How Many Shots Are in a Bottle? Fifth, Handle, Liter & 750ml Chart
A standard 750ml bottle of liquor holds about 16 shots, based on the standard US 1.5-ounce pour — but that number climbs to 22 for a liter and 39 for a 1.75L handle. Whether you're stocking a home bar, planning a party, or just settling a debate, here's exactly how many shots (and standard drinks) you get from every common bottle size, plus the simple formula to work it out yourself.
A “shot” in the United States is standardized at 1.5 fluid ounces (44.36 ml). That's also the definition of one standard drink for an 80-proof spirit, so for most liquor the shots-per-bottle and drinks-per-bottle numbers line up. Bartenders sometimes pour a 1-ounce or 2-ounce shot depending on the venue and the cocktail, which shifts the totals — we've included those columns so you can match your own pour.
Bottle Size to Shots Chart
| Bottle Size | Volume | Shots (1.5 oz) | Shots (1 oz) | Shots (2 oz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nip / Miniature | 50 ml | 1 | 1.7 | 0.8 |
| Quarter Pint | 100 ml | 2.3 | 3.4 | 1.7 |
| Half Pint | 200 ml | 4.5 | 6.8 | 3.4 |
| Pint | 375 ml | 8.5 | 12.7 | 6.3 |
| Standard “Fifth” | 750 ml | 16.9 | 25.4 | 12.7 |
| Liter | 1 L (1,000 ml) | 22.5 | 33.8 | 16.9 |
| Handle | 1.75 L (1,750 ml) | 39.4 | 59.2 | 29.6 |
| Magnum / Double | 3 L (3,000 ml) | 67.6 | 101.4 | 50.7 |
The Formula
To find shots for any bottle, divide the bottle's volume in milliliters by 44.36 (the ml in a 1.5-oz shot):
Shots = Bottle volume (ml) ÷ 44.36
For example, a 750ml fifth: 750 ÷ 44.36 = 16.9 shots. If your bar pours a clean 1-ounce shot, divide by 29.57 instead; for a heavy 2-ounce pour, divide by 59.15.
Why It's Called a “Fifth”
The 750ml bottle earned the nickname “a fifth” because it's very close to one-fifth of a US gallon (757 ml). Before metric standardization, US spirits were sold in fifth-gallon bottles; when the industry converted to metric in the 1970s, 750ml became the universal standard for spirits and wine, and the old name stuck. So when someone asks for a fifth of whiskey, they mean a standard 750ml bottle — about 16 shots.
Handles, Explained
A “handle” is a 1.75-liter bottle — literally named for the built-in handle that makes the large format easier to pour. At 39 shots, a single handle covers a good-sized gathering, and the per-ounce price is usually lower than buying multiple 750ml bottles, which is why handles are a go-to for parties and busy bars. Handles are most common for crowd-pleasers like vodka, whiskey, and rum.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many shots are in a 750ml bottle?
A 750ml bottle (a “fifth”) holds about 16 to 17 shots at the standard US pour of 1.5 ounces per shot. At a 1-ounce pour you'd get about 25, and at a 2-ounce pour about 12.
How many shots are in a handle of liquor?
A handle is 1.75 liters and holds about 39 shots at 1.5 ounces each — roughly two and a half times a standard 750ml bottle.
How many shots are in a liter?
A 1-liter bottle holds about 22 shots at the standard 1.5-ounce pour, sitting between a 750ml fifth (16 shots) and a 1.75L handle (39 shots).
