SentenceCalc

Crack Cocaine Sentence Calculator

Crack (cocaine base) thresholds are about 18 times lower than powder cocaine: 28 grams of crack triggers the same 5-year minimum as 500 grams of powder. Before the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 the gap was 100 to 1. In federal court, 28 g triggers a 5-year mandatory minimum and 280 g triggers 10 years.

Verified Checked against the manual text in at least five AI-assisted review rounds. Not yet reviewed by an attorney. Guidelines Manual effective November 1, 2025Updated October 4, 2026

5-year minimum28 g21 U.S.C. §841(b)(1)(B)
10-year minimum280 g21 U.S.C. §841(b)(1)(A)
50 g, no record60 monthsLevel 24, early plea

Calculate a crack cocaine case

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Amounts and sentences

AmountBase levelNo criminal history points, early pleaWith the safety valve
10 g168–14 monthsNo minimum
50 g2460 months
5-year minimum		24–30 months
300 g30120 months
10-year minimum		46–57 months

Assumes no criminal history points, no weapon, no violence, no leadership role, an early guilty plea and the 2-level zero-point reduction.

The full quantity table

Amount (total mixture)Base levelNo criminal history points, early pleaMandatory minimum
Less than 2.8 g120–6 months
2.8 g to 5.6 g146–12 months
5.6 g to 11.2 g168–14 months
11.2 g to 16.8 g1812–18 months
16.8 g to 22.4 g2018–24 months
22.4 g to 28 g2224–30 months
28 g to 112 g2460 months5 years
112 g to 196 g2660 months5 years
196 g to 280 g2860 months5 years
280 g to 840 g30120 months10 years
840 g to 2.8 kg32120 months10 years
2.8 kg to 8.4 kg34120 months10 years
8.4 kg to 25.2 kg36120–135 months10 years
25.2 kg or more38135–168 months10 years

“No criminal history points, early plea” assumes zero criminal history points, no weapon, no violence and no leadership role, so the plea reduction and the 2-level zero-point reduction both apply. The mandatory minimum column assumes no prior serious drug felony or serious violent felony; the safety valve can remove it.

Frequently asked questions

What amount of crack cocaine triggers a federal mandatory minimum?

28 g of crack cocaine triggers a 5-year mandatory minimum, and 280 g triggers 10 years (21 U.S.C. §841(b)(1)), for someone without a prior serious drug felony or serious violent felony.

What is the guideline sentence for 50 g of crack cocaine?

The Drug Quantity Table puts 50 g at level 24. For someone with no criminal history points who pleads guilty, with no weapon, violence or leadership role, the guideline sentence is 60 months, driven by the 5-year minimum. With the safety valve it is 24–30 months.

Does the weight include the packaging or cutting agents?

Packaging, no. Cutting agents, yes: the weight is the entire mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of the drug, except for drugs the table measures by purity.