30 ml. In US kitchen measurements, 1 fluid ounce equals 2 tablespoons, which equals 30 ml. A “shot glass” is commonly treated as 1 fluid ounce for measuring, so one shot glass is 30 ml.
How Many Ml In One Shot Glass: one standard U.S. shot is 44 ml when the shot glass holds 1.5 fluid ounces. For kitchen conversion from the USDA/FDA figures provided, 1 fluid ounce = 30 ml, so 1.5 fluid ounces equals 45 ml by rounded recipe math.
Shot glasses are not all the same size. A small 1-ounce shot is 30 ml, while a 2-ounce double shot is 60 ml. If you are measuring for a recipe, use the amount stated in fluid ounces when possible, then convert with 1 fl oz = 30 ml.
The Short Answer, With Numbers
One 1-fluid-ounce shot glass holds 30 ml. That is the cleanest US kitchen conversion: 1 fluid ounce equals 2 tablespoons, and it equals 30 ml.
If your shot glass is marked 1 oz, use 30 ml. If it is filled to 2 tablespoons, use 30 ml. Those are the same amount.
| Measure | US equivalent | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | – | 5 ml |
| 1 tablespoon | 3 teaspoons | 15 ml |
| 1 fluid ounce | 2 tablespoons | 30 ml |
| 1/4 cup | 4 tablespoons | 59 ml |
What To Use For “One Shot” In A Recipe
For US kitchen measuring, treat 1 shot as 1 fluid ounce when no other size is given. That gives you 30 ml.
Worked example: a drink recipe says “add 1 shot lemon juice.” Measure 1 fluid ounce, or 2 tablespoons, or 30 ml.
Another example: if a sauce calls for 2 shots of broth, using the 1-fluid-ounce shot size gives 2 fluid ounces. That is 4 tablespoons, or 60 ml.
For a half shot, use half of 1 fluid ounce. Since 1 fluid ounce is 2 tablespoons, a half shot is 1 tablespoon, which is 15 ml.
For a quarter shot, use half of a tablespoon. Since 1 tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, a quarter shot is 1 1/2 teaspoons, or about 7.5 ml.
If Your Shot Glass Looks Bigger
Some shot glasses are physically larger than 30 ml. The glass size is not the measurement; the filled amount is. A glass may hold more than one 1-fluid-ounce shot if filled to the rim.
If your glass holds 1/4 cup, it is not a 1-ounce pour. A 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons, or 59 ml, which is almost two 30 ml shots.
Quick check: fill the shot glass with water, then pour it into tablespoons. If it takes 2 tablespoons, it is 30 ml. If it takes 4 tablespoons, it is 59 ml.
Best practical answer: for cooking and measuring, write down 1 shot = 1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons = 30 ml, unless the recipe or glass marking says otherwise.
Milliliters In One Shot Glass
One standard U.S. shot glass holds 45 ml when the shot is 1.5 fluid ounces. Using kitchen conversions, 1 fluid ounce is 30 ml, so 1.5 fluid ounces equals 45 ml.
That also equals 3 tablespoons, because 1 tablespoon is 15 ml. So a full 1.5-ounce shot is the same as 3 level tablespoons of liquid.
Common Shot Glass Sizes
| Shot size | Fluid ounces | Milliliters | Kitchen equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small shot | 1 fl oz | 30 ml | 2 tablespoons |
| Standard U.S. shot | 1.5 fl oz | 45 ml | 3 tablespoons |
| Double shot | 2 fl oz | 60 ml | 4 tablespoons |
| Quarter cup pour | 2 fl oz | 59 ml | 1/4 cup |
The slight mismatch between 2 fluid ounces as 60 ml and 1/4 cup as 59 ml comes from rounded kitchen equivalents. For practical pouring, they are nearly the same amount.
Fast Measuring Examples
If a recipe calls for 1 shot, use 45 ml or 3 tablespoons, unless the recipe gives a different shot size.
If a drink calls for 2 shots, use 90 ml. That is 6 tablespoons, because each tablespoon is 15 ml.
If you only have a tablespoon, measure a standard shot by filling it 3 times. For a 1-ounce shot, fill it 2 times.
