Cocktail ABV Calculator
Estimate the alcohol by volume of a mixed drink from its spirit and mixer amounts, plus how many standard drinks it contains.
How it works
Pure alcohol = Σ(volume × ABV) · Drink ABV % = pure alcohol ÷ total volume × 100 · Standard drinks = pure alcohol ÷ 0.6 oz
A cocktail’s strength is just the total pure alcohol divided by the total liquid. Each alcoholic ingredient contributes its volume times its ABV; mixers add volume but no alcohol, diluting the result. In the US one "standard drink" is 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol, so dividing the pure-alcohol total by 0.6 tells you how many standard drinks the glass really holds — often more than one.
Worked example
A 2 oz pour of 40% vodka has 0.8 oz of pure alcohol. Add 4 oz of juice for 6 oz total, and the drink is 0.8 ÷ 6 = 13.3% ABV. That 0.8 oz of alcohol equals 0.8 ÷ 0.6 = 1.3 standard drinks.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as one standard drink?
In the United States a standard drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces (about 14 g) of pure alcohol — the amount in a 12-oz 5% beer, a 5-oz 12% wine, or a 1.5-oz shot of 40% spirit.
Does ice change the ABV?
As ice melts it adds water and lowers the ABV, but it does not change the amount of pure alcohol. This calculator uses the liquid you pour in; a well-stirred drink typically picks up 20–25% extra dilution from melting ice.
Why is my cocktail stronger than a glass of wine?
Many cocktails carry more pure alcohol than a single standard drink even though the glass looks small, because the spirit is undiluted. Checking standard drinks, not just ABV, gives a truer sense of strength.
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Estimate for planning only — not a measure of intoxication or fitness to drive.