On arrival
Iceland Duty-Free Alcohol Calculator
Add the bottles and cans you plan to buy on arrival to see whether you're within Iceland's duty-free allowance, and an estimate of what you save compared with Vínbúðin, the state alcohol store.
0 units remaining within the allowance.
Estimated saving vs Vínbúðin
ISK 10,026
approx $80 / approx €70
- Spirits
- 1 L
- ISK 7,285 saved
- Wine
- 0.75 L
- ISK 1,009 saved
- Beer / cider
- 3 L
- ISK 1,732 saved
Allowance rules and reference prices checked 2026-07-19 against Icelandic Customs (Skatturinn). Informational only, not legal or customs advice — verify current allowances with Icelandic Customs before you travel.
How the allowance works
Iceland's arrival allowance for travellers aged 20 and over is a single 6-unit budget, not a fixed shopping list. One unit is 0.25 litres of spirits (more than 21% alcohol by volume), 0.75 litres of wine (21% or less, excluding beer), or 3 litres of beer or cider (up to 6% alcohol by volume). You can split the 6 units across categories however you like, from all spirits to all beer to any mix in between, as long as the total does not go over 6.
The calculator above converts whatever you add into units against that shared budget, and flags the basket the moment it goes over, rather than only warning you at one fixed combination.
Duty-free vs Vínbúðin prices
Duty Free Iceland at Keflavík Airport is consistently cheaper than Vínbúðin, the state-run alcohol monopoly found in every Icelandic town, because duty-free purchases skip Iceland's alcohol taxes. The saving shown above is based on one representative product per category at each retailer, so treat it as a ballpark for planning, not a guaranteed total. Planning more than a duty-free run? See our guide to Iceland on a budget for more ways to cut costs.
Frequently asked questions
- How much alcohol can I bring into Iceland duty-free?
- Arriving travellers aged 20 or over get a 6-unit allowance that can be split freely across categories: 1 unit equals 0.25 litres of spirits (over 21% ABV), 0.75 litres of wine (21% ABV or less), or 3 litres of beer or cider (up to 6% ABV). You can mix categories in any proportion as long as the total stays at or under 6 units.
- Can I bring 18 litres of beer instead of spirits or wine?
- Yes. Because beer is 1 unit per 3 litres, 18 litres of beer alone uses the full 6-unit budget with no spirits or wine. This is one of the example combinations published by Icelandic customs, not a separate rule.
- Can two travellers combine their duty-free allowances?
- No. Icelandic customs rules are explicit that the allowance cannot be transferred or pooled between travellers, even within the same family, so each adult's 6-unit budget only covers what they personally carry in.
- What happens if I bring more than the allowance?
- Anything over the 6-unit allowance is subject to duty, VAT, and any applicable alcohol tax at the ordinary rate, assessed at customs when you arrive. It is not automatically confiscated, but it will cost more than staying within the limit.