Specific Gravity to Brix Converter – SG to °Bx & Back in 3 Easy Steps
Specific Gravity to Brix Converter
Use this specific gravity to Brix converter to convert Specific Gravity (SG) to Degrees Brix (°Bx) or vice versa for agriculture, fruit juice, and syrup extraction.
Use this free specific gravity to Brix converter to change hydrometer readings (SG) into degrees Brix (°Bx), or Brix into specific gravity. Type in either box and the other updates instantly using the standard food science polynomial, with a table of common juice and syrup readings below.
Quick answer
Degrees Brix measures dissolved sugar as a percentage by weight, while specific gravity compares a liquid’s density with water. The standard conversion is °Bx = 182.4601·SG³ − 775.6821·SG² + 1262.7794·SG − 669.5622. For example, SG 1.040 ≈ 10.0 °Bx, SG 1.055 ≈ 13.57 °Bx and 22 °Bx ≈ SG 1.0923. A quick rule of thumb is °Bx ≈ (SG − 1) × 250.
Table of Contents
Winemakers, brewers, cider makers, juice producers, maple syrup producers and farmers all measure sugar, but with different instruments. Hydrometers read specific gravity; refractometers usually read Brix. Recipes and harvest guides may use either.
This specific gravity to brix converter links the two scales accurately, and it runs in your browser.
What Is Specific Gravity?
Specific gravity (SG) is the density of a liquid divided by the density of pure water at the same temperature. Water is 1.000. Sugar makes a solution denser, so juice, wort and syrup read above 1.000. Most hydrometers are calibrated at 15.6°C (60°F) or 20°C (68°F).
What Is Degrees Brix?
One degree Brix is 1 gram of sucrose in 100 grams of solution, or 1% sugar by weight. It is widely used for fruit ripeness, juice quality, soft drinks, honey and syrups. Refractometers estimate Brix by measuring how much light bends as it passes through a few drops of liquid.
SG to Brix Formulas
- SG to Brix: °Bx = 182.4601·SG³ − 775.6821·SG² + 1262.7794·SG − 669.5622
- Brix to SG (approximate): SG ≈ 1 + °Bx ÷ (258.6 − (°Bx ÷ 258.2 × 227.1))
- Rule of thumb: °Bx ≈ (SG − 1) × 250, accurate to within about half a degree for typical juices
Specific Gravity to Brix Table
| Specific gravity | Degrees Brix | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| 1.000 | 0.0 | Water |
| 1.020 | 5.1 | Light wort or very low sugar juice |
| 1.040 | 10.0 | Many beer worts |
| 1.050 | 12.4 | Apple juice for cider |
| 1.060 | 14.7 | Strong wort |
| 1.080 | 19.3 | Fruit must |
| 1.100 | 23.8 | Ripe wine grapes |
| 1.120 | 28.1 | Very ripe or dessert-wine grapes |
How to Use the Specific Gravity to Brix Converter
Step 1: Enter a Specific Gravity Reading
Type your hydrometer reading in the Specific Gravity box. SG 1.055 converts to 13.57 °Bx, and the preview panel confirms the calculation.
Step 2: Convert Brix to Specific Gravity
Type a refractometer reading in the Degrees Brix box instead. 22 °Bx, a common harvest level for wine grapes, converts to SG 1.0923.
Step 3: Compare With Common Readings
The table of common juice and syrup gravity readings under the converter helps you sanity-check results at a glance, from plain water to very sweet grape must.
Where SG and Brix Are Used
- Winemaking: grapes are often picked between about 20 and 26 °Bx, depending on style.
- Brewing: original gravity of wort predicts potential alcohol; brewers also use the similar Plato scale.
- Cider and mead: starting gravity guides sweetness and strength.
- Juice and soft drinks: Brix is a key quality and labelling measure.
- Maple syrup: finished syrup is boiled to about 66 to 67 °Bx.
- Agriculture: growers use Brix to judge fruit ripeness and crop quality.
Tips for Accurate Readings
- Correct hydrometer readings for temperature if your sample is warmer or colder than the calibration temperature.
- Remove bubbles and suspended solids before reading.
- Refractometer readings on fermenting liquid are distorted by alcohol; use a correction formula or a hydrometer once fermentation starts.
- Calibrate a refractometer with distilled water, which should read 0 °Bx.
Working with other units? Convert material densities with the Density Converter or oven settings with the Gas Mark to Celsius Converter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert specific gravity to Brix?
Use the polynomial °Bx = 182.4601·SG³ − 775.6821·SG² + 1262.7794·SG − 669.5622, or enter the SG in the converter. For a quick estimate, multiply (SG − 1) by 250.
What is 1.050 SG in Brix?
About 12.4 °Bx.
What is 24 Brix in specific gravity?
About 1.101.
Is Brix the same as Plato?
They are very close and often treated as equal in brewing, but they come from slightly different reference tables.
Can I use a refractometer reading during fermentation?
Not directly. Alcohol changes the refractive index, so readings need a correction once fermentation has started.
Is my data saved?
No. The specific gravity to brix converter works entirely in your browser.