What is Cost per Ounce?
Cost per ounce is what one fluid ounce of a product costs you: the price you paid divided by the ounces in the container.
It's the first number in every drink cost. Once you know it, the cost of any pour is one multiplication away.
The Formula
Purchase Price ÷ Fluid Ounces in the Container = Cost per Ounce
Then:
Cost per Ounce × Ounces Poured = Cost of the Pour
Common Container Sizes
| Container | Volume | Fluid Ounces | Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half bottle | 375 ml | 12.68 | 8.5 × 1.5 oz |
| Standard bottle | 750 ml | 25.36 | 16.9 × 1.5 oz |
| Liter | 1 L | 33.81 | 22.5 × 1.5 oz |
| Handle | 1.75 L | 59.17 | 39.4 × 1.5 oz |
| Sixth barrel keg | 5.16 gal | 660.5 | 41 × 16 oz pints |
| Half barrel keg | 15.5 gal | 1,984 | 124 × 16 oz pints |
Quick Example
A 750 ml bottle of bourbon costs $22.82.
$22.82 ÷ 25.36 oz = $0.90 per ounce
A 1.5 oz pour costs $1.35
A 2 oz pour costs $1.80
Now compare the 1.75 L of the same bourbon at $45:
$45 ÷ 59.17 oz = $0.76 per ounce
A 2 oz pour costs $1.52, saving $0.28 a drink
On a well spirit that pours hundreds of times a week, that difference adds up fast. Cost per ounce is how you see it.
Why It Matters
Every Recipe Costing calculation starts here.
It makes products in different sizes comparable: 750 ml vs liter vs 1.75 L, or a keg vs bottles.
It shows what a price increase actually does to each drink, not just to the bottle.
Common Mistakes
Using a price that isn't yours Use what you actually paid, after case discounts, from your latest invoice. A list price or last year's price gives you the wrong number.
Mixing up milliliters and ounces A 750 ml bottle holds 25.36 fl oz, not 25. Close enough for a guess; not close enough across a whole menu.
Using the wrong bottle size If the bar switched from 750s to liters, every recipe using that product needs the new cost per ounce.
Assuming you'll get every ounce Spills, the last bit in the bottle, and pour-spout loss mean you rarely get every ounce you paid for. That loss shows up as Shrinkage, not in your cost per ounce.
Counting keg deposits as product cost A keg deposit comes back when the keg goes back. Leave it out of cost per ounce.
Cost per Ounce vs Pour Cost
Cost per ounce = what one ounce of a product costs, in dollars
Pour Cost = what a whole drink costs as a percentage of its price
Cost per ounce is an input. Pour cost is one of the results.
FAQ
How many ounces are in a 750 ml bottle? 25.36 fluid ounces.
How many 1.5 oz pours are in a 750 ml bottle? About 16.9, so plan on 16 after normal loss.
How many glasses of wine are in a bottle? About five 5 oz glasses per 750 ml.
How do I find cost per ounce for a keg? Divide the keg price, without the deposit, by its ounces. A half barrel holds 15.5 gallons, or 1,984 oz.
Do This in Spec
Spec converts between milliliters, ounces, liters and kegs automatically, and updates product prices from your invoices. Every recipe that uses a product picks up the new cost per ounce without any math on your end.
If you’re not ready to sign up for an account yet and want to quickly cost a recipe, check out our free Recipe Cost Calculator tool.
Related Terms
Related Guides from Spec
Bottom Line
Cost per ounce turns a bottle price into something you can build a menu on. Keep it current with real invoice prices, and every drink cost downstream stays accurate.
