Pour Cost Calculator

Try Backbar's free pour cost calculator to better manage liquor costs and drink pricing.

 

About us

 

Backbar is a bar inventory platform for mobile and web. Streamline daily tasks like inventory, drink costing, and purchases with the largest inventory platform for restaurants and bars.

 

Learn more about Backbar

 

Read below for an intro on using the calculator and to see what the average liquor costs are across the restaurant industry. 

 

How to use the pour cost calculator

 

First, enter your bottle size and bottle cost. Then adjust your ideal pour cost to liquor cost percentage and menu pricing.

 

Average pour costs for the restaurant industry

 

It's good to know the benchmark pour costs to see if your liquor costs are inline with the industry averages. You're actual cost percentages may differ slightly, which is expected.

 

These industry averages are only guidelines. The costs that are acceptable costs depend on a host of factors like the type of restaurant or bar you operate. For example, a wine bar is going to have higher costs on average than sports bar selling a lot of draft and bottled beer. 

 

This chart will give you a good benchmark for acceptable liquor cost percentages.

 

Infographic of Restaurant Industry Averages for Pour Costs

 

How many ounces in a liquor bottle

 

Here's a simple chart to help you the remember the number of ounces for bottles of liquor, beer, and wine, as well as keg sizes.

 

Alcohol Measurement Quick Guide (1)

 

Why knowing your liquor cost percentage is so important

 

The revenue and, more importantly, the profits that you earn off each sale in your restaurant or bar are directly tied to your the cost of goods sold. Whether it's food sales or beer sales, the price you pay vendors for your products will determine the prices you set on your menu.

 

Like any retail business, a bars success is dependent on a sustainable profit margin. By costing out your drinks and making sure you wine, beer, and liquor are within an acceptable range of costs, you can make sure your always hitting acceptable profit margins. 

 

If you're looking to find your pour costs for cocktails, try our free cocktail calculator.

 

More liquor cost resources from Backbar

 

Download our free drink cost calculator spreadsheet to cost drinks and save recipes in an excel spreadsheet.

 

Looking for more ways to track your liquor costs? Try our liquor cost formula cheat sheet to learn more advanced ways to analyze beverage performance.

 

About Backbar - the free bar inventory app

 

iPhone showing Backbar bar inventory app surrounded by herbs and citrus fruits, new homepage-1Backbar is a bar inventory platform for mobile and web. Make everyday tasks easier so you can spend less time crunching numbers and more time helping guests.

 

Here's a quick overview of how Backbar streamlines work:


  • Cut time taking inventory by 70% with our mobile app
  • Simple drink pricing helps you hit profit goals
  • Place orders with vendors in a single click
  • Track inventory performance for better oversight

 

Build a stronger bar program today with Backbar