shot glasses

How Many ML is a Shot?

Originally Posted On February 18, 2023 and Last Updated On

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How Many mls is a Shot? Sizes, Volume and Dimensions

There are exactly 44.3603 milliliters in a standard US shot glass. Although most information shows 44 ml, that is a rounded measurement and not an exact one for the question how many mls is a shot glass?

If you have something that can measure milliliters, then you can still follow your recipe since a shot equals 44.3603 milliliters. That’s assuming you have an average shot glass like the kind you see in your local bar in the USA.

In bars in both the USA and Canada, the average shot glass is 1.5 ounces, or 1 oz. But this measurement is NOT at all the same as in other countries. Take a look at the chart below to see just how differently shot glass sizes vary from country to country.

You’d think by now this would all be a lot more standardized. But it’s not.

What Is A Shot Glass?

standard one and a half ounce shot glasses
Standard Shot Glasses

A shot glass is usually a small thick glass used to serve a shot of something like vodka or tequila. They’ve been around a long time and now most drink recipes use them as a guide on how much alcohol to add to a drink or cocktail recipe.

No matter what country you’re in, you can use our chart above to get an idea of how much liquid you should be using for the equivalent to a shot of something.

Shot Glass Sizes

A standard shot is either 1.5 ounces or 44 milliliters (rounded down). But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a ton of other shot glass sizes available. Even just in the USA there are a ton of different shot glass sizes available. But first, let’s talk about global sizes like in the UK or Japan.

Looking at the chart below as a reference, we can see the range is around a little less than an ounce, to just above 1.5 oz. This may seem like no big deal, but if you are running a bar and looking at costs, it really matter quite a bit.

CountryFluid OuncesMilliliters
Australia1.030
Canada1.544
Germany0.720
India1.030
Ireland1.235.5
Italy1.440
Japan1.030
Russia1.750
Sweden1.440
South Africa0.825
United Kingdom0.825
United States1.544
Shot Glass Sizes Around the World

Difference Between Milliliters vs Ounces?

There are many differences between milliliters and ounces, the two most common units of measurement for liquid. For one, milliliters are metric and ounces are imperial. This means that milliliters are part of the International System of Units (SI), while ounces are not.

In addition, a milliliter is a unit of volume, while an ounce can also be a unit of weight. This means that the amount of space a liquid takes up does not affect its weight in ounces, but it will affect its volume in milliliters. Finally, one ounce is equal to about 28. 3 milliliters.

How many shots in a bottle?

If you’re running a bar or planning on having a party and need a quick guide as to how many shots in a bottle, you can get a quick answer using my table below. These numbers can also help you determine how much liquor you’ll need to buy based on how many shots you think you’ll be going through on whatever the occasion is.

Size of bottleMillilitersFluid OuncesNumber of Shots
Fifth75025.416
Magnum150050.733
Half gallon175059.239
Rehoboam4500152.2101
shots in a bottle

How Many ml in a Shot Glass?

There are 44 milliliters in a standard USA shot. This is rounded down as the exact measurement is 44.3603 milliliters. The most common shot glasses you’ll see are listed below;

  • A Larger Shot Glass is 3 ounces or 89 ml
  • A Medium Shot glass is 1.5 oz or 44 ml
  • A Small Shot Glass is 1 ounce or 30ml

How Many Tablespoons in a Shot?

If you’re at your home bar, then maybe you have measuring spoons around. If so, then use Tablespoon or Teaspoon to measure.

Teaspoon = 4.92892 milliliters = pretty much exactly 9 teaspoons to make a shot. The exact is 9.0000040576 teaspoons for a shot.

Tablespoon = 14.7868 milliliters = almost exactly 3 tablespoons to make a shot. The exact measurement is 2.9999932372 to make a shot.

How Many Jiggers in a Shot?

In case you do have a jigger around and didn’t realize it, a jigger is the same thing as a shot glass as far as the volume of liquid held. that means the answer to how many jiggers in a shot is ONE.

The only difference is a jigger is usually a double jigger meaning they have two cups, one 1 ounce and one 1.5 ounce measurement sizes. And they are usually made of metal. Otherwise, the amount of liquid they hold is exactly the same.

Shot Glass Dimensions

The “average” standard 44.3603 milliliters shot glass dimensions in inches are 2.25 inches tall x 2 inches top diameter x 1.3 inches base diameter.

In centimeters this is equivalent to 6 cm tall x 5 cm top diameter x 3.5 cm base diameter.

There are of course many variations for these measurements, but the regular heavy shot glass you get served with by your favorite bartender will usually have these glass dimensions or something very close.

Shot Glass Volume

The volume of liquid a shot glass holds is the same as the above, 44.3603 milliliters. But if you want to know other conversions for a shot glass, I have included a chart below using the conversions of a 44.3603 milliliters shot glass…

USInternational
0.0117188 gallons0.0443603 liters
0.046875 quarts44.3603 milliliters
0.09375 pints
0.184835 cups
1.5 ounces
3 tablespoons
9 teaspoons

Shot Glass Volume Chart

These measurements are rounded when necessary.

Shot Glass Shapes

square shot glasses

Shot glasses don’t always need to be round as you can see by the picture above. These glasses come in all different shapes and sizes and the only thing to remember is everything is measured by volume, what the glass actually holds.

So regardless of its size, shape or decorations, it’s the volume of liquor that counts.

How Many MLs in a Double Shot?

There are 89 milliliters in a standard USA double shot which is also equivalent to three ounces of liquid. This is a slightly rounded up number.

The actual number for a standard American shot is 44.3603 milliliters. Multiply this by two and you get 88.7206 milliliters. So the exact measurement for a double shot in the USA is 88.7206 milliliters of liquid.