If you only have a 1/4 cup measure, it holds 59 ml. That is closer to a 2-ounce pour than a standard 45 ml shot.
Shot Glass Edge Cases
Not every shot glass is 45 ml. Some small glasses hold 30 ml, while larger bar glasses may hold 60 ml when filled to the rim.
A thick-bottomed shot glass may look large but hold less liquid. The useful capacity is the liquid space above the glass base, not the outside size of the glass.
A marked shot glass is more reliable than an unmarked one. If the line says 1 fl oz, that mark is 30 ml. If it says 1.5 fl oz, that mark is 45 ml.
For cooking, use measuring spoons instead of guessing by eye. Alcohol, extracts, syrups, vinegar, and concentrated flavorings can change a recipe noticeably by 15 ml.
Bottom line: in U.S. kitchen terms, one standard shot glass is 45 ml, equal to 1.5 fluid ounces or 3 tablespoons.
US Shot Size Versus Others
A standard US shot is commonly 1.5 fluid ounces, which equals 45 ml. That comes from 1 fluid ounce = 30 ml, so 1.5 × 30 ml = 45 ml.
Shot glasses are not all the same size. In US recipes and bar pours, “1 shot” usually means 1.5 fl oz, but some glasses hold 1 fl oz, 1.25 fl oz, or 2 fl oz.
Common shot sizes by place and use
| Shot type | US measure | Metric amount |
|---|---|---|
| Small US shot | 1 fl oz | 30 ml |
| Common US shot | 1.5 fl oz | 45 ml |
| Large US shot | 2 fl oz | 60 ml |
| UK single measure | About 0.85 fl oz | 25 ml |
| UK larger single measure | About 1.17 fl oz | 35 ml |
| European small pour | About 0.67 fl oz | 20 ml |
| European common pour | About 1.33 fl oz | 40 ml |
| Double US shot | 3 fl oz | 90 ml |
For US kitchen measuring, the clean shortcut is: 1 shot = 3 tablespoons = 45 ml. That works because 1 tablespoon is 15 ml, and 3 × 15 ml = 45 ml.
A 1 fl oz shot is smaller: 2 tablespoons, or 30 ml. If a recipe says “one shot” but seems written for home measuring, check whether it also mentions tablespoons or fluid ounces.
A 2 fl oz shot is 4 tablespoons, or 60 ml. This is often sold as a “double shot glass,” but it is not the same as a standard 1.5 fl oz US shot.
Worked examples
If a cocktail calls for 2 US shots of liquor, use 3 fl oz total. In metric, that is 90 ml, because 2 × 45 ml = 90 ml.
If a dessert sauce calls for 1/2 shot of rum, use 0.75 fl oz. In tablespoons, that is 1 1/2 tablespoons. In metric, it is about 22.5 ml.
If you only have a tablespoon, measure a US shot as 3 level tablespoons. For a 30 ml shot, use 2 tablespoons. For a 60 ml shot, use 4 tablespoons.
If you only have a 1/4 cup measure, remember that 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons, or 59 ml. That is close to a 2 fl oz shot, not a standard 45 ml US shot.
Edge cases that change the answer
A shot glass filled to the rim may hold more than its marked pour. A glass sold as “1.5 oz” may have extra space above the 1.5 fl oz line to prevent spills.
Jiggers can also differ. One side may be 1.5 fl oz and the other 0.75 fl oz, while another jigger may be 2 fl oz and 1 fl oz. Read the marking instead of assuming.
For recipes, convert the wording to volume: US shot = 45 ml, UK-style 25 ml pour = smaller than a US shot, and 60 ml pour = larger than a US shot.
How To Measure A Shot
A standard U.S. shot is commonly measured as 1 1/2 fluid ounces, which is 3 tablespoons, or about 45 ml. Use the markings on your jigger or a tablespoon measure for the most consistent pour.
Exact Shot Measurements
| Shot size | US measure | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Small shot | 1 fluid ounce | 30 ml |
| Standard shot | 1 1/2 fluid ounces | 45 ml |
| Double shot | 2 fluid ounces | 60 ml |
| Tablespoon method | 3 tablespoons | 45 ml |
- 1. Choose the shot size first. For most U.S. drink recipes, measure 1 1/2 fluid ounces. Since 1 fluid ounce is 30 ml, a standard shot is 30 ml plus 15 ml, or 45 ml.
