How Many Ounces in a Shot
Enter a measure in ounces, millilitres, centilitres or tablespoons to see it in every other unit, with the common shot sizes beside it.
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How to use the shot size converter
The converter opens with 1.5 US fl oz selected, the usual US shot. To check a different amount:
- Type the amount you want into the Amount box. For a UK single, enter 25.
- Open the Unit dropdown and choose US fl oz, UK fl oz, ml, cl or US tablespoons.
- Enter the alcohol strength in the Strength (% ABV) box. It starts at 40.
- Read the headline result, such as “1.5 US fl oz = 44.4 ml”.
- Check the same amount in UK fl oz, cl and US tablespoons below the headline.
- Read the standard drinks note. At 40%, 1.5 US fl oz is 1.00 US standard drink (14 g).
- Find the highlighted row in the “Common shot and bar measures” table. It is the row nearest the amount you entered.
The Copy link button copies a link to the tool, so you can share a check you have made with someone else.
The table beside the result lists the common measures, and the row nearest to your amount is highlighted. To compare a UK single with a US shot, enter 25 with ml, note the result, then enter 1.5 with US fl oz.
Switch the Unit dropdown to see the same amount in another unit without retyping it.
How many ounces are in a shot?
A standard US shot is 1.5 US fluid ounces, which is 44.4 ml. It is the usual figure for a single measure of spirits in the US, but no law sets one size, so bars vary.
Several US measures are in common use:
| Measure | US fl oz | ml |
|---|---|---|
| Pony | 1 | 29.6 |
| US shot or jigger | 1.5 | 44.4 |
| Large US shot | 2 | 59.1 |
| Double US shot | 3 | 88.7 |
A jigger is commonly 1.5 oz today, although older US usage was closer to 2 oz. The 1.5 oz figure is also the spirits portion of the NIAAA standard drink.
How many ml are in a shot?
A standard US shot of 1.5 US fl oz holds about 44 ml, or 44.4 ml when worked out exactly. To convert US fluid ounces to ml, multiply by 29.5735. For example, 1.5 × 29.5735 = 44.4.
Other countries use different sizes. An Australian nip is 30 ml, and continental Europe often uses 20 ml or 40 ml. Metric measures are simple to convert, since 1 cl equals 10 ml.
How many tablespoons are in a shot?
A US shot of 1.5 US fluid ounces holds 3 US tablespoons. One US fluid ounce equals 2 US tablespoons, so a 1.5 oz shot is three of them. Choose US tablespoons in the Unit dropdown to see the same amount.
This only applies to US tablespoons. Kitchen spoons in other countries are a different size, so do not use them to measure a drink.
How big is a UK shot compared with a US shot?
A UK single of 25 ml is only 0.85 US fl oz, roughly half of a 1.5 oz US shot. UK pubs also commonly pour 35 ml singles, which are 1.18 US fl oz, and doubles of 50 ml or 70 ml.
The UK fluid ounce is 28.4131 ml, compared with 29.5735 ml for the US version, so it is about 4% smaller. That gap matters in Canada, where measures may be given in imperial ounces. Alcohol content differs too. At 40%, a 25 ml UK single holds 0.56 US standard drinks and exactly 1 UK unit, while a 1.5 oz US shot holds 1.00 US standard drink and 1.77 UK units.
How big is a double shot?
A US double shot is 3 US fl oz, or 88.7 ml, which is two 1.5 oz shots. A UK double is 50 ml or 70 ml, which is 1.69 to 2.37 US fl oz, so even the larger UK double is smaller than a US double.
Because a double holds twice the spirit of a single, it also holds twice the alcohol. At 40%, a 3 US fl oz double holds 2.00 US standard drinks. When the size matters, check the measure the bar uses rather than assuming.
How big is a shot in different countries?
A US shot is 1.5 fl oz (44 ml), a UK single is 25 ml or 35 ml and an Australian nip is 30 ml. So a “shot” is not one fixed volume. The table lists eleven common bar measures in fluid ounces and millilitres, with the US standard drinks each holds at 40%.
| Measure | US fl oz | ml | US standard drinks at 40% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pony (1 US fl oz) | 1 | 29.6 | 0.67 |
| US shot or jigger (1.5 US fl oz) | 1.5 | 44.4 | 1 |
| Large US shot (2 US fl oz) | 2 | 59.1 | 1.33 |
| Double US shot (3 US fl oz) | 3 | 88.7 | 2 |
| UK single (25 ml) | 0.85 | 25 | 0.56 |
| UK single (35 ml) | 1.18 | 35 | 0.79 |
| UK double (50 ml) | 1.69 | 50 | 1.13 |
| UK double (70 ml) | 2.37 | 70 | 1.58 |
| Australian nip (30 ml) | 1.01 | 30 | 0.68 |
| Continental measure (20 ml) | 0.68 | 20 | 0.45 |
| Continental measure (40 ml) | 1.35 | 40 | 0.9 |
How this tool works and where the numbers come from
A US fluid ounce is 29.5735 ml, a UK (imperial) fluid ounce 28.4131 ml and a US tablespoon half a US fluid ounce. Standard drinks use 14 g of pure alcohol (ml x ABV / 100 x 0.789 g/ml).
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Is there one legal size for a US shot?
No. US law does not set a single shot size, so bars vary. The usual figure is 1.5 US fl oz (44 ml), which is the size the converter starts with.
What is a pony in ounces?
A pony is 1 US fl oz, which is 29.6 ml. That is smaller than the usual 1.5 oz shot.
Does changing the Strength box change the volume?
No. The Strength (% ABV) box changes only the standard drinks note. The volume in ml, oz or tablespoons stays the same.
Does this tool say how many shots are safe?
No. The page converts volumes and counts standard drinks at the strength you enter. It does not say that any number of shots is safe.
Why does a Canadian measure look different?
Canada may give measures in imperial ounces, and a UK fluid ounce is about 4% smaller than a US one. Choose UK fl oz in the Unit dropdown to compare an imperial figure with the result.
Is a UK fluid ounce the same as a US one?
No. A UK (imperial) fluid ounce is 28.41 ml and a US fluid ounce is 29.57 ml, about 4% larger. The Unit dropdown offers both.
Related tools
- How many shots in a bottle: use it to see how many pours a full bottle gives at a chosen shot size.
- Standard drink calculator: use it when you want to count standard drinks for a whole drink, not just one measure.
- Alcohol conversion calculator: use it when you need to convert between alcohol measures.
- Standard drink size chart: use it to compare standard drink sizes side by side.
- Alcohol unit calculator: use it when you need to count UK units in a drink.
- Drink equivalent calculator: use it to compare drinks of different sizes and strengths.