Countrymlsfluid ozTablespoons
Australia602.04
Canada712.55
Germany401.43
India602.04
Ireland712.45
Italy802.85
Japan602.04
Russia1003.47
Sweden602.04
South Africa501.63
United Kingdom501.63
United States59-892-34-6
Double Shot Sizes Around the World

Shot Glass Measurement UK

In the UK a typical shot glass equals 25 ml (milliliters) or 0.8 ounces per shot of alcohol. These are smaller than their USA counterparts. They also usually have the automatic pourers on upside down bottles that automatically pour the proper shot measurement for the bar tender.

How Many ML in a Double Shot UK?

A double shot in the UK measures 50 milliliters or 1.6 ounces of alcohol. A standard shot is 25 milliliters or 0.8 ounces. Just multiply this by two.

How Many ML in a Single Measure?

A single measure in the UK is 25 milliliters or 0.8 ounces of alcohol. These are usually the plastic pourers you see where the bottle is upside down hanging from the wall so the bartender can easily just push the glass up and have the exact measurement dispensed without the need for a shot glass or jigger.

How To Order A Shot At A Bar?

When you’re out at a bar, sometimes all you want is a shot of your favorite liquor. But if you’ve never ordered a shot before, it can be a little daunting. Here’s a guide on how to order a shot at a bar.

First, decide what kind of liquor you want. If you don’t know, ask the bartender for suggestions. Once you’ve decided, approach the bartender and tell them what you want. For example, “I’ll have a tequila shot , please.”

Next, you may want to order a chaser. A chaser is an alcoholic beverage that is consumed after you drink a shot of liquor. For example, after taking a shot of tequila, you might want to chase it with a beer.

If you want to order a chaser, tell the bartender what you want. For example, “I’d like a shot of tequila and a beer.” Now that you know how to order a shot at a bar, it’s time to drink up!

Why Is the Precise Measuring of a Shot of Liquor Important?

In today’s world, it is more important than ever to be precise when measuring a shot of liquor. Bartenders and mixologists are under constant pressure to make drinks that are perfect for their customers, and the only way to do that is to measure each shot with precision.

There are many reasons why this is important, but the three most important ones are: 1) customer satisfaction, 2) cost control, and 3) safety.

Customer satisfaction is the most important reason why precision is key when measuring a shot of liquor. If you don’t measure the shots correctly, then your customers will not be satisfied with their drinks. This can lead to complaints and unsatisfied customers, which is simply bad for business.

pouring a shot of alcohol

Cost control is also an important reason why measuring a shot of liquor with precision is important. If you measure a shot of liquor without precision, then you will end up giving the customer too much or too little alcohol. This can cause over-serving of alcohol, which can lead to increased costs to the bar or pub which in turn diminishes profits. Check out this article to see how to measure without a proper shot glass.

Safety in any establishment that serves liquor is always important. With laws and insurance liabilities making sure you are serving the correct volume of alcohol to a customer can mean the difference between having a successful business and getting sued. You should always pour the correct amount of alcohol the customer has asked for so both you and them know how much they have actually consumed.

Are Oz and ML the Same?

A fluid ounce is a unit of measurement for volume equal to 1/16th of a pint. One fluid ounce is equivalent to 29.57 ml. Though the two units are not exactly the same, they are close enough in value that they are often used interchangeably.

Why Is It Called a Shot Glass?

A shot glass is a small glass that is typically used to hold hard alcohol. The term “shot” refers to the act of drinking alcohol quickly in one gulp. The origin of the term “shot glass” is unclear, but it is believed to be derived from the fact that these glasses are often used to take shots of alcohol.

Shot glasses are usually made from clear glass so that the drinker can see the color of the liquor. They typically hold 1-2 ounces of liquid, but there are also larger shot glasses known as “double shot glasses” or “jumbo shot glasses” which can hold up to 4 ounces.

Can You Collect Shot Glasses?

Shot glasses are a popular collectible item, and many people enjoy collecting different styles and sizes from different places they have visited or been to. Some people have collections from all the bars or pubs they’ve been to throughout the world.

Shot glasses are also popular souvenirs and can be found in many gift shops across the United States. They are often decorated with images or sayings related to drinking or partying or places or a specific thing.

Types of Shot Glasses

Fluted

A fluted shot glass has a “V” shape at the bottom of the shot glass rather than a simple flat surface. The thick bottoms make the shot seem bigger than it actually is and are sometimes called “cheater” shot glasses.

cheater shot glass

Cheaters

Shot glasses that have thicker glass and hold less alcohol by volume than a standard shot are often called “cheaters”. Usually a cheater will be one ounce but the bar will charge for a full shot. They often have thick fluted bottoms like the shot glass above.

Pony

These are smaller shot glasses that hold either 1 fluid ounce or 44.3603 milliliters of alcohol.

Tall

These are taller and narrower than other shot glasses. These are the glasses you’ll see people doing tequila shooters with where you wrap the shot glass in a fabric napkin, hit it against the table or bar, then shoot it down. They vary in sizes and volume.

In Closing…

So if you want the exact measurement, there are exactly 44.3603 milliliters in a standard US shot glass. and the most common rounded number you will see is 44 ML. This equates to one and a half USA fluid ounces. Just remember, the accepted shot volume is different around the world and you can check out my chart to see how much they differ.

About the Author

  • Bill Allen

    I'm Bill Allen, the guy behind this site. I've been a bartender, bar owner and sitting on both sides of a bar for almost 35 years, so I have some experience in the whole mixology scene. And now I'm just building out my site with as much helpful content as I can share with you.

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