- 2. Use a jigger if you have one. Fill the 1 1/2-ounce side to the rim for a 45 ml shot. If your jigger has a 1-ounce side, that side holds 30 ml, so add 1 tablespoon more for 45 ml.
- 3. Use tablespoons when no jigger is available. One tablespoon is 15 ml. Measure 3 level tablespoons to make one 45 ml shot. For a 30 ml shot, use 2 tablespoons.
- 4. Convert from cups only for batch recipes. One cup is 237 ml. Five standard 45 ml shots equal 225 ml, just under 1 cup. Eight 30 ml pours equal 240 ml, very close to 1 cup.
- 5. Measure doubles by volume, not by eye. A double shot is 2 fluid ounces. Since 1 fluid ounce is 30 ml, a double is 60 ml, which is also 4 tablespoons.
- 6. Check oversized shot glasses. Many shot glasses hold more than one shot if filled to the top. If the glass holds 2 fluid ounces, a full pour is 60 ml, not a 45 ml standard shot.
Worked Examples
For one standard shot without a jigger, pour 3 tablespoons. The math is 15 ml plus 15 ml plus 15 ml, which equals 45 ml.
For two standard shots, measure 6 tablespoons. That is 90 ml total, because each shot is 45 ml.
For a recipe calling for 1/4 cup liquor, use 4 tablespoons. That equals 59 ml, which is slightly more than a 45 ml standard shot and just under a 60 ml double.
For 1/2 cup liquor, use 8 tablespoons, or 118 ml. That equals about two 45 ml shots plus almost one 30 ml pour.
If precision matters, use ml markings. A pour line at 30 ml is a 1-ounce shot. A pour line at 45 ml is a standard U.S. shot. A pour line at 60 ml is a double.
Shot Glass Size Chart
One standard U.S. shot glass is usually 1.5 fluid ounces, which equals 3 tablespoons or about 45 ml. Use 30 ml per fluid ounce and 15 ml per tablespoon for kitchen measuring.
| Shot glass size | Tablespoons | Milliliters | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 fl oz | 1 tbsp | 15 ml | Small tasting pour |
| 1 fl oz | 2 tbsp | 30 ml | Small shot or recipe measure |
| 1.5 fl oz | 3 tbsp | 45 ml | Standard U.S. shot |
| 2 fl oz | 4 tbsp | 60 ml | Large shot or double-style pour |
| 2.5 fl oz | 5 tbsp | 75 ml | Oversized shot glass |
| 3 fl oz | 6 tbsp | 90 ml | Large shooter glass |
Standard U.S. Shot In Ml
A standard U.S. shot is commonly poured as 1.5 fl oz. Since 1 fl oz equals 30 ml, 1.5 fl oz equals 45 ml. The tablespoon check is the same: 3 tablespoons × 15 ml = 45 ml.
If your shot glass is marked at 1 fl oz, it holds 30 ml, not 45 ml. That smaller size is common in measuring cups, jiggers, tasting glasses, and some older or souvenir shot glasses.
If your glass is marked at 2 fl oz, it holds 60 ml. That is 4 tablespoons, because 1 fl oz equals 2 tablespoons and 2 fl oz equals 4 tablespoons.
Worked Examples
Example 1: A cocktail recipe calls for 1 shot and means a standard U.S. shot. Measure 1.5 fl oz, 3 tablespoons, or 45 ml.
Example 2: You only have a tablespoon. For a 1.5 fl oz shot, fill the tablespoon 3 times. Each tablespoon is 15 ml, so 3 tablespoons equals 45 ml.
Example 3: A recipe needs 2 shots. Using the 1.5 fl oz standard, 2 shots equal 3 fl oz. In metric, that is 90 ml.
Example 4: A drink calls for 1/4 cup. Since 1/4 cup equals 4 tablespoons, it is 60 ml. That matches a 2 fl oz shot glass, not a 1.5 fl oz shot.
Edge Cases That Change The Ml Amount
Do not assume every shot glass is 45 ml. Many glasses look similar but hold 30 ml, 45 ml, 60 ml, or more. The safest kitchen method is to check markings or measure with tablespoons.
