Distillation Formulas & Calculators
Common distillation planning formulas for estimating wash strength, collection volume, dilution water, heat-up time, vapor speed, and temperature conversions.
Sugar Wash Calculator
Estimates the starting gravity and potential alcohol for a sugar wash before fermentation.
SG = 1 + ((sugar lb x 46) / volume gal) / 1000
Potential ABV = gravity points x 0.13125
Alcohol Content of the Wash
Uses original and final gravity to estimate alcohol by volume after fermentation.
ABV = (OG - FG) x 131.25
Distillate To Water Calculator
Estimates collected distillate volume and boiler water remaining from wash volume and collection strength.
Distillate volume = (wash volume x wash ABV) / collection ABV
Boiler water left = wash volume - distillate volume
Dilution Calculator
Calculates water to add when proofing spirits down to a target strength.
Final volume = starting volume x starting ABV / target ABV
Water to add = final volume - starting volume
Temperature Converter
Quickly converts Fahrenheit to Celsius or Celsius to Fahrenheit.
C = (F - 32) x 5 / 9
F = C x 9 / 5 + 32
Heating Time To Temp
Estimates how long it takes to heat a wash to a target temperature using available power and efficiency.
Minutes = volume L x 4186 x temperature rise C / (watts x efficiency) / 60
Vapor Speed Calculator
Estimates vapor speed through a column from power input and column diameter.
Vapor speed = vapor volume flow / column area
Flow is estimated from power, ethanol latent heat, and ethanol vapor density.
Dilution Water Calculator
Works backward from a desired final volume and proof to show how much stronger alcohol and water to combine.
Alcohol volume = desired volume x desired proof / starting proof
Water volume = desired volume - alcohol volume
Use these calculators for planning and record keeping. Distilling alcohol may require permits or may be restricted where you live; follow your local laws and add alcohol to water when proofing to reduce clouding.