Home Car insurance Car insurance calculator Blood alcohol content (BAC) calculator Blood alcohol content (BAC) calculator Use our blood alcohol content calculator to estimate your blood alcohol level based on your alcohol consumption. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Chris Kissell Chris Kissell Specializing in insurance and personal finance, Chris Kissell is a writer and editor whose work has been featured at Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, Bankrate and Money Talks News. He is based in Denver. | Reviewed by Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir is an insurance expert and managing editor of Insure.com. She specializes in life and health insurance content, and has experience as a marketing consultant. | Expert insight from Frank Harris Frank Harris Director of state government affairs at Mothers Against Drunk DrivingGo to comment | Updated on: September 9, 2025 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. Disclaimer: The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) calculator is intended for educational purposes only. Contact a lawyer for any legal advice and a healthcare professional with any medical questions. Under no circumstances should one drink any amount of alcohol and then drive or operate machinery. If you get pulled over and your blood alcohol level is above the legal limit, you’ll be arrested for driving under the influence. If that leads to a conviction, you’ll find that getting car insurance after a DUI will result in much higher car insurance premiums — if you’re allowed to drive. In most states, it’s illegal for people of any age to drive with an alcohol concentration level at or more than 0.08%. In Utah, it’s even lower – 0.05% BAC. Insure.com’s Blood Alcohol Content calculator can be used as a hypothetical way to estimate the impact of each drink — but remember, it isn’t a surefire science. The actual impact of each drink depends on many factors unique to your circumstances, including what you’ve eaten and what medications you are taking. The best way to avoid a DUI is to avoid drinking and driving, period. Blood Alcohol Content Calculator Weight 100 (pounds) 110 (pounds) 120 (pounds) 130 (pounds) 140 (pounds) 150 (pounds) 160 (pounds) 170 (pounds) 180 (pounds) 190 (pounds) 200 (pounds) 210 (pounds) 220 (pounds) 230 (pounds) 240 (pounds) 250 (pounds) 260 (pounds) 270 (pounds) 280 (pounds) 290 (pounds) 300 (pounds) Drinks Consumed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Over Time Period 1 Hour 2 Hours 3 Hours 4 Hours 5 Hours 6 Hours Gender Male Female Calculate Calculate Your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Score is 0.0266 The basic formula for estimating a person's blood-alcohol concentration comes from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each drink in this calculation assumes a volume of. 54 ounces of alcohol (one shot of distilled spirits, a glass of wine, or 12 ounces of beer). Key Takeaways Car insurance rates are significantly higher for those convicted of driving under the influence, and it may be difficult to obtain auto insurance at all. A blood alcohol content calculator estimates a person’s blood alcohol concentration. Entering gender, weight, and drinks consumed over a given time period enables an individual to estimate their blood alcohol content. Driving while impaired can have extremely severe consequences, including fines, prison, higher insurance costs and serious injury or death. What is blood alcohol content? Blood alcohol content (BAC) is the percentage of alcohol in a person’s blood. It is used to measure how much alcohol has been consumed, and how it can affect a person’s behavior and judgment. The basic formula for estimating a person’s BAC comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Each drink in this calculation assumes a volume of 0.54 ounces of alcohol (one shot of distilled spirits, a glass of wine, or 12 ounces of beer). However, many variables can affect how quickly alcohol enters your blood, raising your blood-alcohol level. The body (regardless of gender or size) metabolizes alcohol at a rate of .016 BAC per hour — or about one standard drink per hour. Contrary to what some may say, there is no way to speed up getting sober. How alcohol affects your BAC levels The amount of alcohol you drink — along with your body weight, gender, and how quickly you drink it — can raise your BAC, potentially pushing you over the legal limit and impairing your coordination, judgment, and reaction time. Here are the effects you may experience at different levels: 0.02% to 0.03%: Some loss of judgment, relaxation, increase in body temperature 0.04% to 0.06%: Feeling of euphoria, lowered inhibiting, impairment of reasoning 0.07% to 0.09%: Impaired response times, balance, speed, and vision. 