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Pour Cost Calculator for Bars — Are You Losing 15% or More?
Bars lose 15–20% of profits to theft, overpouring, and carelessness. Your pour cost percentage reveals the gap between what you’re buying and what you’re selling. Calculate yours below.
What Is Pour Cost?
Pour cost is the ratio of your liquor/beer/wine purchases to your bar revenue, expressed as a percentage. It tells you how efficiently your bar is converting purchased alcohol into revenue. The formula is simple:
Pour Cost Formula
Pour Cost % = (Cost of Alcohol Purchased ÷ Bar Revenue) × 100
What’s a Good Pour Cost?
Pour Cost Benchmarks
Liquor: 18–20% (target)
Draft Beer: 20–24%
Bottled Beer: 24–28%
Wine: 30–35%
Overall Bar (blended): 20–25%
If your overall pour cost exceeds 25%, you’re likely losing significant money to overpouring, free drinks, phantom bottle schemes, or inventory shrinkage.
Draft Beer: 20–24%
Bottled Beer: 24–28%
Wine: 30–35%
Overall Bar (blended): 20–25%
If your overall pour cost exceeds 25%, you’re likely losing significant money to overpouring, free drinks, phantom bottle schemes, or inventory shrinkage.
Common Causes of High Pour Cost
- Overpouring: Bartenders consistently pouring 1.5–2 oz instead of the standard 1.25 oz shot adds up fast.
- Free Drinks: Unauthorized comps to friends, regulars, or for “buybacks” without owner approval.
- Phantom Bottles: Bartenders bring their own liquor, sell it, and pocket the cash.
- Inventory Shrinkage: Bottles disappearing from storage without being sold.
- Spillage & Waste: Legitimate waste that isn’t tracked or controlled.
Ready to stop the chaos?
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