How many ml are in a shot? A standard US shot is 1.5 fluid ounces, or about 44 ml. In the UK, a single measure of spirits is 25 ml or 35 ml, and a double is 50 ml or 70 ml. There is no worldwide shot size, so the answer depends on where the drink is poured.
That difference matters more than it looks. A US shot holds nearly twice as much liquid as a 25 ml UK single. This guide covers shot sizes by country, ounce conversions, shot glass capacity, and how much alcohol each pour contains.
How many ml in a shot, by country?
| Place | Common shot or single | In US fl oz | Double |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 44 ml (1.5 oz) | 1.5 oz | 89 ml (3 oz) |
| United Kingdom | 25 ml or 35 ml | 0.85 or 1.2 oz | 50 ml or 70 ml |
| Australia | 30 ml | 1.0 oz | 60 ml |
| Germany | 20 ml or 40 ml | 0.7 or 1.4 oz | 40 ml |
In the UK this is set by law. Gin, rum, vodka, and whisky sold by the glass must be served in 25 ml or 35 ml measures or multiples of them, and each venue chooses one. In the US, the 1.5 oz shot is a convention rather than a legal pour size, although it is the measure NIAAA and the CDC use to define one standard drink of 40% spirits.
How many oz in a shot?
A US shot is 1.5 fluid ounces. A "pony" shot is 1 oz, and a double is usually 3 oz, although some bars call a 2 oz pour a double.
| Fluid ounces | Millilitres | US shots (1.5 oz) | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 oz | 15 ml | 0.33 | 1 |
| 1 oz | 30 ml | 0.67 | 2 |
| 1.5 oz | 44 ml | 1 | 3 |
| 2 oz | 59 ml | 1.33 | 4 |
| 3 oz | 89 ml | 2 | 6 |
How many shots is 50 ml?
A 50 ml miniature is about 1.1 US shots, or exactly two 25 ml UK singles. It is also a little less than one and a half 35 ml singles.
How many shots is 2 oz?
A 2 oz pour is 1.33 US shots. If you pour 2 oz and log it as one shot, you under-count by a third.
Shot glass size: how much does it really hold?
Shot glasses are not measuring tools. A typical US shot glass holds between 1 and 2 oz when full, and many hold 1.5 oz only when filled to a line below the rim. Tall "shooter" glasses and novelty glasses can hold 3 oz or more.
The simplest check takes a minute. Pour water from a measuring jug or jigger into your glass, and note where 25 ml, 35 ml, or 44 ml sits. A kitchen tablespoon works too, because a US tablespoon is about 15 ml, so three make one US shot.
How much alcohol is in a shot?
One UK unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol. One US standard drink is 14 grams, or about 17.7 ml, of pure alcohol. The table assumes a 40% ABV spirit.
| Pour | Pure alcohol | UK units | US standard drinks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ml | 8 ml | 0.8 | 0.45 |
| 25 ml | 10 ml | 1.0 | 0.56 |
| 30 ml | 12 ml | 1.2 | 0.68 |
| 35 ml | 14 ml | 1.4 | 0.79 |
| 44 ml | 17.7 ml | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| 50 ml | 20 ml | 2.0 | 1.13 |
| 89 ml | 35.5 ml | 3.6 | 2.0 |
Strength changes the answer as well. A 25 ml single at 37.5% is about 0.9 units, which is why UK vodka and gin guides often quote slightly lower figures. For totals by bottle, see how many shots are in a bottle and how many units are in a bottle of vodka.
The formula for any shot
Pure alcohol (ml) = pour in ml × ABV ÷ 100
UK units = ml × ABV ÷ 1,000
US standard drinks = fluid ounces × ABV (as a decimal) ÷ 0.6
Example 1: a 35 ml single at 40% (UK units)
35 × 40 ÷ 1,000 = 1.4 units
Example 2: a 2 oz pour of 40% whiskey (US standard drinks)
2 × 0.40 = 0.8 oz of pure alcohol, and 0.8 ÷ 0.6 = 1.33 standard drinks
Example 3: a 1 oz shot of 50% (100 proof) spirit
1 × 0.50 = 0.5 oz of pure alcohol, and 0.5 ÷ 0.6 = 0.83 standard drinks
The alcohol units calculator and the standard drink calculator do this arithmetic for any pour and strength.
Why "one shot" is a poor way to keep count
Counting shots is only reliable when the pour is measured:
- Free pours run large. A pour without a jigger can easily reach 2 oz or more.
- Mixed drinks hide measures. A long drink can contain one, two, or three shots, and you cannot see which.
- Sizes change when you travel. A UK drinker who switches to US bars is drinking about 1.8 times as much alcohol per single measure.
- Strength varies. The same 44 ml pour is 1.0 standard drink at 40% but 1.25 at 50%.
Measuring once at home and asking how a bar pours solves most of this. To keep a running record, [Alcohol Tracker° for iPhone and Apple Watch](/) lets you log the actual volume and ABV of each drink rather than a vague count.
Shots and units do not measure impairment. Never use a count of shots to decide whether you can drive. If you have been drinking, arrange a sober lift, a taxi, or public transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ml is a standard shot?
In the US, a standard shot is 1.5 oz, or about 44 ml. In the UK, a single is 25 ml or 35 ml depending on the venue. In Australia, a standard nip is 30 ml.
How many oz in a shot of liquor?
A US shot is 1.5 fluid ounces. A UK 25 ml single is about 0.85 oz, and a 35 ml single is about 1.2 oz.
Is a shot 30 ml or 50 ml?
Neither figure is universal. A 30 ml shot is standard in Australia and close to a US pony shot of 1 oz. A 50 ml pour is a UK double in venues using 25 ml measures, and it is the size of a miniature bottle.
How many tablespoons are in a shot?
A US shot of 1.5 oz equals 3 US tablespoons, because one tablespoon is about 15 ml. A 25 ml UK single is a little under 2 tablespoons.
Is one shot one unit of alcohol?
Only sometimes. A 25 ml single at 40% is exactly 1 UK unit, but a 35 ml single is 1.4 units and a 44 ml US shot is about 1.8 units.
The quick answer
How many ml are in a shot? A US shot is 1.5 oz, about 44 ml, and a UK single is 25 ml or 35 ml. At 40% ABV a 44 ml shot is one US standard drink and about 1.8 UK units, while a 25 ml single is exactly 1 unit. Measure your own glass once, and log the volume rather than the word "shot".
Sources: NIAAA: What is a standard drink?, CDC: About standard drink sizes, NHS alcohol units, and The Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order 1988.
Keep exploring
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