0.10% to 0.12%: Significant impairment of motor coordination, delayed reaction, and slurred speech 0.13% to 0.15: Substantial judgment and attention impairment, loss of motor coordination 0.16% to 0.20%: Pronounced physical and mental impairment, nausea, risk of blackouts and alcohol poisoning How does the blood alcohol calculator work? This calculator helps you determine an approximation of what your blood alcohol content would be if you drank a specific number of drinks over a certain period of time. Your blood alcohol level is affected by several factors, including your age, weight, and gender. The time of day, your physical condition, any food consumed before having a drink, other drugs or medication you are on, and your tolerance level all can impact your BAC. The calculator makes certain assumptions, such as drinking alcohol on an empty stomach. If you eat while you drink, the alcohol is absorbed more slowly into your bloodstream. Nonetheless, studies have shown that impairment begins with the first drink. Factors that affect BAC levels There are too many variables to accurately estimate how many drinks it will take for someone to get drunk. “It’s important to understand that alcohol impacts everyone differently, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer,” says Frank Harris, director of state government affairs at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Some of the factors that can impact one’s blood alcohol concentration include: Biology: The impact of alcohol on a body differs from person to person. Your body weight and enzyme production and levels all play a role in your blood alcohol level after consuming a drink. Hormone levels also play a role. Gender: On average, women are smaller than men and become intoxicated more quickly. Women have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, which is the enzyme that metabolizes alcohol. This causes alcohol to remain in their bloodstream longer. Their higher percentage of body fat also reduces their body’s ability to distribute the concentration of alcohol. Alcohol type and concentration: The type of alcohol you consume plays a big role in your BAC, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One 12-ounce regular beer contains between 4.5% and 6% alcohol. A 5-ounce glass of wine contains 12% alcohol. A 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof hard liquor contains 40% alcohol. Consumption rate: The amount of alcohol you drink and the time over which you consume it play a key role in determining your blood alcohol level. Medications and food in your system also impact this level. Food intake: Food in the stomach slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Larger meals right before drinking are likely to reduce peak BAC. Medication intake: The use of some over-the-counter and prescription drugs can cause alcohol to impact the body more quickly and to be metabolized more slowly. State-by-state BAC limits In the United States, nearly every state has a BAC limit of 0.08%. The only exception is Utah, which enacted a limit of 0.05%. However, some states have enhanced or increased penalty laws. If a driver’s BAC is beyond a certain threshold, the state may impose additional consequences, such as immediate license revocation, fines, or even jail time. The table below highlights the BAC limits for each state, as well as enhanced penalty laws. JurisdictionBAC limitEnhanced penalty lawsAlabama0.080.15Alaska0.08N/AArizona0.080.15Arkansas0.08N/ACalifornia0.080.15Colorado0.080.15Connecticut0.08N/ADelaware0.080.15District of Columbia0.080.20Florida0.080.15Georgia0.080.15Hawaii0.08N/AIdaho0.080.20Illinois0.080.16Indiana0.080.15Iowa0.080.15Kansas0.080.15Kentucky0.080.15Louisiana0.080.15Maine0.080.15Maryland0.080.15Massachusetts0.080.20Michigan0.080.17Minnesota0.080.16Mississippi0.08N/AMissouri0.080.15Montana0.080.16Nebraska0.080.15Nevada0.080.18New Hampshire0.080.16New Jersey0.080.15New Mexico0.080.16New York0.080.18North Carolina0.080.15North Dakota0.080.18Ohio0.080.17Oklahoma0.080.15Oregon0.080.15Pennsylvania0.080.16Rhode Island0.080.15South Carolina0.080.16South