Shot sizes at a glance
| Pour | Ounces | Millilitres |
|---|---|---|
| Short / "rocks" pour | 1 oz | 30 ml |
| U.S. standard shot | 1.5 oz | 44 ml |
| Generous pour | 2 oz | 59 ml |
| Double shot | 3 oz | 89 ml |
In the United States there's no federally mandated shot size, so the "right" answer is really a convention: 1.5 ounces is what most bars pour and what nutrition and health guidelines use to define a standard drink. Some bars pour a leaner 1 oz, and a "double" is simply two shots, around 3 oz.
Shot sizes around the world
A "shot" shrinks and grows depending on where you're drinking:
- United States: 1.5 oz (44 ml) standard
- United Kingdom: 25 ml or 35 ml single (about 0.85–1.2 oz)
- Australia: 30 ml nip (about 1 oz)
- Germany & much of Europe: 20–40 ml
- Russia & Eastern Europe: 50 ml stopka (about 1.7 oz)
How much alcohol is in a shot?
It depends on two things: the size of the pour and the ABV of the spirit. A standard 1.5 oz shot of 40% spirits holds about 0.6 fl oz of pure alcohol — one standard drink. Bump the proof up (a 50% ABV whiskey) or the pour up (a 2 oz pour) and that climbs quickly.
That's also why one shot roughly equals one beer: the beer is eight times larger, but the shot is eight times stronger, so the alcohol evens out.
Frequently asked
How many millilitres are in a shot?
A standard U.S. shot is about 44 ml, which is 1.5 fluid ounces. Many other countries pour smaller 25 ml or 30 ml singles.
Is a shot 1 or 2 ounces?
The U.S. standard is 1.5 ounces. A short pour is 1 oz and a double is about 3 oz. There is no legally mandated shot size in the U.S., so bars vary.
How many ounces are in a shot of vodka?
The same as any spirit: a standard shot of vodka is 1.5 fl oz (about 44 ml). At roughly 40% ABV that equals one standard drink.