You’re standing behind a sticky bar, or maybe just in your kitchen trying to nail a Margarita recipe, and the question hits: 1 shot glass is how many ounces exactly? You’d think there’s a global law. A universal "Shot Glass Treaty" signed in some basement in Geneva. There isn’t. Honestly, the answer depends entirely on where you are standing on a map and how generous the bartender feels that day.
Standard logic says a shot is 1.5 ounces. That’s the "official" unofficial number in the United States. But go to Utah, and you’ll find a strict 1.5-ounce limit enforced by law—no "free pouring" allowed. Hop over to the UK, and you’re looking at a measly 25ml or 35ml, which is barely over an ounce. It’s confusing. It’s inconsistent. And if you’re trying to track your alcohol intake or perfect a complex drink, getting it wrong ruins the vibe.
Let’s get into the weeds of why this number fluctuates and what you actually need to know to pour a proper drink.
The 1.5 Ounce Standard (And Why It’s Not a Rule)
In the U.S., the most common answer to how many ounces are in a shot glass is 1.5 ounces (roughly 44 milliliters). This is what most jiggers—those hourglass-shaped measuring tools—are designed to hold on their larger side.
But here is the kicker. The federal government doesn’t actually define a "shot" as a standard unit of measurement. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services is one of the few places that treats it like a legal requirement. Elsewhere, it’s mostly just "tradition." If you buy a souvenir shot glass at a gift shop in Vegas, it might actually hold 2 ounces. These are often called "double" shots or "tall" shots. On the flip side, some bars use "pony shots," which are only 1 ounce.
Imagine you're making a Negroni. If you use a 1-ounce pony shot for the gin but a 1.5-ounce standard pour for the vermouth because you grabbed the wrong glass, the drink is basically dead on arrival. Proportions matter.
Global Variations: A Mess of Milliliters
If you think the U.S. system is vague, try traveling. The international community is all over the place.
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In Germany, a standard "Kurzer" is 20ml (about 0.67 oz). It’s basically a drop.
In Japan, shots often lean toward 30ml or 60ml.
Australia and South Africa have largely standardized at 30ml, which is almost exactly 1 ounce.
Then you have the United Kingdom. Under the Weights and Measures Act, publicans (bar owners) must serve spirits like gin, rum, vodka, and whisky in quantities of either 25ml or 35ml. They have to post a sign telling you which one they use. You won't get a 1.5-ounce pour there unless you're at a specialty American-style cocktail bar. It’s a precision game over there, dictated by law to ensure consumers aren't getting ripped off.
Why Does the Size Even Matter?
Calorie counting. Alcohol safety. Flavor balance.
If you’re tracking macros, the difference between a 1-ounce shot of vodka (around 64 calories) and a 1.5-ounce shot (around 96 calories) adds up fast after three rounds. More importantly, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines a "standard drink" as 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits at 40% alcohol. If your shot glass is secretly a 2-ounce souvenir glass, you’re drinking 33% more alcohol than you think.
People underestimate their "home pours" constantly. We tend to be heavy-handed when we aren't using a jigger. Research consistently shows that most people pour 1.8 to 2.2 ounces when asked to "pour a shot" without a measuring tool.
Visual Cues Are Lying to You
The shape of the glass messes with your brain. A fluted shot glass—one that’s wider at the top than the bottom—can look full while holding less liquid than a heavy-bottomed "cheater" glass. "Cheater" glasses have a very thick glass base. They look like a standard 1.5-ounce glass from the outside, but the internal cavity only holds 1 or 1.25 ounces. Bars use these to save money. It’s a classic trick of the trade.
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The Jigger vs. The Shot Glass
If you’re serious about your home bar, stop using the shot glass to measure. Buy a jigger.
Jiggers are precision instruments. Most "standard" jiggers come in a 1.5 oz / 0.75 oz combo or a 2 oz / 1 oz combo (the Japanese style). Using a jigger ensures that your Old Fashioned tastes exactly the same every time you make it.
Wait. What about "parts"?
Many old cocktail books use "parts" instead of ounces. If a recipe calls for 2 parts gin and 1 part lime, it doesn't matter if your "part" is a shot glass, a bucket, or a thimble. But usually, in the context of a single serving, one "part" is assumed to be a 1.5-ounce shot.
How to Test Your Shot Glass at Home
Not sure what your cabinet full of random glasses actually holds? You don’t need a lab. Just a kitchen scale.
- Place your empty shot glass on a digital kitchen scale.
- Zero (tare) the scale.
- Fill the glass with water to the very brim—or wherever you’d normally stop pouring.
- Check the weight in grams.
Because the density of water is roughly 1:1, 28.35 grams equals 1 ounce. If your scale reads 42 grams, you’ve got a 1.5-ounce glass. If it hits 56 grams, you’re looking at a 2-ounce double. It’s a simple five-second test that removes all the guesswork.
Common Misconceptions About Shot Sizes
Some people think "espresso shots" follow the same rules. They don't. A single espresso shot is usually 1 ounce, while a double (doppio) is 2 ounces. But even in the coffee world, this varies based on the "yield" the barista is aiming for. Don't use your espresso cups for tequila unless you've weighed them first; they are notoriously deceptive.
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Another myth? That a shot glass must be filled to the rim. In a professional setting, a 1.5-ounce pour in a 2-ounce glass leaves a little "wash line" at the top. This prevents the bartender from spilling it while sliding it across the wood. If your glass is filled to the absolute meniscus, you're likely getting a "heavy" pour, which is great for your wallet but maybe not for your liver.
Practical Steps for Better Pouring
To master the art of the pour, start by auditing your glassware. Most people have a "mismatched" collection of shot glasses from weddings and vacations. Categorize them by size using the scale method mentioned above.
When mixing, always pour the most expensive ingredient last. Why? Because if you over-pour the cheap lime juice into your jigger, it’s easy to dump and restart. If you overflow the $80 bourbon, that’s a tragedy.
If you want to look like a pro, practice the "four-count" pour with a speed pourer. It’s a rhythm: one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand... Most bartenders can hit 1.5 ounces exactly just by counting. You can calibrate your own speed at home by pouring water into a measuring cup until your "four-count" consistently hits the 1.5-ounce mark.
Stop guessing. Whether you are tracking your health or just trying to make a world-class cocktail, knowing that 1 shot glass is typically 1.5 ounces—but verifying it yourself—is the mark of someone who actually knows their way around a bar. Check your glasses, use a jigger for recipes, and always account for the "cheater" glass when you're out on the town.