How Many Ounces Are in a Shot?
1.5 fl oz
A standard shot in the US is 1.5 fluid ounces, or about 44 ml. That is the amount of 80-proof liquor in one standard drink, as defined by the NIAAA.
UK pubs pour spirits in measures of 25 ml or 35 ml (0.85 or 1.18 US fl oz).
Shot sizes in the US and UK
| Measure | US fl oz | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| US standard shot (one standard drink) | 1.5 | 44 |
| Jigger (NIAAA) | 1.5 | 44 |
| UK measure, small | 0.85 | 25 |
| UK measure, large | 1.18 | 35 |
Is a shot always the same size?
No. No federal rule sets the size of a shot that a US bar pours. The 1.5 fl oz figure comes from the definition of a standard drink used by the NIAAA, and the CDC also counts a 1.5 fl oz shot of 80-proof liquor as one drink.
The NIAAA notes that standard drink amounts may not match what bars actually serve. A generous pour, a large shot glass or a cocktail with two kinds of liquor can hold much more than one standard drink.
A standard drink is based on 80-proof liquor, which is 40% alcohol. A stronger spirit puts more alcohol in the same 1.5 fl oz glass.
Shot sizes in the UK
In the UK the size is set by law. Pubs and bars must sell gin, rum, vodka and whisky in measures of 25 ml or 35 ml, or in multiples of the one they use, under the Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988.
Each venue picks one of the two and must show a written notice saying which. The rule does not apply to a mixed drink made from 3 or more liquids.
A 25 ml measure is about 0.85 US fluid ounces, and a 35 ml measure is about 1.18. Both are smaller than a US standard shot of 44 ml.
How many shots are in a bottle?
US liquor bottles come in fixed metric sizes called standards of fill, listed in 27 CFR 5.203. The table below divides each common size by a 1.5 fl oz shot.
The NIAAA rounds these counts in its own guides: about 17 standard drinks in a fifth and about 39 in a handle. In the UK, 700 ml is one of the set bottle sizes for spirits, and it holds 28 measures of 25 ml or 20 measures of 35 ml.
| Bottle | Size | Shots |
|---|---|---|
| Single-serve bottle | 50 ml | 1.1 |
| "Half pint" | 200 ml | 4.5 |
| "Pint" or half bottle | 375 ml | 8.5 |
| "Fifth" | 750 ml | 16.9 |
| Liter | 1 L | 22.5 |
| "Handle" | 1.75 L | 39.4 |
Measuring a shot without a jigger
A shot of 1.5 fl oz is the same as 3 tablespoons, so you can measure one with a kitchen tablespoon. For a UK measure of 25 ml, use 5 teaspoons.
Shot glasses come in different sizes. To check yours, fill it with water and pour it into a measuring cup with fluid ounce or milliliter marks.
Shot: questions
Is a shot glass 1 or 2 oz?
A standard US shot is 1.5 fl oz, which is neither. Shot glasses come in different sizes, so measure yours with water to know what it holds.
Is 2 oz of vodka 2 shots?
Not quite. Two ounces is about 1.33 US standard shots of 1.5 fl oz. It is one generous pour rather than two standard ones.
How many shot glasses equal 1 oz?
A standard shot is larger than 1 fl oz, so one ounce is about 0.67 of a standard shot. In other words, one ounce fills two thirds of a standard shot.
Is a UK shot smaller than a US shot?
Yes. A UK measure is 25 ml or 35 ml, while a US standard shot is about 44 ml. Even the larger UK measure holds only about 0.79 of a US standard shot.
How many shots are in a fifth?
A fifth is a 750 ml bottle. It holds 16.9 shots of 1.5 fl oz, which the NIAAA rounds to about 17 standard drinks.
Related
Sources
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), What Is a Standard Drink?, checked
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Standard Drink Sizes, checked
- Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988, article 3 (legislation.gov.uk), checked
- Standards of fill for distilled spirits, 27 CFR 5.203 (eCFR), checked
- NIAAA Rethinking Drinking, How many drinks are in common containers?, checked
- NIAAA Youth Pocket Guide (revised February 2025), checked
- Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988, schedule A1 (legislation.gov.uk), checked
Sources: Unit definitions: NIST Handbook 44 · Last reviewed · Report an error
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