A filled-to-the-rim glass can hold more than a normal poured shot. If the recipe expects a clean measured shot, use the marked line, not the brim.
Thick-bottom shot glasses can look large while holding only 30 ml or 45 ml. Outer height is not a reliable measure; liquid capacity is what matters.
For fast conversion, remember these anchors: 1 tablespoon is 15 ml, 1 fl oz is 30 ml, and the common 1.5 fl oz U.S. shot is 45 ml.
When Recipes Say One Shot
In a US recipe, “one shot” usually means a small pour, not a standardized kitchen unit. For accurate cooking, measure it instead of relying on the glass.
Use 45 ml when the recipe clearly means a standard bar-style shot of 1 1/2 fluid ounces. That equals 3 tablespoons.
If the recipe specifies a smaller shot, use the exact volume given. A 1 fluid ounce shot is 30 ml, or 2 tablespoons.
Fast conversion for one shot
| Recipe wording | US measure | Metric amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 small shot | 1 fluid ounce | 30 ml |
| 1 standard shot | 1 1/2 fluid ounces | 45 ml |
| 1 shot measured by tablespoons | 3 tablespoons | 45 ml |
| 2 standard shots | 3 fluid ounces | 90 ml |
| 1/2 standard shot | 3/4 fluid ounce | 22.5 ml |
The cleanest kitchen answer is: one shot = 45 ml unless the recipe gives another size.
Worked example: a sauce calls for 1 shot of bourbon. Measure 3 tablespoons, because 1 tablespoon is 15 ml. So 3 tablespoons equals 45 ml.
Another example: a dessert filling calls for 2 shots of espresso liqueur. Use 90 ml, because 2 × 45 ml equals 90 ml.
For a half-shot, measure 1 1/2 tablespoons. Since 1 tablespoon is 15 ml, half of a 45 ml shot is 22.5 ml.
Why the glass can mislead you
A “shot glass” is not always filled to the rim in recipes. Some glasses hold more than the pour being measured, and some decorative glasses are not reliable measuring tools.
If precision matters, use measuring spoons or a liquid measuring cup. For 45 ml, use 3 tablespoons. For 30 ml, use 2 tablespoons.
Edge case: if a cocktail-style recipe says “1 oz shot,” do not round up to 45 ml. Use 1 fluid ounce, which is 30 ml.
Edge case: if a baking recipe says “a shot” but the alcohol affects moisture, use 45 ml and write it down. Repeating the same amount matters more than the glass shape.
Edge case: if reducing liquor in a pan, the starting volume still matters. One 45 ml shot is 3 tablespoons; two shots are 6 tablespoons, which is 90 ml.
Bottom line for recipes: measure one shot as 45 ml when no size is stated. Use 30 ml only when the recipe says 1 fluid ounce or 1 oz.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ml are in one shot glass?
A standard U.S. shot is usually 1.5 fluid ounces, which is about 45 ml. Using kitchen measures, 1 fluid ounce is 30 ml, so 1.5 fluid ounces equals 45 ml. Some shot glasses hold only 1 fluid ounce, or 30 ml.
Is a shot glass 30 ml or 45 ml?
It depends on the glass and country. In U.S. drink recipes, one shot is commonly 1.5 fluid ounces, about 45 ml. A smaller 1-fluid-ounce shot glass holds 30 ml. Check the marked line or fill volume if accuracy matters.
How many tablespoons are in one shot glass?
A 1-fluid-ounce shot glass equals 2 tablespoons. A common U.S. 1.5-fluid-ounce shot equals 3 tablespoons. Since 1 tablespoon is 15 ml, 3 tablespoons equals 45 ml, which matches a typical U.S. shot pour.
How many shots are in a cup?
One U.S. cup is 237 ml. If each shot is 45 ml, one cup is about 5.3 shots. If using a 30 ml shot glass, one cup is about 7.9 shots. For recipes, measure in tablespoons or ml for better accuracy.
How do I measure a shot without a shot glass?
Use tablespoons. For a 30 ml shot, measure 2 tablespoons. For a common U.S. 45 ml shot, measure 3 tablespoons. Since 1 tablespoon is 15 ml, this is the easiest kitchen conversion when you do not have a shot glass.
