How does the conversion work?

Base malt yields about 37 gravity points per pound per gallon at full conversion, but you only capture a fraction set by your efficiency. Dry and liquid malt extracts are pre-converted, so they deliver close to their full rated potential. The tool scales the base malt down to the extract weight that matches the same effective gravity points.

Should I convert specialty and crystal malts too?

No. Only base and extract-style malts are converted by this tool. Crystal, caramel, roasted, and other specialty grains contribute colour and flavour and are added by steeping at their original recipe weights. Convert just the base malt to extract and steep the rest as usual.

What is the difference between DME and LME?

Dry malt extract is dehydrated and more concentrated, yielding about 44 points per pound per gallon. Liquid malt extract still contains roughly 20 percent water, so it yields about 36 points per pound and you need more of it for the same gravity. The calculator shows both so you can pick whichever you have.

Why does efficiency matter for the conversion?

All-grain brewers only extract part of the sugar locked in malt, set by their mash efficiency. A recipe written for 75 percent efficiency assumes that much of the grain potential reaches the kettle. Extract is already converted, so the conversion must scale by efficiency to land on the same original gravity.

When in the boil do I add the extract?

A common approach is late extract addition, where you add part of the extract at the start and the rest near the end of the boil. This reduces darkening and caramelisation and gives lighter, fresher results. The total weight is what this calculator gives you; how you split it across the boil is up to you.

All-Grain to Extract Conversion Calculator

The All-Grain to Extract Conversion Calculator lets extract brewers follow any all-grain recipe by converting the base malt into the equivalent amount of dry malt extract (DME) or liquid malt extract (LME). It matches the gravity the original recipe targets, so your beer comes out the same strength.

How it works

Malt is rated by its extract potential in gravity points per pound per gallon, or PPG. Base malt yields about 37 PPG when fully converted, but an all-grain brewer only captures a portion of that, set by mash efficiency. Extract products are already mashed and concentrated, so they deliver close to their full rated potential: DME about 44 PPG and LME about 36 PPG.

To hit the same gravity, the calculator matches the effective gravity points:

Effective points from grain = base weight * 37 * efficiency
Extract weight = effective points / extract PPG
              = base weight * (37 * efficiency / extract PPG)

Because DME is more concentrated than LME, you always need less DME than LME for the same gravity.

Worked example

A recipe calls for 4 kg of base malt at 75% efficiency:

DME factor = 37 * 0.75 / 44 = 0.63, so DME = 4 * 0.63 = about 2.52 kg.
LME factor = 37 * 0.75 / 36 = 0.77, so LME = 4 * 0.77 = about 3.08 kg.

So you could replace the 4 kg of base grain with roughly 2.5 kg of DME or 3.1 kg of LME and reach the same original gravity.

Tips and notes

Convert only the base malt with this tool. Crystal, caramel, roasted, and other specialty grains are added separately by steeping them at their original recipe weights, since they contribute colour and flavour rather than fermentable base sugar. For lighter colour and a fresher flavour, consider a late extract addition: add part of the extract at the start of the boil and stir the rest in during the final fifteen minutes. The total weight stays the same; only the timing changes. Hops, yeast, and water volumes from the all-grain recipe carry over unchanged.