Dakota0.080.17Tennessee0.080.20Texas0.080.15Utah0.050.16Vermont0.080.16Virginia0.080.15Washington0.080.15West Virginia0.080.15Wisconsin0.080.17Wyoming0.080.15 Powered by: Different blood alcohol levels and their effects Alcohol affects everyone differently. If you rarely drink, you could be severely impaired by a single beer. For the most part, by the time you feel drunk, you are well past the legal limit. Blood alcohol content is expressed as a number that reflects the amount of alcohol in your blood as a percentage. Thus, a BAC of 0.08 indicates your blood is 0.08% alcohol by volume. Harris notes that the U.S. once had a patchwork of state drunk-driving laws, including different BAC laws. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, began to push for 0.08 BAC laws in the early 1980s, and Utah enacted one of the first 0.08 BAC laws during that period. A national drunk driving standard of 0.08 BAC was set for all 50 states and the District of Columbia via federal law in the year 2000. Since that time, research has found that a BAC limit of 0.08 is too lenient because critical driving skills are impaired at a BAC of 0.05, Harris says. “Research indicates that if all states adopted a 0.05 BAC law, as many as 1,791 lives could be saved annually, with alcohol-impaired deaths potentially dropping by over 11%,” Haris says. In 2018, Utah lowered its legal BAC limit to 0.05. MADD advocates for other states to enact similar laws. For now, driving with a BAC at or above 0.08—or above 0.05 in Utah—is a crime in all states, but additional laws and penalties vary widely from state to state. Consequences of a high BAC Driving while impaired can have very serious consequences. Not only could you face fines, jail time and increased insurance premiums, but an accident could leave you liable for injuries and property damages. Or worse, you could be responsible for a fatality. Every day, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle accidents that involve alcohol-impaired driving – that’s one death every 50 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC. Car insurance rates after a DUI conviction can increase anywhere from 28% to 371%, depending on the circumstances, where you live and your insurer’s policies, among other factors. Call a friend instead of drinking and driving, take a taxi or use a ride-sharing app on your phone. “Impaired driving is a 100% preventable violent crime,” Harris says. “When an alcohol-related crash happens, it’s never an ‘accident,’ because someone deliberately made the reckless choice to operate that vehicle while they were impaired.” How a DUI impacts your car insurance A DUI conviction can lead to steep increases in car insurance premiums — or you even risk policy cancellations. After a DUI, you can see your rates double or even triple. How much your rates increase depends on several factors, including your driving history and location. Residents of North Carolina tend to have the highest rate increases. On average, drivers with a clean record pay $1,744 per year for coverage. After a DUI, premiums skyrocket to $7,344 — a difference of more than $5,600. South Carolina and Missouri tend to have the lowest price hikes. On average, prices in those states increase by about 49% after a DUI — still a significant increase. Depending on your state, a DUI can affect your car insurance premiums for three to five years. Here’s a look at how much car insurance goes up after a DUI in each state. StateAverage annual premiumAfter violationPercentage differenceDollar differenceAlaska$1,676$2,39543%$719Alabama$1,860$3,25075%$1,391Arkansas$1,957$3,42075%$1,463Arizona$1,812$3,09271%$1,280California$2,416$7,777222%$5,360Colorado$2,337$4,09775%$1,759Connecticut$1,725$4,345152%$2,620Washington, D.C.$2,157$3,36656%$1,208Delaware$2,063$3,59374%$1,530Florida$2,694$4,26158%$1,567Georgia$1,970$3,43374%$1,463Hawaii$1,517$5,272248%$3,756Iowa$1,630$2,54156%$911Idaho$1,428$2,39368%$966Illinois$1,532$2,60470%$1,072Indiana$1,515$2,64975%$1,134Kansas$1,900$3,32175%$1,421Kentucky$2,228$4,20289%$1,975Louisiana$2,883$4,44554%$1,562Massachusetts$1,726$3,19485%$1,468Maryland$1,746$3,18582%$1,440Maine$1,175$2,17085%$995Michigan$2,352$6,163162%$3,811Minnesota$1,911$4,176119%$2,265Missouri$1,982$2,94949%$968Mississippi$2,008$3,83291%$1,824Montana$2,193$3,60364%$1,410North Carolina$1,741$7,344322%$5,603North Dakota$1,665$3,02782%$1,362Nebraska$1,902$3,840102%$1,937New Hampshire$1,265$2,00158%$736New