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The pressure behind every tap pour, sold as a consumable

The best CO2 cartridges for beer dispensers for 2026

Every keg-based dispenser on this site needs a pressure source to push beer through the line, and small CO2 cartridges are how the compact and kegerator formats alike get that pressure without a commercial gas supply contract. The specification that matters most is thread and valve compatibility — cartridge fittings are not universal across dispenser brands — followed by capacity, since a cartridge's rated size determines roughly how many pours it supports before replacement.

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What we recommend

  1. NEMT threaded CO2 capsules, box of ten

    NEMT 16g Threaded CO2 Capsules

    Ten 16g (0.6 oz) CO2 capsules with a threaded fitting, compatible with threaded beer dispenser regulators (and, per the listing, bicycle pump systems using the same thread). Confirmed live with real pricing on Amazon.de and .fr.

    Set size
    10 capsules
    Weight per capsule
    16 g (0.6 oz)
    Fitting
    Threaded, compatible with threaded regulators
    • Threaded fitting, not a pierce-type capsule, matching the regulator style used on smaller home beer dispensers
    • Set of 10 covers many pours before needing to reorder
    • 16g (0.6 oz) capsules are a small-format consumable — for a full kegerator setup running through a large volume of beer, the larger GPG 2 kg (4.4 lb) cylinder reviewed alongside this product is the more practical choice
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  2. GPG 2kg CO2 gas cylinder

    GPG Gase-Partner 2kg CO2 Cylinder

    A refillable 2kg (4.4 lb) CO2 cylinder in food-grade E290 quality, TÜV-certified and sold filled and ready to use. Confirmed live with real pricing on Amazon.de and .fr — the largest-capacity CO2 product confirmed in this comparison.

    Capacity
    2 kg (4.4 lb)
    Quality
    Food-grade, E290 standard
    Certification
    TÜV-tested
    Refillable
    Yes — a reusable cylinder, not single-use
    • By far the largest CO2 capacity confirmed in this comparison, suited to a full kegerator running through regular use
    • Refillable rather than single-use, a genuinely different cost model from small capsules over time
    • A real upfront cost — several times the price of a set of small threaded capsules — that only pays off with regular, high-volume use
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Who buys what, across CO2 cartridges

Compact dispenser
Disposable cartridges are simple and cost a lot per liter of gas. The countertop appliance's format.
Standard-keg dispenser
A refillable bottle costs far less in use and requires a regulator and somewhere to store it.
A few carbonated bottles a month
Cartridges keep for a long time unopened and avoid tying up a deposit bottle.

Nothing is free: the trade-offs of CO2 cartridges

Disposable cartridge against refillable bottle
The disposable is immediate and works out very expensive per gram; the refillable needs a regulator, a deposit and storage space.
Compatibility against choice
The thread and the capacity must match the system. An approximate cartridge will not screw in, or it leaks.
Food grade against price
Cartridges intended for food use meet a purity requirement. Not the place to look for savings.

Buyers’ questions on CO2 cartridges

Are cartridges universal?

No: the thread and capacity depend on the system. A cartridge that does not screw in properly leaks.

Does it have to be food grade?

The gas comes into contact with the drink. Cartridges intended for food use meet a purity requirement that should not be got round.

How many kegs from one cartridge?

It depends on the capacity and the volume served. The appliance maker generally gives an order of magnitude.

How should cartridges be stored?

Away from heat and direct sun, upright and protected from knocks. They are pressurized vessels.

Can a part-used cartridge be saved?

Disposable cartridges empty in one go on most systems. A cartridge started then removed loses the remaining gas.

What do I do with an empty cartridge?

It goes with the metal recycling once completely empty. Never pierce it or throw it on a fire.

Why does the beer come out flat?

An empty cartridge, one badly screwed in, or a badly set regulator. The first thing to check before suspecting the keg.

Can a cartridge be carried safely?

It travels upright, away from heat, and never in a closed car in full sun. A pressurized cartridge exposed to strong heat is a hazardous object, not an ordinary consumable.

What to take away from CO2 cartridges

The thread decides compatibility, and food grade is not the place to save — the gas touches the drink. Store upright and away from heat, and flat beer points first at the cartridge, not the keg.