Cocktail Dilution Calculator
Stirring and shaking add water that lowers a drink's strength. Enter the starting pour and either the water added or the ABV you want, and the calculator solves the rest.
How to use the cocktail dilution calculator
- Enter the starting volume in ounces and the starting ABV percent.
- Choose to enter the water added or a target ABV to dilute down to.
- Read the final volume, final ABV and the water involved.
Examples
Water added
2 oz at 40%, plus 0.5 oz water
2.5 oz at 32% ABV
Solve for water
2 oz at 40%, target 32% ABV
Add 0.5 oz water (2.5 oz total)
Frequently asked questions
How much does stirring or shaking dilute a cocktail?
Stirring a spirit-forward drink typically adds about 20 to 25 percent of its volume in water, and shaking adds a bit more. A 2 oz pour can gain roughly 0.5 oz, dropping a 40 percent ABV to about 32 percent.
Why does adding water lower the ABV but raise the volume?
The amount of pure alcohol stays the same when you add water. Spreading that alcohol across a larger total volume lowers the percentage, so the drink gets weaker as the glass gets fuller.
How do I dilute a drink to an exact strength?
Enter your starting volume and ABV, then choose target ABV mode and type the percentage you want. The calculator returns the ounces of water to add to hit that strength.
Can I use this for batched cocktails or punch?
Yes. Treat the whole batch as the starting volume and ABV. The same math scales up, so you can plan dilution water for a large pre-batched drink before serving.
Does the final volume account for ice melt only?
It treats all added water as one number, whether from ice melt, a measured top up or both. For stirred drinks the added water is mostly melt, so enter your best estimate of total water.
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