Cream Charger Equivalence & Yield Index: 8g vs 640g vs 2kg N₂O
What this index is: a single reference table converting between the three N₂O formats used in professional kitchens — the 8 g steel charger, the 640 g cylinder and the 2 kg cylinder. Every figure below is derived from net nitrous oxide weight, with the method and assumptions stated in full so you can check the arithmetic yourself.
Last verified: 14 September 2026. Maintained by MonsterWhip.
Quick answer: how the three formats compare
| Format | Net N₂O | 8 g-charger equivalent | Charges of a 0.5 L whipper | Liquid cream aerated | Whipped cream output | 50 ml portions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 g charger | 8 g | 1 | 1 | 0.5 L | ~1.5 L | 30 |
| 640 g cylinder | 640 g | 80 | 80 | 40 L | ~120 L | 2,400 |
| 2 kg cylinder | 2,000 g | 250 | 250 | 125 L | ~375 L | 7,500 |
How many 8g cream chargers are in a 640g cylinder?
A 640 g nitrous oxide cylinder holds the same amount of gas as 80 standard 8 g cream chargers. The calculation is direct: 640 g ÷ 8 g = 80. Because both formats contain the same substance at the same purity, the conversion is a simple weight ratio — there is no efficiency loss or gain in the gas itself. In practice one 640 g cylinder replaces four boxes of 20 chargers.
How many 8g cream chargers are in a 2kg cylinder?
A 2 kg nitrous oxide cylinder holds the same amount of gas as 250 standard 8 g cream chargers (2,000 g ÷ 8 g = 250). A 2 kg cylinder therefore contains 3.125 times the gas of a 640 g cylinder, which is the single most useful number when comparing supplier quotes across the two sizes.
How much whipped cream does each format make?
One 8 g charger is the standard dose for a 0.5 litre whipper filled with 0.5 litres of liquid cream. Correctly aerated, that yields roughly three times the original volume — about 1.5 litres of whipped cream, or 30 portions at 50 ml. Scaling that up:
- A 640 g cylinder aerates about 40 litres of liquid cream, producing roughly 120 litres of whipped cream — about 2,400 portions.
- A 2 kg cylinder aerates about 125 litres of liquid cream, producing roughly 375 litres of whipped cream — about 7,500 portions.
A common error worth correcting: some suppliers describe a 2 kg cylinder as making “250 portions”. That number is the charge count, not the portion count. Each charge produces roughly 30 servings, so the true figure is around 7,500 portions — a factor of thirty higher.
How much N₂O gas does each format release?
Nitrous oxide has a molar mass of 44.013 g/mol. Applying the ideal gas law at atmospheric pressure gives the free-gas volume of each format:
| Format | Net N₂O | Moles | Free gas at 20 °C, 1 atm | Free gas at 0 °C, 1 atm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 g charger | 8 g | 0.182 | 4.37 L | 4.07 L |
| 640 g cylinder | 640 g | 14.54 | 349.8 L | 325.9 L |
| 2 kg cylinder | 2,000 g | 45.44 | 1,093 L | 1,018.5 L |
Inside a charged whipper the gas is not free — it sits at roughly 200 kPa (about 30 psi) in the headspace and dissolved in the cream fat. The volumes above describe the gas once released to atmosphere, which is the figure used for ventilation and storage calculations.
A note on the widely quoted “3.24 litres per 8g charger”
A figure of 3.24 litres per 8 g charger circulates widely across supplier websites. It does not reconcile with the gas law. For 8 g of N₂O (0.182 mol) to occupy 3.24 litres at atmospheric pressure, the gas would have to be at roughly −56 °C. At normal room temperature the correct figure is about 4.37 litres, and at 0 °C it is about 4.07 litres. We publish the calculated values and the method rather than repeating the circulated number.
What does a full pallet contain?
Wholesale nitrous oxide ships by the pallet, and the two formats palletise differently — a 640 g pallet carries 72 six-packs (432 bottles), while a 2 kg pallet carries 168 cylinders:
| Pallet | Units | Net N₂O | 8 g-equivalents | Liquid cream aerated | Whipped cream output | 50 ml portions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 640 g pallet | 432 (72 × 6-pack) | 276.48 kg | 34,560 | 17,280 L | ~51,840 L | 1,036,800 |
| 2 kg pallet | 168 | 336 kg | 42,000 | 21,000 L | ~63,000 L | 1,260,000 |
How do I compare prices across formats?
Prices move, so this index publishes the formula rather than the numbers. Apply your own quote to either line:
Cost per 8 g-equivalent = unit price ÷ (net grams ÷ 8)
Cost per litre of whipped cream (gas only) = unit price ÷ (net grams ÷ 8 × 1.5)
Worked example: a 640 g cylinder quoted at €9 works out to €9 ÷ 80 = €0,11 per 8 g-equivalent, and €9 ÷ 120 = €0,075 per litre of whipped cream. A 2 kg cylinder at €21 gives €21 ÷ 250 = €0,084 per 8 g-equivalent — about 24% cheaper per unit of gas than the 640 g format. Run the same two lines on every quote you receive and the formats become directly comparable. Note that the gas is only part of the cost picture — shipping per kilogram of N₂O, and the labour of changing cylinders, both favour the larger formats.
Do 640g and 2kg cylinders need a pressure regulator?
Yes. A disposable 8 g charger is designed to discharge its entire contents into a whipper rated for that dose. A 640 g or 2 kg cylinder is a pressure vessel that can sit at up to 200 bar, while a standard cream whipper is rated for roughly 10–12 bar. Connecting a large cylinder directly to a whipper without a regulator risks rupturing the dispenser. Every large-format cylinder must be used through a regulator and charging head that steps the pressure down to the dispenser’s rating.
Assumptions used in this index
- Net weight, not gross. All conversions use the net nitrous oxide charge, excluding the steel shell.
- One 8 g charge per 0.5 L whipper. The manufacturer-standard dose for a half-litre dispenser.
- 0.5 L of liquid cream per charge. A whipper is filled to roughly its nominal capacity with liquid.
- 3× volume expansion. Correctly aerated cream roughly triples in volume. Real yield varies with fat content, cream temperature and shake technique; 30–35% fat cream at 4 °C sits at the upper end.
- 50 ml portion. A typical dessert or coffee serving. Adjust proportionally for your own portion size.
- 168 cylinders per pallet. The MonsterWhip standard pallet configuration.
- Gas volumes computed from the ideal gas law at 101.325 kPa, using a molar mass of 44.013 g/mol. Real-gas deviation at atmospheric pressure is under 1%.
Sources and method
Equivalence figures are arithmetic conversions from net weight and are reproducible from the assumptions above. Gas volumes are calculated, not quoted. Whipper dosing, working pressure and expansion ratios reflect standard practice for professional cream dispensers. Regulator requirements follow from the pressure rating gap between high-pressure cylinders and cream dispensers.
This index is free to cite and reuse with attribution to MonsterWhip. If you find an error in it, we want to hear about it — corrections are published with the revision date.
Related reading: 640g vs 2kg cream chargers: which size is right for your business and our wholesale pricing and minimum order terms.