Cocktail Glass Size Calculator
Enter your recipe and see how many ounces of glass it needs, then which shape fits: rocks, highball, coupe, martini or Nick & Nora.
Tell us about your drink
Rules of thumb used here: stirring adds about 20 to 25 percent water, shaking about 25 to 30, drinks served up leave about 15 percent headroom, and drinks on ice leave about 15 to 28 percent headroom with the ice counted in. Treat the result as a starting point, not a lab measurement.
Glass Size to Look For
Listed glass sizes are usually brim capacity, meaning full to the very top. Plan around about 85 to 90 percent of that. Serving a crowd? Use the event glassware calculator to size the whole order.
Typical Cocktail Glass Sizes
Ranges across the glassware most bars and home bars use. Sizes vary by maker, so check the listed capacity before you buy.
| Glass | Typical size | Served | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick & Nora | 4 to 6 oz | Up | Short stirred or shaken drinks that taste best chilled and small |
| Coupe | 5 to 8 oz | Up | Shaken drinks, sours and classics |
| Martini glass | 4 to 10 oz | Up | Martinis and other spirit heavy drinks served up |
| Rocks glass | 6 to 10 oz | Over ice | Old fashioneds, neat pours and short drinks over cubes |
| Double rocks glass | 12 to 14 oz | Large cube | Double old fashioneds and anything built over one big cube |
| Highball glass | 10 to 14 oz | Tall, over ice | Gin and tonics, whiskey and soda, anything with a topper |
| Collins glass | 10 to 14 oz | Tall, over ice | Fizzy drinks that need height to hold carbonation |
Glass Size FAQ
How many ounces does a rocks glass hold?
Most rocks glasses hold 6 to 10 ounces, and a double rocks glass, also called a double old fashioned glass, holds about 12 to 14. Our rocks glasses come in 8.5, 10 and 12.8 ounce sizes.
How many ounces does a highball glass hold?
A standard highball or Collins glass holds about 10 to 14 ounces, which leaves room for ice and a mixer. Much smaller than that and it behaves like a rocks glass once the ice goes in. See our highball glasses.
What size is a coupe glass?
Most coupes hold 5 to 8 ounces, and vintage ones often run smaller. A 3 ounce recipe becomes roughly 3.8 ounces after shaking and needs a glass of about 4.5 ounces to fill safely, so a 5 or 6 ounce coupe works well.
How full should a cocktail glass be?
For drinks served up, leave about 15 percent headroom, roughly a quarter to half an inch below the rim, so the drink carries without spilling. For drinks on ice, the ice and the drink together should sit about a half inch to an inch below the rim.
Is the listed size the brim capacity or what the glass really holds?
Listed sizes are almost always brim capacity, measured full to the very top. The working capacity you can actually pour and carry is lower, about 85 to 90 percent of the listed size, so plan with that number.
How do I work out glass counts for an event?
Use the event alcohol and glassware calculator for guest counts, drink styles and how many of each glass to have on hand.