Brix, Density and Sugar Converter

How this converter works

Brix is the percentage of sugar by weight in a solution, and specific gravity is its density compared with water. The converter uses a standard approximation for sucrose solutions: specific gravity = 1 + Brix ÷ (258.6 − (Brix ÷ 258.2) × 227.1). Multiplying by the weight of water, 8.345 pounds per US gallon, gives the density in pounds per gallon. It also applies the maple industry's Rule of 86, which divides 86 by the sap's Brix to estimate how much sap makes a gallon of syrup.

Reference values

A worked example

Sap that reads 2.5 Brix needs 86 ÷ 2.5, or about 34 gallons, to make a gallon of syrup. Finished syrup at 66.5 Brix has a specific gravity of about 1.33 and weighs about 11 pounds per gallon. The maple syrup yield estimator uses this method to predict output.

Common mix-ups

• Brix is a percentage by weight, not volume, so 50 Brix does not mean half the volume is sugar.
• For honey, a refractometer reading relates to moisture content, and the conversion uses a different scale. Use a honey refractometer's own chart.
• Hydrometers read specific gravity or density, not Brix, and they are temperature-sensitive.

Where these numbers come from

The specific gravity formula is a standard polynomial approximation for sucrose-water solutions and is accurate to within a few thousandths for most ranges. The Rule of 86 is the maple industry's established rule of thumb.