Wine – enjoyed worldwide everyday, matured in barrels, and shipped by the case.
A case which weighs…
Wait.
Hey, Alexa, how much does a case weigh?
A case of wine weighs 34lbs (16kg). Wine cases come in a standard 12 bottle size. Smaller cases of wine weigh 17lbs (8kg) which have 6 bottles of wine. Larger boxes with (you guessed it) 24 bottles of wine can weigh up to 67lbs (30kg).
Thanks Alexa.
Well, that answer above is the short version. But there’s a little more detail we can dive into.
In this short guide, I’ve covered everything you need to know about the weight of wine and cases of it. Whether you’re looking to ship, store, sell, or just gift some wine – everything you need to know should be in this guide.
Ready? Then let’s dive in.
Working Out How Much A Case of Wine Weighs
I recently got stuck wondering how much wine cases would weigh and cost to ship. So I started doing some research.
Below are the different numbers I found for everything from how much empty bottles of wine weigh, to full cases. I hope the sections include the answer you need!
How Much Does A Bottle of Wine Weigh?
Let’s start with the most basic. A bottle of wine is made up of two weights – the wine itself, and the bottle it’s kept in.
- 750ml wine bottles typically weigh around 500g (1.1lbs) when empty. However, this can vary between 300-900g (0.66-1.98lbs) depending on the bottle. While cheap modern wine may use extra-thin bottles, old vintages can sometimes be found in heavy duty, artisan-style bottles. The weight of a case of wine can often be more than 50% due to the bottles themselves!
- Wine is roughly as dense as water – 750ml of wine weighs 0.75kg (or 1.65lbs).
- The average bottle of full wine weighs a combined 1.25kg or 2.75lbs.
How Much Does A Case of Wine Weigh?
Now that we have the bottle, it’s easy to find how much a case of wine weighs.
| # of Bottles | Case Weight | |
| Lbs | Kg | |
| 1 | 2.75 | 1.25 |
| 6 | 17.6 | 8 |
| 12 | 34.1 | 15.5 |
| 24 | 67.1 | 30.5 |
I’ve added half a kilogram (1.1lbs) for the cardboard case’s cardboard.
Bearing in mind that the weight of a case of wine can vary depending on several factors. Including:
- The density of the actual wine within the bottle
- The thickness of the bottle itself
- Any heavy-duty packaging (a wooden case weighs more than cardboard)
- The size of the bottles
More Wine Case FAQ’s
We all love to know details, especially when we’re talking or planning logistics.
To help cover every additional question you might want to know, I’ve covered other frequently asked questions below.
What Size Is A Case of Wine?
Cardboard Wine Cases
The standard case of wine is a 12 bottle, cardboard box case. With 6 bottle cases also coming in at a close second. Their dimensions are:
- 12 Bottle Wine Case: 334 x 250 x 322 mm or 13.15 x 9.84 x 12.60 inches
- 6 Bottle Wine Case: 306 x 204 x 350 mm or 12.04 x 8.03 x 13.77 inches
Sizes from Kite Packaging, listed in Length x Width x Height.
Wooden Wine Cases
If you’re getting a higher end case of wine, or one from a vinery, you may be lucky enough to have it delivered in a wooden wine case.
Their average dimensions are:
- 12 Bottle Wine Crate: 495 x 330 x 178 mm or 19.5 x 13 x 7 inches
- 6 Bottle Wine Crate: 330 x 280 x 178 mm or 13 x 11 x 7 inches
Sizes from Wood Wine Crate & Boxes, listed in Length x Width x Height.
How Much Does Shipping Wine Cost?
Shipping and handling fees are often just an ‘add-on’, which is why this one really surprised me.
Wine can cost over $50 to ship a case! Granted, this is from coast to coast, but it’s still a whopping surcharge to add on to a case of wine.
This is why wine clubs and online deals are so popular. They generally will handle the shipping costs, letting you spend more of your budget on the actual wine you’re going to enjoy.
If you’re looking to ship wine, I recommend doing it through a wine club. Buying online and using free (or discounted) shipping is a much cheaper way than organising to send it yourself.
While we’re at it, it’s important to know..
It’s Illegal To Send Wine Yourself
Or at least, it can be.
This is a whole thing. Basically, alcohol and shipping laws related to alcohol were written after the 21st amendment repealed Prohibion (in the 1930’s). It leaves shipping regulation up to individual states, which means you’re looking at 50 different sets of laws when it comes to shipping alcohol.
That’s not to say it’s impossible to send wine yourself. It isn’t always, but it might be. And what it will cost (guaranteed) is a whole bunch of your time not only researching how to do it, but also filling out paperwork. Not exactly fun.
Better to send a case via an online retailer (as well as getting yourself one to celebrate saving so much time).
Why Does It Cost So Much To Ship Wine?
This is honestly a good question. The high cost comes from a whole bunch of factors which all have their own costs.
- Firstly, alcohol shipping is one of the top tiers in terms of the amount of paperwork involved from the shipping company.
- This includes a signature requirement, which is an immediate surplus charge.
- Alcohol is almost always sent to a home – which means potential missed deliveries (another surplus charge).
- When shipping to a home, the case also can’t just be left outside like an Amazon delivery.
- Wine is heavy – one of the heaviest goods to send by square inch. It’s a hell of a lot harder to move a truck of wine than a truck of toilet paper!
- Expensive wines may demand shipping in a climate controlled vehicle. Guess what… $$.
- Small orders. One case of wine will last most people a good while, but it’s a relatively small amount to ship. Larger orders will discount the price, but it’s rare someone looks to order more than 12-24 bottles at once.
Ways to Get Wine Delivered for Free
Wine is expensive enough – so blowing some of the budget on shipping and handling is almost a sin. Here’s a few ways that you can keep your money flowing directly into delicious wine, and not into cardboard boxes or shipping trucks.
- Join a Wine Club with Free Shipping. You can find a good list of affordable options on Greatist here.
- Spend a certain amount on online wine stores. For example, buying 6 or more bottles of eligible wine at MarketViewLiquor.
- Become a Wine Steward for $49 at Wine.com. This is honestly one of the best options since they have an amazing and broad selection of wine. The reason it’s so cheap is that they essentially lock you into buying from only them. But for a low price of around $4 a month, who’s complaining?
Conclusion
It turns out that a case of wine has a lot going on behind it.
The weight of it, the size of it, the shipping costs and logistics – it’s a lot of effort.
Thankfully, the delicious drink that awaits you inside is worth every second and dollar!
I hope this quick guide has helped clear up your questions on the weight of wine and how to ship it. If you have any other questions you’d like answered, please shoot me a message via the contact form.
Cheers!
