How many ml are in one liquor? Decoding Standard and Shot Sizes

December 19, 2025 •

4 min read

In the United States, the most widely sold bottle of liquor is the "fifth," which contains exactly 750 ml. However, the volume can vary dramatically based on container size, from a small 50 ml miniature to a large 1.75 L handle, which is key to understanding how many ml are in one liquor.

Quick Summary

The metric volume for one liquor is not fixed and is determined by the container size, such as a 750 ml bottle, or the specific serving size, which can vary by country.

Key Points

No Fixed Volume: There is no universal answer for how many ml are in one liquor; the amount depends entirely on the bottle or serving size.
Standard Bottle Size: A standard bottle, often called a 'fifth' in the US, holds 750 ml, a metric volume that replaced the imperial fifth of a gallon.
Standard Shot Size (US): In the United States, a standard shot is 1.5 fluid ounces, which is equivalent to approximately 44 ml.
International Shot Variations: Shot sizes vary significantly by country; for example, a standard shot is 25-35 ml in the UK and 50 ml in Russia.
Common Bottle Sizes: Other common liquor bottle sizes include the 50 ml nip, 375 ml pint, 1,000 ml (liter), and 1,750 ml (handle).
Alcohol Units: Public health guidelines sometimes use 'alcohol units' based on a fixed volume of pure alcohol, such as 10 ml in the UK, for standardizing measurement.

The phrase "one liquor" is ambiguous and does not refer to a single, fixed volume. Instead, the amount of liquor is measured in milliliters (ml) according to either the size of the bottle it comes in or the standard size of a single serving, often called a "shot." The number of milliliters can range from a small, single-serving portion to a bulk-sized container holding many liters. Understanding these different measurements is essential for anyone who purchases or serves spirits, whether for personal consumption or professional use.

Understanding Standard Liquor Bottle Sizes (mL)

Liquor is sold in a variety of standard bottle sizes, though historical conventions and regional regulations have influenced the specific metric volumes. The most common sizes you will find in liquor stores include:

Miniature (Nip): A small, single-serving bottle containing 50 ml, which is roughly one 1.5-ounce shot.
Half-Pint: Typically 200 ml, containing approximately four 1.5-ounce shots.
Pint: Often sold as a 375 ml bottle, which is half the size of a standard "fifth." This can be confusing, as a true US pint is 473 ml.
Standard Bottle (Fifth): The most common size, containing 750 ml, or 25.4 ounces. This size is a holdover from when liquor was sold in fifths of a US gallon.
Liter: A 1,000 ml bottle, which is slightly larger than a standard fifth and contains about 22 shots.
Handle: A large 1.75 liter (1,750 ml) bottle, named for the handle on its side. This size holds approximately 39 shots.

How Bottle Sizes Became Metric

Before the metric system was standardized in the United States liquor industry in 1979, spirits were sold in imperial measurements, most notably the "fifth" of a US gallon (757 ml). To ease the transition, the industry switched to the very similar 750 ml size, and the historical name stuck, even though it no longer represents an exact fifth of a gallon. Other sizes like the 375 ml "pint" are also metric approximations of older imperial measures, further adding to the confusion.

Standard Shot Sizes vs. International Units (mL)

Beyond bottle size, the volume of "one liquor" also depends on the standard serving size, which varies significantly by region. A "shot" is a small serving of spirits, but its definition is not universal. This table compares shot sizes in milliliters across different countries.


Region	Standard Shot Size (ml)	Notes
United States	44 ml (1.5 oz)	Most common standard.
United Kingdom	25 ml or 35 ml	Legal depending on the establishment.
Canada	44 ml (1.5 oz)	Same as the US standard.
Australia	30 ml	Standard measure.
Germany / Italy	40 ml	Common measure.
Russia	50 ml	Often associated with vodka culture.
India	30 ml (small peg) / 60 ml (large peg)	Traditional measure.

Calculating Alcohol Units in Milliliters

Some countries use "units of alcohol" to measure intake for public health purposes. One unit represents a fixed amount of pure alcohol, often defined as 10 ml in the UK or 12.7 ml (10 grams) by the WHO. The number of units in a drink depends on both the volume and the alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage, providing a standardized way to compare different beverages. For example, a single UK shot of spirits (25 ml at 40% ABV) contains 1 unit of alcohol.

How to Determine the Volume in Your Liquor

To know how many ml are in your liquor, you must first clarify what you are measuring. Here's a quick guide:

To find the volume of a bottle: Check the label for the size in milliliters (ml) or liters (L). Common sizes are 750 ml, 1,000 ml (1 L), or 1,750 ml (1.75 L).
To calculate the number of shots in a bottle: Divide the bottle's total ml by the standard shot size for your region. In the US, for a 750 ml bottle, you would calculate 750 ml / 44 ml, which gives approximately 17 shots.
To determine a standard serving: Be aware of local regulations. If you are mixing cocktails, use a jigger to ensure consistent pours that match recipe instructions, which are often based on a 1.5 oz (44 ml) shot.
To understand alcohol content: Refer to the ABV percentage on the label to calculate the amount of pure alcohol. This is useful for tracking your intake based on public health guidelines.

Conclusion

The term "one liquor" is not a fixed measurement in milliliters, as the volume depends entirely on the context. It could mean a standard bottle size, like a 750 ml fifth, or a specific serving size, such as the 44 ml shot common in the US. The metric volume is influenced by a mixture of historical standards, regional laws, and modern industry practices. By understanding the common bottle and shot sizes, as well as being aware of international variations, you can accurately measure and understand the alcohol you are dealing with.

For more information on standard drinks and responsible consumption, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) website.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the United States, a standard shot contains approximately 44 ml (1.5 fluid ounces). However, this can vary internationally, with other common measures ranging from 25 ml to 50 ml.

A 'fifth' of liquor, the standard bottle size, contains 750 ml. The term is a historical remnant from when bottles were one-fifth of a US gallon.

A 'handle' of liquor, a common name for a large bottle with a handle, holds 1.75 liters, which is equivalent to 1,750 ml.

A liquor bottle often called a 'pint' contains 375 ml, which is half the volume of a 750 ml bottle. This is different from a true US pint, which is 473 ml.

Assuming a standard US shot of 44 ml (1.5 oz), a 750 ml bottle will yield approximately 17 shots. If using a standard 30 ml shot, it would be around 25 shots.

Differences in shot sizes are due to variations in local drinking culture, alcohol laws, and industry standards. International travel or using recipes may require awareness of these local variations.

An alcohol unit is a measure of pure alcohol. For instance, the UK defines one unit as 10 ml of pure alcohol. The number of units in a drink depends on its volume and alcohol percentage.