Jersey$1,902$3,66693%$1,764New Mexico$2,049$3,24258%$1,193Nevada$2,060$3,28559%$1,225New York$1,870$2,86153%$991Ohio$1,417$2,52278%$1,105Oklahoma$2,138$3,25052%$1,112Oregon$1,678$2,71662%$1,038Pennsylvania$1,872$3,51088%$1,638Rhode Island$2,061$4,416114%$2,356South Carolina$2,009$2,98849%$979South Dakota$2,280$3,92872%$1,648Tennessee$1,677$2,89172%$1,214Texas$2,043$3,24759%$1,204Utah$1,825$2,98363%$1,158Virginia$1,469$2,58076%$1,111Vermont$1,319$2,62199%$1,302Washington$1,608$2,84677%$1,237Wisconsin$1,664$2,89974%$1,235West Virginia$2,005$3,80590%$1,800Wyoming$1,758$3,31489%$1,556 Powered by: How long a DUI stays on your driving record How long a DUI stays on your driving record varies by state. In some, like Arizona, a DUI can fall off your driving record in just seven years. In others, like Colorado, it will stay on your driving record permanently. StateTimelineAlabama10 YearsAlaska15 YearsArizona7 YearsArkansas10 YearsCalifornia10 YearsColoradoPermanentConnecticut10 YearsDelawarePermanentDistrict of Columbia15 YearsFlorida5 YearsGeorgia10 YearsHawaii10 YearsIdaho10 YearsIllinoisPermanentIndiana7 YearsIowa12 YearsKansas10 YearsKentucky10 YearsLouisiana10 YearsMaine10 YearsMaryland5 YearsMassachusettsPermanentMichigan7 YearsMinnesota10 YearsMississippi5 YearsMissouri5 YearsMontana10 YearsNebraska15 YearsNevada7 YearsNew Hampshire10 YearsNew Jersey10 YearsNew Mexico55 YearsNew York10 YearsNorth Carolina10 YearsNorth Dakota7 YearsOhio10 YearsOklahoma10 YearsOregon10 YearsPennsylvania10 YearsRhode Island5 YearsSouth Carolina10 YearsSouth Dakota10 YearsTennessee10 YearsTexasPermanentUtah10 YearsVermontPermanentVirginia10 YearsWashington10 YearsWest Virginia10 YearsWisconsin10 YearsWyoming10 Years Powered by: Tips for safe and responsible drinking It’s crucial to have a plan in place to avoid drinking and driving, whether that means arranging a designated driver, using a rideshare service, or planning to stay overnight. Remember, if you drink, you should not drive. Taking these steps can help ensure safety for yourself and others on the road: Drink in moderation: Try to have no more than one standard drink per hour. A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. You should not drink more than three standard drinks in a day and seven in a week if you are female, and no more than four in one day or 14 in a week if you are male. Have a plan for alternative transportation: Make sure you have a transportation if you plan to drink. This might include designating a sober driver or taking a taxi or rideshare. Make these plans before you start drinking. Eat before you drink: Eating before you drink — especially high-protein foods — and after you start drinking can slow the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. Never drink on an empty stomach. Recognize the signs of impairment: Be aware of the signs that alcohol is beginning to impair your body. These include slurred speech and decreased alertness. You might notice yourself becoming too loud or overly friendly. Drooping eyelids, sweating and flushed face are additional signs. Also, be wary if you start to sway or stumble. ”It’s also essential to recognize that driving any vehicle while impaired is illegal,” Harris says. “Operating boats, jet skis, ATVs/UTVs, and all other recreational vehicles while under the influence is just as dangerous as driving a car while impaired.” Looking to simplify insurance cost estimation? Try our calculators: Monthly car insurance calculator Full coverage car insurance estimate calculator State minimum car insurance calculator Liability coverage car insurance calculator Car insurance calculator for adults Car insurance calculator for young adults Car insurance calculator for teens Car insurance calculator for seniors California car insurance calculator Texas car insurance calculator Auto Insurance Advisor Find ratings for top insurance companies How much used car insurance costs: Most and least expensive models to insure Car insurance calculator: Use our tool to estimate your auto premiums 1/1 Frequently asked questions What is the legal blood alcohol level? In almost every state, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving is 0.08%. Utah is the only exception, with a stricter limit of 0.05%. Keep in mind that commercial drivers and drivers under 21 are often held to even lower thresholds, sometimes as low as 0.02% or zero tolerance. How many drinks does it take to reach 0.08% BAC? