Liquor Cost Calculator
Liquor cost is what the liquor you used over a period cost you, as a share of what you sold. Pour cost looks at one drink; liquor cost looks at the whole bar, so it also catches waste, spills, comps and over-pouring.
Your period
Example numbers, edit to match yours.
- Cost of liquor used
- $3,400.00
- Liquor cost
- 19.4%
How liquor cost works
- Cost of liquor used = opening inventory + purchases − closing inventory
- Liquor cost % = cost of liquor used ÷ liquor sales × 100
Example: $4,200.00 opening + $3,100.00 purchases − $3,900.00 closing = $3,400.00 used. Against $17,500.00 in liquor sales, that's a liquor cost of 19.4%.
Pricing a single drink? Use the Pour Cost calculator.
Liquor cost FAQ
How do you calculate liquor cost?
Add your opening inventory value and your purchases, subtract your closing inventory value, then divide by liquor sales for the same period and multiply by 100.
What is a good liquor cost percentage?
Many bars aim for about 18 to 24% on spirits. The right number depends on your prices, your mix of drinks and your market.
What's the difference between liquor cost and pour cost?
Pour cost is planned: one drink's ingredient cost against its price. Liquor cost is actual: what the bar really used against what it really sold, so the gap between them shows waste, comps and over-pouring.
How often should I count inventory?
Weekly or monthly, always on the same day and at the same point in service, so periods compare fairly.
Why is my liquor cost higher than my pour costs?
Usually spills, over-pouring, comps, staff drinks, unrecorded sales or a count error. A big gap is worth checking bottle by bottle.