Pour cost calculator
Price your drinks the way profitable bars do. Enter what a bottle costs, your pour size, and a target pour cost — we’ll show the price to charge, your pour cost percentage, and the profit on every pour.
What you pay your supplier per bottle.
e.g. 750 (ml or oz).
Same unit as bottle.
Most bars aim for 18–24%.
Enter to see your current pour cost % and profit.
Results
Suggested drink price
$6.45
To hit your target pour cost %.
Cost per pour
$1.29
per pour
Your pour cost %
14.3%
Profit
$7.71
per pour
How to calculate pour cost
Pour cost is the percentage of a drink’s price that goes to the liquor in the glass. Most bars target 18–24%. First find the cost of one pour: bottle cost × (pour size ÷ bottle size). Then divide that by the price you charge. A 44 ml (1.5 oz) pour from a $22, 750 ml bottle costs about $1.29 — sold at $9 that’s a 14% pour cost.
The formula
Cost per pour = Bottle cost × (Pour size ÷ Bottle size) · Pour cost % = Cost per pour ÷ Drink price × 100
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Pour cost FAQ
- What is a good pour cost percentage?
- Most bars aim for 18–24% overall, with spirits often run tighter (15–20%) and draft beer or wine sometimes higher. The right target depends on your concept, labor, and rent — treat it as a goal, not a hard rule.
- How is pour cost different from food cost?
- They measure the same idea — cost of goods as a share of price — but for different products. Pour cost covers beverages; food cost covers dishes. Bars usually track them separately because drinks carry much higher margins.
- What pour size should I use?
- A standard spirit pour is about 44 ml (1.5 oz). Wine is typically 148 ml (5 oz) and a pint of beer 473 ml (16 oz). Use your actual house pour so the cost and price are accurate.
- Does pour cost include garnishes and mixers?
- This calculator covers the base liquor cost. For cocktails with several ingredients, add the cost of each mixer, juice, and garnish to the cost per pour before pricing — small additions move the percentage quickly.