Wondering if you are safe to drive? Need to know when you will be completely sober? Our BAC calculator gives you real answers, fast.
This is not your typical blood alcohol calculator that spits out a number and leaves you guessing. We built something better. Track multiple drinks throughout your night, see exactly when you will hit the legal BAC limit, and get personalized safety recommendations based on your actual blood alcohol content. Whether you are planning ahead for a night out, checking if you are okay to drive home from dinner, or just curious about how alcohol affects your body, this tool has you covered.
The science is solid. We use the Widmark formula adjusted for body weight, gender, and food consumption. But we made it simple. Just add your drinks, tell us a bit about yourself, and we handle the complex BAC calculations. You will see your current BAC, when you will be sober, and even a timeline showing how your levels drop hour by hour.
Remember: everyone metabolizes alcohol differently. Use this BAC calculator as a guide, but always err on the side of caution when it comes to driving or operating machinery.
Add Your Drinks
Safety Recommendations
Understanding Your Blood Alcohol Content
Blood alcohol content (BAC) measures the percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream. It determines legal impairment and how alcohol affects your body. A BAC of 0.08% means 0.08% of your blood is pure alcohol – the legal driving limit in most states.
You’re impaired before reaching 0.08%. At 0.05%, coordination slips. Reactions slow. Judgment fails. Scotland and many European countries set limits at 0.05% or lower for good reason.
How BAC Calculators Work
Your body processes alcohol at about 0.015% per hour – roughly one standard drink. But it isn’t very easy. Weight matters because alcohol distributes through body water, and heavier people have more. Women typically reach higher BAC from the same drinks due to less water content and more body fat.
Food slows absorption. A meal can reduce peak BAC by 30%, acting as a buffer in your stomach. Time is crucial – your liver works at its own pace. Coffee and cold showers don’t speed things up. That’s a myth.
What Different BAC Levels Mean
- 0.00-0.02%: Sober. Maybe slightly relaxed.
- 0.02-0.05%: Mild effects. Warmth, mood changes, and some judgment loss.
- 0.05-0.08%: Noticeable impairment. Poor coordination, lowered inhibitions, and dangerous for driving.
- 0.08-0.15%: Legally drunk nationwide. Balance problems, slurred speech, delayed reactions.
- 0.15-0.25%: Severely intoxicated. Blackout risk, vomiting, and can’t walk straight.
- 0.25-0.35%: Dangerous. Alcohol poisoning risk, unconsciousness, choking hazard. Need medical help.
- Above 0.35%: Potentially fatal. Coma and death are possible.
Making Smart Decisions About Drinking and Driving
The safest BAC for driving? Zero.
If you’re drinking, plan first. Designate a driver before anyone orders. Install rideshare apps. Save taxi numbers. Have backups. Time is the only thing that lowers BAC – about one drink per hour clears. Start early, stop early. Space drinks hourly to stay under limits. But everyone’s different.
Factors That Affect Your BAC
Carbonation speeds absorption – champagne hits fast. Medications amplify effects. Fatigue and stress change how you process alcohol. Genetics matter too. Some people have better alcohol-processing enzymes.
For women, hormones affect BAC. Alcohol hits harder during menstruation. Birth control pills slow metabolism. Never drink while pregnant or breastfeeding.
The Real Cost of Drunk Driving
DUIs cost $10,000-$15,000 on average. Fines, lawyers, tripled insurance rates, lost work. That’s hundreds of Uber rides. Some careers end with a DUI. Canada can deny you entry.
Money means nothing compared to killing someone. 37 people die daily in drunk-driving crashes. Once every 39 minutes. They’re not statistics. They’re real people with families.
Using This Calculator Responsibly
This calculator estimates based on formulas and average metabolism. You’re not average. Your BAC could differ. We can’t factor in your metabolism, liver health, medications, or if you’re sick.
It’s a guide. Good for understanding alcohol’s effects, planning nights out, and learning about BAC. But for driving? If you’re calculating whether you’re safe, you’re not. Get a ride.
Remember: buzzed driving is drunk driving. Be smart. Stay alive.