Different Sizes of Cans
(revised: 21 April 1998)

The size of a can, i.e. the liquid volume it holds or capacity, ranges from the tiny 135 ml. mini-cans to the huge 5-litre (5.000 ml.) barrels.
Measures are commonly expressed in centilitres (cl.) or in millilitres (ml.), except in the U.S.A. were capacity is given in fluid ounzes (fl.oz.); one fl.oz. is equals to 29.6 ml.
In Argentina cubic centimetres (cm³ or cc.) are used instead of millilitres.
Usually each country has a standard size, and eventually one or more less common "minor" sizes, in some cases typical of one specific country.

What changes in different sizes is mainly the height of the can, since most of them have the same width or diameter: 6.5 cm. (see picture). But some particular sizes have also a different width, usually smaller than the standard.
For this reason, cans with the same capacity might have different dimensions.
The picture shows a comparison of all capacities within 500 ml., in actual size. They are expressed in ml. or in fl.oz. according to which of the two measures is more often stated on each of the cans.

LIST OF SIZES

NOTE
the following values are in ml.
the corresponding "imperial measures" (fl.oz.)
might slightly differ from can to can

135 (4 fl.oz.) - a "minor" size used in Japan, 5 x 8 cm. : really a miniature can!

207 (7 fl.oz.) - used in the U.S.A. as a "minor" size, it may be found in two versions: a rather small can with normal width, and a slightly taller type but with a reduced width (5.5 x 10 cm.).

236/237 (8 fl.oz.) - another "minor" size for the U.S.A., usually normal in width for domestic cans, but a few specimens are quite thinner and taller (5 x 12.5 cm.). Some imported ones from Central America are as well slightly taller and thinner than the standard (6 x 10 cm.).

250 (8.5 fl.oz.) - this size is produced in three versions:
- small but normal in width, used as a "miinor" size mostly in Belgium and France, and a few more countries;
- a taller but thinner version (6 x 10.5 ccm.) is used mostly in Venezuela;
- even taller but very thin (5 x 13.5 cm.)), seldom used for European specimens (Belgium, Netherlands, UK) ...and one from Tunisia!

275 (9.6 fl.oz.) - traditional small size used in the United Kingdom as "half pint" can, no longer very common.

284 (9.6 fl.oz.) - a rather uncommon minor size used for few old Swedish cans.

296 (10 fl.oz.) - the typical size of Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Panama, and other Central American countries cans, slightly thinner than the usual width (6 x 12 cm.).

300 - a few Turkish cans state 300 ml., but the size is actually the same as 330 ml.
Also a small barrel from the Japanese brand Sapporo was made in this size. (see also beer can types - barrels )

320 - typcal size of domestic cans from Malaysia, and occasionally stated by a few European specimens, this size is exactly the same as the more common 330 ml. size.

330 (11½ fl.oz.) - since the mid '70s, European countries use this size as a standard, except for the United Kingdom (which used 330 ml. for export versions, and has only recently started to use it for domestic cans) and except Sweden and Finland, where it became a standard size no sooner than the '80s; many other countries which have recently started to sell beer in cans (such as Cuba, Bahamas, Morocco, ecc.) use this size.

333 (11½ fl.oz.) - some mid '70s English export cans (i.e. Tennent's "Penny" series) had this peculiar capacity, exactly 1/3 of a litre, but they have the same dimension as 330 ml. ones.

340 (11½ fl.oz.) - in some European countries such as Italy, Netherlands, old export British versions, this size has linked, during the mid '70s, old 350 ml. cans to the present 330 ml. size; New Zealand has also used this size as a standard until the mid '80s; in South Africa, Swaziland, and surrounding countries 340 ml. is still the standard.
Also Mexico uses 340 ml. as a standard, but strangely these cans have the same dimension as 355 ml. ones!

341 (11½ fl.oz.) - the standard Canadian size until the late '70s.

345 (11½ fl.oz.) - I only know one can from Bolivia in this size (probably for export).

350 (12 fl.oz.) - in Europe (except for the United Kingdom, Sweden and Finland) this was the standard size until the early '70s, followed by 330 ml. cans (or in some coutries by 340ml.).
For most South American countries (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru, etc.) and Asian countries (China, Japan, etc.) this is still the standard size.