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. On average, many people may reach a BAC of 0.08% after about two to three standard drinks, but factors like body weight, sex, metabolism, food intake, and how quickly you drink all play a big role. What puts one person over the limit could leave another well under it. Because of these variables, it’s never safe to assume you’re “okay to drive” after a set number of drinks. Can you drive after drinking if you’re under the legal limit? Even if your BAC is below the legal threshold, alcohol can still slow your reflexes and impair judgment. Buzzed driving is dangerous driving — and if an officer believes you’re impaired, you can still be arrested. The safest choice is always to avoid driving after drinking. What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer test? Refusing a breathalyzer usually triggers implied consent laws. In most states, that means automatic penalties such as a suspended license, fines, or even mandatory ignition interlock devices. The exact consequences vary by state, but refusing often carries penalties as severe as — or worse than — failing the test. Can you drive after consuming four drinks in four hours? For most people, four standard drinks in four hours will raise BAC to well above the legal limit. Driving in this condition is unsafe and illegal in nearly every case. Do all states require SR-22 after a DUI? Not every state requires an SR-22 (or the similar FR-44 in Florida and Virginia). States like Delaware and Kentucky don’t use them at all. In states that do, an SR-22 is essentially proof of financial responsibility your insurer files with the state before your license can be reinstated. How is BAC calculated? BAC is expressed as the grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. For example, a BAC of 0.08% means that 0.08% of your blood volume is pure alcohol. Devices like breathalyzers estimate this concentration based on alcohol levels in your breath. Does alcohol tolerance affect BAC? No. Tolerance might change how “drunk” you feel, but it doesn’t change the actual percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream. Even if you don’t feel impaired, your BAC could still be above the legal limit. Can certain medications increase your BAC? Yes. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications — including antidepressants, antibiotics, antihistamines, and pain relievers — can slow down how your body processes alcohol. This can raise your BAC faster or intensify impairment, even if you’ve had less to drink. Sources: Stanford University. “What is Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)?” Accessed January 2025. Bowling Green State University. “Factors that Affect Intoxication.” Accessed January 2025. University of Texas Division of Student Affairs. “Having Fun and Playing It Safe.” Accessed January 2025. University of San Diego. “Tips For Safer Drinking.” Accessed January 2025. California Department Of Alcoholic Beverage Control. “Intoxication.” Accessed January 2025. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Standard Drink Sizes.” Accessed March 2025. What our expert says Frank HarrisDirector of state government affairs at Mothers Against Drunk Driving “Many people mistakenly believe drinking and driving is only a problem if someone is heavily intoxicated,” says Frank Harris, director of state government affairs at Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “However, even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgment, visual functions, coordination, and reaction time, increasing the risk of crashes.” Chris KissellContributing Researcher | . .Specializing in insurance and personal finance, Chris Kissell is a writer and editor whose work has been featured at Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, Bankrate and Money Talks News. He is based in Denver. 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Insurance options for rideshare drivers 10 things that are illegal but shouldn’t be 1/1 On this page What is blood alcohol content?How alcohol affects your BAC levelsHow does the blood alcohol calculator work?Factors that affect BAC levelsState-by-state BAC limitsDifferent blood alcohol levels and their effectsConsequences of a high BACHow a DUI impacts your car insuranceHow long a DUI stays on your driving recordTips for safe and responsible drinkingFrequently asked questionsWhat our expert says ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates (844) 645-3330