own, handle odd bottle heights and are easier on your wrists across 50 bottles. Check the bell: most US beer bottles take a standard 26 mm crown, while Belgian and champagne bottles may need 29 mm.

The rest of the kit is simple: a bottling bucket with a spigot, a spring-tip filler, an auto-siphon, caps and priming sugar or carbonation drops. A 5 gal (19 L) batch fills about 53 bottles of 12 oz, or about 40 of 16 oz.

How much priming sugar, and how much is too much?

Carbonation is measured in volumes of CO2. British ales sit low, German wheat beers high. Standard 12 oz pry-off bottles are not meant for more than about 3.0 volumes; above that, use heavy Belgian or champagne bottles.

CO2 volumes by style family (bottle or keg)

Style familyVolumes of CO2Bottle-safe?
British ales1.5–2.2✓ standard bottles
American ales2.2–3✓ standard bottles
European lagers2.4–2.6✓ standard bottles
American lagers2.5–2.8✓ standard bottles
Belgian ales2–4.5~ standard bottles only to about 3 vol
German weizen2.8–5.1~ standard bottles only to about 3 vol

Style ranges: BYO: Carbonation priming chart. Standard 12 oz pry-off bottles are not meant for more than about 3.0 volumes. Bottle only after the gravity reads the same 2–3 days in a row.

Priming sugar calculatorGrams of corn sugar, table sugar or DME by style and the warmest temperature the beer reached.

Bottling day mistakes to avoid

  • Bottling before the gravity is stable: take the same reading 2–3 days in a row first
  • Guessing the sugar: weigh it or use the calculator, and stir it in gently
  • Reusing twist-off bottles: caps seal poorly on them
  • Leaving bottles in the sun: store them in a closed box at room temperature, then refrigerate once carbonated

Bench capper or wing capper: who should choose what

  • Wing capper: 1-gallon and occasional 5-gallon batches of standard 12 oz bottles; small and easy to store.
  • Bench capper: regular 5-gallon batches, bombers and Belgian bottles, or anyone with sore wrists.
  • Swing-top bottles: no capper at all; replace the gaskets when they harden.
  • Carbonation drops: quick and tidy, but you can't fine-tune the CO2 level the way weighed priming sugar allows.

Related reading: best beer guns and counter-pressure fillers and best hydrometers for homebrewing.

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Bottling & capping: questions

What is the best bottle capper for homebrew?
A bench capper is easiest for full 5-gallon batches and odd bottle heights. A wing capper works for most standard 12 oz bottles and stores in a drawer. Check the bell size (26 mm or 29 mm) for your bottles.
How much priming sugar for 5 gallons?
It depends on the style's CO2 target and the warmest temperature the beer reached after fermentation. The priming sugar calculator gives grams by sugar type; for example, 5 gal at 2.5 volumes that peaked at 68°F (20°C) needs about 137 g (4.8 oz) of corn sugar.
How long does bottle conditioning take?
Usually about two weeks at room temperature for ales. Stronger and lager beers can take longer. Chill one bottle to test before refrigerating the rest.
Can I reuse commercial beer bottles?
Yes, if they are pry-off (not twist-off), free of chips and cleaned well. Remove labels, clean, then sanitize per your sanitizer's label before filling.
Can homebrew bottles explode?
Yes, if you bottle before fermentation finishes, add too much sugar, or the beer is infected. Bottle only at a stable gravity, use the calculator, keep standard bottles at or below about 3.0 volumes and store them in a closed box.