Shots in this handle
39.45
How Many Shots Are in a Handle?
A handle is the 1.75 L spirits bottle with a molded grip. It is the bulk US retail size: 59.17 fl oz, or 2.33 times a750 mL fifth. The shot math here is the same function as the shots in a bottle calculator, fixed on 1.75 L so the pour table, the fifth-equivalent, and the shelf-price check stay in one place.
Planning note: these are service counts for an event or a batch. They are not a suggestion for how much anyone should drink.
Handle shot calculator
Ounces in a handle
59.17 fl oz
US standard drinks at 40%
39.45 US standard drinks
39 whole pours, 0.67 fl oz left in the bottle
A handle is 2.33 fifths, not two bottles
Divide 1,750 mL by 750 mL and you get 2.333. Three handles hold the same liquid as seven fifths. At a stated 40% ABV, the handle's standard-drink count is the same multiple of a fifth's: about 39.45 versus16.91. Use the ratio when a recipe is written for one fifth and you are scaling it. For a batch with dilution water, use thebatch cocktail calculator after you know the bottle count.
Pour size moves the count more than the nickname does. At 1.5 oz this handle is about39.45 shots. At a 2 oz pour it is about 29.59. That gap is why an open bar cost should use the pour you will actually serve. The party engine on this site assumes 1.5 oz spirits pours.
Shots at 1, 1.25, 1.5, and 2 oz
| Pour | Exact shots | Whole pours | Left in the bottle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz shot | 59.17 | 59 | 0.17 fl oz |
| 1.25 oz shot | 47.34 | 47 | 0.42 fl oz |
| 1.5 oz shot | 39.45 | 39 | 0.67 fl oz |
| 2 oz double | 29.59 | 29 | 1.17 fl oz |
Price per ounce: fifth vs handle
Type the two prices on the shelf. The comparison uses 25.36 fl oz for the fifth and 59.17 fl oz for the handle. Nothing here is a surveyed price or a brand price.
Fifth
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Handle
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Enter a price for both bottles to compare unit cost.
Handle vs fifth vs liter
The handle is the largest of these three. A liter sits between them and is not a retail nickname in the same way. If the event only needs the shots in one fifth, buying a handle just to chase a lower unit price leaves most of the bottle open.
| Bottle | Milliliters | US fl oz | 1 oz shot | 1.25 oz shot | 1.5 oz shot | 2 oz double |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 750 mL (fifth) | 750 | 25.36 | 25.36 | 20.29 | 16.91 | 12.68 |
| 1 liter | 1000 | 33.81 | 33.81 | 27.05 | 22.54 | 16.91 |
| 1.75 liter (handle) | 1750 | 59.17 | 59.17 | 47.34 | 39.45 | 29.59 |
Related calculators
FAQ
How many 1.5 oz shots are in a handle?
A 1.75 L handle holds about 39.45 pours of 1.5 oz, which is 39 full pours with a short remainder.
How many fifths are in a handle?
1750 ÷ 750 = 2.333. A handle is two 750 mL fifths plus one third of another fifth. It is not two bottles, and it is not 1.5 L.
Is a handle the same as a magnum?
No. A spirits handle is 1.75 L and has a molded grip. A wine magnum is 1.5 L. This page only counts the 1.75 L spirits bottle.
Should I buy a handle because the unit price is lower?
Only if you will use the volume. A lower price per ounce does not help if most of the bottle sits open after the event. Compare the shelf prices in the calculator, then check the open-bar bottle count.