How Many Ounces in a Shot?

How Many Ounces in a Shot?

A standard US shot of liquor such as tequila, vodka or whiskey contains 1.5 ounces (44 ml). Bars may pour a smaller 1-ounce shot (30 ml) or a larger 2-ounce shot (60 ml), and sizes vary by country.

For prices as well as pour sizes, see our October 2026 comparison of US tequila shot prices.

Why Shot Size Matters

Shot size affects how much you drink, how many bottles you need and how a cocktail tastes:

• Portion control – Measure the pour to keep track of how much you drink or serve, along with its alcohol content.
• Planning for a party – The number of guests and the size of each pour help you work out how many bottles to have on hand.
• Cocktail making – Measured portions help balance a cocktail’s flavors and let you make the same drink again. There’s no harm in experimenting.

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A note on measurements: Ounces here mean US fluid ounces; cups and spoons also use US measures. Metric conversions are rounded for everyday use: 30 ml is shown as 1 ounce, and 60 ml as 2 ounces. For a closer conversion, a US fluid ounce is 29.57 ml and an Imperial fluid ounce is 28.41 ml (NIST). A 50 ml bottle is 1.69 US ounces or 1.76 Imperial ounces.

Pour size and alcohol content: A bar’s shot size can differ from a “standard drink,” which measures alcohol content. In Canada, CAMH uses 43 ml of 40% spirits, described as 1.5 ounces—about 1.45 US ounces. The table shows customary pours, with the UK rules explained below.

Shot Size Rules

You Can’t Order a Double in Utah

The US has no federally mandated shot size. Utah is the only state that sets its own shot-size limit, at 1.5 ounces.

Utah’s drink serving regulations are a little quirky. You can’t order a double in Utah: the main liquor pour is capped at 1.5 ounces, even though a cocktail can contain up to 2.5 ounces of liquor in total.

The cocktail rule: Utah DABS allows extra liquor as secondary flavoring. It must differ in type, flavor or brand, be less than the main pour, and be no more than 1 ounce. The total stays within 2.5 ounces.

Australia

In Australia, a nip is 30 ml—about 1 ounce. Approved spirit measures come in 15, 30 and 60 ml sizes. In practice, bars tend to use the same sizing across spirits.

The measuring rules: Australia’s requirements cover brandy, gin, rum, vodka and whisky, including when served with a soft-drink mixer. Tequila and mezcal are outside that list. Cocktails mixing spirits with other spirits or alcoholic liquors are exempt from the spirit-measure requirement.

United Kingdom

UK bars and pubs use either 25 ml or 35 ml singles and multiples of that measure. A venue sticks to one system: for example, 25, 50 and 75 ml.

In England and Wales, venues tend to go with 25 ml, while in Scotland and Northern Ireland, 35 ml is more common.

Which spirits? The UK measure rules apply to gin, rum, vodka and whisky.

Types of Shot Glasses

1. Standard Shot Glass: The most common type holds 1.5 ounces (44 ml), usually with a thick base for drinking its contents in one go.
2. Pony Shot Glass: Holds 1 ounce (30 ml), with a stem for serving liqueurs or cordials. Also called a liqueur or cordial glass.
3. Tall Shot Glass: Typically holds 2 ounces (60 ml). Also called a shooter glass, it is used for larger shots and layered or mixed drinks.
4. Double Shot Glass: A double is twice the single pour: usually 3 ounces (90 ml) for a 1.5-ounce single, or 2 ounces (60 ml) for a 1-ounce single. Choose a glass large enough for the pour.
5. Fluted Shot Glass: Has a flared top and is often used for layered shots or sipping spirits.
6. Tasting Shot Glass: Smaller and more delicate, typically used for tasting flights of spirits or liqueurs.
7. Cheater Shot Glass: Generally holds only 1 ounce, with an extra-thick base that makes it appear larger.

How Full Should a Shot Glass Be?

If your shot glass has a measuring line for the pour you want, fill to that line. Fill an unmarked glass to the brim when its known capacity matches your intended pour. Otherwise, measure with a jigger, measuring spoon or cup first. Consistent measurements help keep a cocktail’s flavors in balance.

How Much Alcohol is in a Shot?

The amount of alcohol depends on both the pour size and the drink’s strength. A 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor (40% alcohol by volume, or ABV) contains about 14 grams of alcohol—one US standard drink.

In the UK, a 25 ml shot at 40% ABV contains 1 alcohol unit; a 35 ml shot contains 1.4 units.

What is a unit? One UK unit is 10 ml, or about 8 grams, of pure alcohol. A US standard drink contains about 1.75 UK units.

How Big is a Shot of Tequila in Mexico?

Mexican bars and restaurants typically serve shots of 1.5 or 2 ounces. Sometimes more expensive tequila might be offered in a 1 ounce pour. It is also common to offer different size pours with different prices.

In Mexico it is more common to sip tequila, rather than shoot it in one go. Even when served from a shooter glass, Mexicans are more likely to sip tequila.

How Many Ounces in a Shooter?

Shooters are mixed shots containing spirits, liqueurs and/or non-alcoholic ingredients. They are typically served in tall, skinny glasses holding 2 ounces (about 60 ml).

Shooters that contain ingredients with higher alcohol content are more likely to be served in 1.5 ounce shot glasses.

How Much Does a Jigger Hold?

A standard jigger has one side holding 2 ounces (60 ml) of liquid and the other holding 1 ounce (30 ml). Jiggers also come in other sizes, including 0.5 ounces (15 milliliters) and 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters).

A jigger is a bartending tool shaped like an hourglass, with opposing measuring cups, one larger than the other. Jiggers often have measuring lines to further increase the range of possible measurements.

Shot Glass, Shooter or Jigger?

A shot glass or shooter holds the drink you serve; a jigger measures the ingredients that go into it.

How to Measure a Shot Without a Jigger

If you don’t have a jigger, you can use a measuring spoon, small measuring cup, or the count method to measure a shot.

• Measuring spoon: Use 3 tablespoons or 9 teaspoons for a 1.5-ounce shot.
• Measuring cup: Fill a ¼-cup measure three-quarters full. Or use one and a half ⅛-cup measures. Either gives you a 1.5-ounce shot.
• Count method: With a standard pour spout, counting three seconds gives a ballpark 1.5-ounce shot—roughly 0.5 ounces per second. Use a measuring spoon or cup when you need a more precise amount.

If you’re serving several people with a larger measuring cup, measure the total amount first, then divide it into equal pours.

I Prefer to Sip My Tequila

I’m someone who generally likes to stay away from shots. I much prefer to sip and enjoy what I’m drinking. If it’s a less than enjoyable tequila, say, I might try drinking it alongside a beer, or by taking little bites on a salted lime in between sips. Or, I might try contemplating exactly how many ounces I’ve still got in front of me!

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