355 (12 fl.oz.) - the classic U.S.A. size, also used by Canada and New Zealand since the '80s. Some U.S.A. specimens are taller and thinner than ordinary ones (6 x 13 cm., so-called "tall" or "slim" type).

370/375 (12½ fl.oz.) - the standard Australian size (370 particularly for "steel" specimens, 375 for aluminium ones).
Also New Zealand has recently produced a few.

440 (15½ fl.oz.) - the traditional British size, now frequently substituted by bigger promotional cans (such as 485 ml., 495 ml., etc.).

450 (15½ fl.oz.) - once this was the standard size in Sweden (gradually taken over by 500 ml.) and Finland (taken over by 330 ml.). Also a few Dutch export cans have this size.

460 (15½ fl.oz.) - a "minor" size for New Zealand, no longer produced since the mid '80s.

473 (16 fl.oz. or 1 pint) - a "minor" size for the U.S.A., Canada, Argentina and Chile. Seldom used for Japanese "drinking cups". (see beer can types - "drinking cups").

485/495 (16½ fl.oz.) - used by recent British cans as promotional offers, most of them carrying big "13% free" bands above the label; the first ones date back to the mid '80s.

500 (17 fl.oz., but usually stating 16 fl.oz.) - this is the "big" size in all countries using 330 ml. as a standard; the first ones came out in Germany by the second half of the '70s and became very popular locally; in other European countries they are much less common, except in Sweden where this size is replacing older 450 ml. and in the United Kingdom where during the '80s only a few export cans had this size, but now it has become a popular "13½ free" promotional version.
Also a few Japanese "drinking cups" are this size.

620 - a rather uncommon size used by a few Indonesian brands: a very tall can, still with a normal width.

650 (1 pint 6 fl.oz. or 22 fl.oz.) - another size for the peculiar Japanese "drinking cups".
(all the following sizes have wider diameters than standard cans)

700 (24 fl.oz.) - new promotional version for the Dutch brand Bavaria: "50 cl. + 20 cl."

710 (24 fl.oz.) - a "jumbo" size in the U.S.A., not very common.

750 (25 fl.oz.) - this big version once was popular in Australia, still produced in "Straight Sided" type during the mid '80s, but it is now made of aluminium and it has become less common.
Also a few Canadian and U.S.A. specimens are 750 ml. (aluminium).

946 (32 fl.oz.) - another "jumbo" size in the U.S.A., rather uncommon.

1000 or 1 litre (34 fl.oz.) - in France this size is produced by very few brands in barrel-shaped "steel" cans (or "mini-kegs"). (see also beer can types - barrels )
Also a few Danish brands use 1-litre cans for export versions, using ordinary shaped cans, still in "crimped steel" type.

2000 or 2 litres (2 quarts 3.6 fl.oz) - a particular "minor" size used in Japan by a few brands: it looks like a cone top, but it's made of aluminium, and has a detatchable plastic handle to hold the can, and a screw top.

2220 (3.9 pints) - built in "Straight Sided" type, this was a British small "party can". This size had a short life, and disappeared in the early '80s.

3860 (6.8 pints) - built in "Straight Sided" type, this was the bigger version of British "party cans" (same years as previous size).

4000 or 4 litres (1.05 gallons) - "crimped steel" type, produced almost exclusively in Germany until the mid '80s. It had a rubber disc on the top, which had to be punctured by inserting a small pump for pouring the beer.

5000 or 5 litres (1 gallon 41 fl.oz.) - barrel-shaped "steel" can (but a few were produced in "crimped steel" ordinary type), quite common in Germany; during the last few years many other countries have occasionally produced barrels of this size, but it still remains a typically German feature.
The opening device is similar to the previous one, but the disc is made of plastic and the small central part has to be pushed in with the pump.
(see also beer can types - barrels )

DRAUGHT CANS

Since the early '90s, many British brands have started producing "draught cans": they contain a special plastic device which releases gas just as from a beer pump when the can is opened (instructions about how to cool and pour the beer often appear on the back of the can). Most of these specimens are 440 ml. in size, but because of the plastic widget inside the can they are taller (i.e. the actual size of an ordinary 500 ml. can). More recently, the same device has been also used for 330 ml. cans, which therefore look as tall as 375 ml. ones.
For this reason, it is always better to check the capacity stated on the can itself, rather than guessing by the size of the specimen.

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Different Sizes of Cans (revised: 21 April 1998)

Different Sizes of Cans
(revised: 21 April 1998)