Pour cost is the percentage of a drink's menu price that goes toward the cost of the alcohol used to make it. It is the most important metric for bar and restaurant profitability. Industry-standard pour cost targets are 18-24% for liquor, 25-30% for wine, and 20-25% for beer. Use this calculator to price drinks, evaluate suppliers, and protect your margins.
Calculate Pour Cost
Full Breakdown
| Bottle Size | — |
| Pour Size | — |
| Pours per Bottle | — |
| Bottle Cost | — |
| Cost per Pour | — |
| Menu Price per Drink | — |
| Pour Cost % | — |
| Revenue per Bottle | — |
| Profit per Bottle | — |
Industry targets: Liquor pour cost should be 18-24%, wine 25-30%, and beer 20-25%. A lower pour cost means more gross profit per drink. If your pour cost is above target, consider raising menu prices, negotiating lower wholesale costs, or reducing your pour size.
Common Bottle Sizes Reference
| Size | Volume (ml) | Volume (oz) | Pours (1.5 oz) | Pours (1.25 oz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Bottle | 375 | 12.68 | 8.5 | 10.1 |
| Standard (750 ml) | 750 | 25.36 | 16.9 | 20.3 |
| 1 Liter | 1000 | 33.81 | 22.5 | 27.0 |
| Handle (1.75 L) | 1750 | 59.17 | 39.4 | 47.3 |
How to Use the Pour Cost Calculator
Pour cost is the single most important profitability metric for any bar or restaurant that serves alcohol. It tells you what percentage of each drink's selling price goes toward the raw cost of the spirits, wine, or beer used to make it. A well-managed bar keeps tight control over pour cost percentages to maximize gross profit without over-pricing drinks.
Step 1: Enter Your Bottle Cost
Start by entering the wholesale cost you pay for the bottle. This is the price your distributor or supplier charges, not the retail price. If you buy in cases, divide the case cost by the number of bottles to get the per-bottle cost. Accurate cost data is the foundation of accurate pour cost calculations.
Step 2: Select the Bottle Size
Choose the bottle size from the dropdown. The most common sizes are 750 ml (standard wine and spirits), 1 liter (common for well spirits), and 1.75 liter (handles for high-volume pours). The calculator converts milliliters to ounces automatically using the standard conversion of 1 ml = 0.033814 oz.
Step 3: Set Your Pour Size
The default pour size is 1.5 oz, which is the standard single pour in most bars. Adjust this based on your house standard. Some bars use 1.25 oz for well drinks and 2 oz for premium pours. The pour size directly determines how many drinks you can serve from a single bottle, which in turn drives your cost per pour.
Step 4: Enter Your Menu Price
Enter the price you charge customers for a single drink made with this pour. The calculator divides the cost per pour by the menu price to determine your pour cost percentage. This is the number you want to optimize: lower pour cost means higher profit, but pricing too high can reduce volume.
Understanding Your Results
The calculator shows your pour cost percentage along with a status badge indicating whether you are under, at, or over the industry target range. You also get pours per bottle, cost per pour, total revenue per bottle, and profit per bottle. Use these numbers to compare different products side by side and make informed purchasing and pricing decisions.
Industry Benchmarks
Well-run bars typically maintain an overall beverage cost of 20-25%. Within that, liquor should run 18-24% pour cost, wine 25-30%, and draft beer 20-25%. Premium cocktail bars may achieve even lower pour costs through creative pricing and high-value presentation. If your pour cost is consistently above 25% for spirits, review your pricing, check for over-pouring, and verify your inventory counts match actual usage.
FAQ
What is pour cost?
Pour cost is the percentage of a drink's menu price that goes toward the cost of the liquor, beer, or wine used to make it. It is calculated by dividing the cost per pour by the menu price and multiplying by 100. A lower pour cost means higher profit per drink.
What is a good pour cost percentage for a bar?
The industry standard pour cost for liquor is 18-24%, meaning the bar keeps 76-82% of each drink's price as gross profit. Wine typically runs 25-30% pour cost, and beer 20-25%. Higher-end cocktail bars may target even lower pour costs by using premium pricing strategies.
How many pours are in a 750ml bottle?
A standard 750ml bottle contains 25.36 oz. At a standard 1.5 oz pour, you get approximately 16.9 pours per bottle. With a 1.25 oz pour you get about 20 pours, and with a 2 oz pour you get about 12.7 pours. The pour size directly affects your cost per drink.
How do I calculate cost per pour?
Cost per pour equals the bottle cost divided by the number of pours you get from that bottle. First calculate pours per bottle by dividing the bottle size in ounces by your pour size. Then divide the bottle cost by the number of pours. For example, a $30 bottle with 16.9 pours costs $1.78 per pour.
Is this pour cost calculator free?
Yes, this pour cost calculator is completely free with no signup required. All calculations run locally in your browser, so no data is sent to any server. Use it as many times as you need for menu pricing and inventory analysis.
Is my pricing data private?
Absolutely. Everything runs locally in your browser using JavaScript. No bottle costs, menu prices, or calculations are ever transmitted to a server or stored anywhere. Your bar's pricing data stays completely private.
What bottle sizes can I calculate pour cost for?
This calculator supports the most common bottle sizes: 375ml (half bottle), 750ml (standard), 1 liter, and 1.75 liter (handle). You can also enter a custom bottle size in milliliters for specialty bottles or kegs converted to equivalent volume.
How can I lower my pour cost?
You can lower pour cost by negotiating better wholesale prices, using measured pourers or jiggers to reduce over-pouring, increasing menu prices, or switching to a slightly smaller standard pour. Even reducing your pour from 1.5 oz to 1.25 oz can significantly improve your cost percentage.