Nightclub & Bar Pour Cost Calculator
Pour cost helps you understand how much of your drink price is going toward liquor. Enter your bottle size, bottle cost, and standard pour to calculate your cost per drink and a suggested menu price based on your target pour cost percentage.
Pour Cost Calculator
Calculate cost per ounce, cost per drink, pours per bottle, and suggested menu price using your target pour cost %.
How to use this calculator
1. Choose your bottle size (most spirits are 750ml).
2. Enter what you pay for the bottle.
3. Select how much liquor you pour per drink (if unsure, use 1.5 oz).
4. Adjust your target pour cost % to see a suggested menu price.
This tool estimates liquor-only cost. Real-world pour cost can be higher due to spillage, heavy pours, comps, and waste.
What does pour cost percentage mean?
Pour cost percentage represents the portion of your drink price that goes toward liquor. Lower pour cost typically means better margins, while higher pour cost often signals over-pouring, under-pricing, or inventory loss.
What’s a good target pour cost?
Most profitable bars, lounges, and nightclubs aim for a target pour cost between 18–25% on standard drinks. Higher numbers often indicate:
Over-pouring or inconsistent pours
Drink prices that haven’t adjusted to rising liquor costs
Waste, spills, or comps reducing margins
Shrinkage or poor inventory controls
Bottle size cheat sheet
| Bottle size | Approx. ounces | Drinks @ 1.5 oz |
|---|---|---|
| 750ml | 25.4 oz | 16–17 |
| 1 liter | 33.8 oz | 22–23 |
| 1.75L | 59.2 oz | 39–40 |
Actual drink counts may be lower depending on pour accuracy, spillage, and comps.
Quick ways to improve pour cost
Standardize pours with jiggers, spouts, or staff training
Reprice drinks regularly as vendor costs increase
Audit top-selling spirits monthly
Track waste on high-spill cocktails
Promote higher-margin drinks on menus and specials
