# Brewhouse Efficiency Calculator

Brewhouse efficiency is the percentage of a grain bill's potential extract that ends up as dissolved sugar in the fermenter. It is calculated as (measured gravity points × batch volume) / (grain weight × malt yield), accounting for losses in the mash, lauter, boil and transfer. A typical home system lands between 65% and 78%.

Efficiency is the single number that makes a recipe predict your gravity correctly. Measure it once, put it in your equipment profile, and stop guessing.

HTML version: https://brewgravity.com/calculators/brewhouse-efficiency/

## Inputs

- **Measured OG** (min 1, step 0.001) — default: 1.052
- **Batch volume (L)** (min 0.1, step 0.5) — default: 19
- **Total grain (kg)** (min 0, step 0.1) — default: 5
- **Average malt yield (PPG)** (min 1, step 0.5) — default: 36

## Outputs

- **eff**: Brewhouse efficiency
- **actual**: Points extracted
- **max**: Points available

## FAQ

### What efficiency should I put in my recipe software?

Whatever you actually measured, averaged over your last few batches. A default of 72% or 75% is a guess about someone else's brewery, and it is the most common reason calculated gravity does not match measured gravity.

### Why did my efficiency drop on a big beer?

Efficiency falls as grain bill grows, because a thicker mash and a shorter effective sparge extract proportionally less. A system that hits 75% on a 1.050 beer may see 65% on a 1.090 one. That is normal — plan for it rather than fighting it.

### Does efficiency affect flavor?

Not directly. Chasing very high efficiency by over-sparging can extract tannins and produce astringency, which is why most brewers stop pushing once they are consistent.

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Source: https://brewgravity.com — Free brewhouse efficiency calculator from measured OG, batch volume, grain weight and malt PPG, with typical efficiency ranges and the distinction between mash and brewhouse efficiency.