To answer the question of how many beers in a case we first have to establish where in the world you are located. A case of beer can mean different things in different places. For example, in some parts of the world if you ask your friend to pick you up a case of beer thinking you are going to get a 24 pack of beer you might be very disappointed when he returns with a 12 pack of beer instead.
However, in the majority of cases, there are 24 beers in a case. It does not matter if you are talking about a case of bottles or cans, officially a case is still 24 beers. Although it might surprise you that if you ask people this question a very large percentage will tell you a case of beer is a 12 pack.
What Are The Difference Size Cases of Beer 
You can purchase beer in many different sizes of cases or packs these days…
4 pack case – 4 packs of beer are very popular for larger-sized beer, usually called tallboys. Craft beer is typically served in these size cans and cases. Due to the extra volume of beer within the can and the extra alcohol content that is typical of craft beer a 4 pack would be the equivalent of at least a 6 pack of commercial 12 oz sized beer, if not more.
6 pack – Most people are familiar with a 6 pack of beer. It is the average size case of beer a person would purchase if they are simply looking to unwind at night or relax watching a football game on a lazy Sunday afternoon. They are sometimes referred to as a sixer.
8 pack – Although I have not seen them in quite a while there was a time you could purchase an 8 pack of bottled beer. You can still pick up the 8 packs of cans. This is the ideal size case of beer if you are heading to a party or social function. It allows you to enjoy yourself just a little bit more and longer than the 6 pack, while also keeping things moderately under control. That is unless we are talking about an 8 pack case of craft beer, which in that case prepare yourself to feel like you consumed at least a 12 pack case of commercial beer.
12 pack half case – A 12 pack is the typical amount of beer that most people would purchase if they are making a night of it. It is the most popular-sized case of beer on the market. This is why it is no surprise that in many parts of the world people are under the impression that an official case of beer holds 12. Growing up I was always under the false impression that a case of beer was indeed 12 and a 24 pack was called a flat. A 12 pack can also be referred to as a half rack of beer.
24 pack – Officially 24 beers are considered a case. Commonly referred to as a “Two-Four” it is the perfect amount of beer for 3-5 people to have a good time in pretty much any setting. If you are having some friends over for a social gathering such as a BBQ and are wondering how much beer you should purchase you can never go wrong with a case of beer. An interesting thing to note is that a 12 pack is called a half rack, but a 24 or a case is never called a rack.
30 pack – This is a big box of beer. If you are having an extra-large party or event you might want to consider it versus a case, or if you find one on sale it is a good way to stock up your beer fridge.
99 pack – Yes these extra-large cases of beer do indeed exist. They are typically put out as marketing gimmicks around holidays such as Christmas, etc.
Why Are There 24 Beers in a Case?
How did 24 beers become to be known as a case of beer? The answer is that nobody really seems to know for sure. If you ask 10 people you will get 10 different responses, some of which will be that 24 is not even a case as we talked about.
However, in my research there seem to be 3 prevailing theories for 24 being the magic number…
When they first started selling 24 beers together it was sold in a flat box that looked very much like a business person’s “briefcase”. As such it was just a matter of time before the nickname “case” was used to describe it.
There is another theory that Paul Newman is actually the reason a pack of 24 is called a case. When he allegedly once said: “24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not.” Students at Bates College in Lewiston Maine certainly seem to believe this to be the reason and have even dedicated a day to it, called Newman day where 24 beers are consumed over 24 hours.
The last theory and probably the one that makes the most sense is that 24 beers were the perfect number for a case. It was easier to package, transport, and store that number of beer. They fit nicely on a pallet and 24 is a good amount of beer for people to be able to enjoy themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many beers are in a case of Corona?
Corona, like pretty much all other beer, is sold in 6 packs, 12 packs and their case holds the standard 24 bottles of Corona.
How many beers are in a crate?
Most people when they refer to a crate of beer they are talking about the plastic cases or crates you sometimes see beer stored or packaged in. These crates hold either 24 bottles of cans.
How many 4 packs are in a case of beer?
This is just simple math, my friend. Since a case holds 24 beers, there are exactly six 4 packs of beer in a case.
How many cases of beer is on a pallet?
The number of cases of beer that you can get on a pallet is up to the brewery and how they load their pallets. The approximate number appears to be between 84 – 100 cases. It would also depend on whether they are loading cases of bottles or cans.
How much does a case of beer weigh?
Bottles weigh more than cans so a case of bottled beer will weigh more. A case of 12 oz canned beer weighs on average around 20 lbs whereas a case of 12 oz bottled beer is approximately 36 lbs.
How many cases are in a keg?
This depends on which type of keg you are referring to.
A half-barrel keg holds 15.5 gallons of beer or 165 12 oz beers, which means there are 6.8 cases in it.
A quarter barrel keg holds 7.75 gallons of beer or 82 12 oz beers, which means there are 3.4 cases of beer in it.
A sixth barrel keg holds 5.16 gallons of beer or 56 12 oz beers, which means it holds the same as 2.3 cases of beer.
A Cornelius keg or a corny keg is what most homebrewers use and it holds 5 gallons of beer or 53 12 oz beers, which means it holds approximately the equivalent of 2.2 cases of beer.
Is it cheaper to get a keg or cases of beer?
It is much cheaper to buy a keg of beer than the equivalent amount of beer in cases. In fact, you will save between 40 – 60% by buying a keg. On average a half barrel of beer costs around $100 and it holds 6.8 cases. Considering a case of beer costs approximately $23 dollars, for the same amount of beer you would be paying $156.40 ($23 x 6.8). By buying a keg you are saving approximately $56.40.
How much beer do I need for 100 guests?
This depends on how long your event, function, or party is going to last. On average you can expect a person will drink one 12 oz bottle of beer every half an hour. So two 12 oz bottles of beer an hour. If you have 100 guests you will need 200 12 oz bottles of beer an hour.
How many gallons in a case of beer?
There are 128 ounces in a gallon. One beer is 12 oz. There are 24 beers in a case. 24 x 12 = 288 ounces. Which means there are 2.25 gallons in a case of beer.
Well there you have it, you know now exactly how many beers are in a case, plus a whole lot more basic beer trivia!
Let us know in the comments if you call a 24 pack something different than what we have covered in this post?
Cheers, Big Robb is Gone!
