Bar equipment like shakers, jiggers and citrus presses are investments you depreciate across all the cocktails you make with them. The cost per cocktail is often negligibly small, but for a complete cost price calculation you should include them. In this article you'll learn how to calculate these costs exactly and when it's worth the effort.
Why include bar equipment in your cost price?
A cocktail shaker costs €25 and lasts 5 years. Per cocktail that's less than 1 cent. Seems small, but when you add up all your bar equipment it can be 0.5-1% of your cocktail price. With thousands of cocktails per year it adds up.
💡 Example:
Basic bar set for cocktail bar:
- Cocktail shaker: €25
- Jigger set: €15
- Citrus press: €30
- Bar spoon: €8
- Strainer: €12
Total: €90
Calculate the depreciation per cocktail
The formula is simple: Cost per cocktail = (Purchase price bar equipment / Lifespan in cocktails)
You need to estimate how many cocktails you'll make with this equipment. A good shaker lasts 5 years with intensive use. At 50 cocktails per week that's 13,000 cocktails over 5 years.
💡 Calculation:
Cocktail bar with 50 cocktails per week:
- Per year: 50 × 52 = 2,600 cocktails
- Over 5 years: 13,000 cocktails
- Bar equipment: €90 / 13,000 = €0.007 per cocktail
Cost: 0.7 cents per cocktail
Different materials, different lifespans
Not everything lasts equally long. Jiggers and shakers are virtually indestructible. Citrus presses and strainers wear out faster due to acid and use.
- Shakers, jiggers: 5-10 years with normal use
- Citrus press: 2-3 years (acid attacks metal)
- Strainer, bar spoon: 3-5 years
- Glasses: Budget for 10-15% breakage per year
⚠️ Note:
Be conservative with lifespan estimates. Better to estimate 3 years than 5, then you're on the safe side with your cost price.
When is this significant?
For most bars, bar equipment costs are negligible. But for premium cocktail bars with expensive, specialized tools it can add up to 1-2% of the cocktail price.
💡 Premium bar example:
Cocktail bar with expensive tools:
- Japanese jigger set: €80
- Premium shaker: €120
- Professional citrus press: €150
- Various bar tools: €200
Total €550 / 13,000 cocktails = €0.042 per cocktail
At cocktail price €12: 0.35% of the price
Practical tip for your administration
In practice, most bars calculate a fixed amount of €0.05-0.10 per cocktail for bar equipment. That covers all tools, replacements and unexpected costs. Simple and safe.
In an app like KitchenNmbrs you can add this as a standard ingredient to all your cocktail recipes. Then you don't have to recalculate every time.
How do you calculate bar equipment costs? (step by step)
Inventory all your bar equipment
Make a list of all the tools you use: shakers, jiggers, strainer, bar spoon, citrus press. Note the purchase price of each item. Don't forget glasses, ice scoop and other utensils.
Estimate the lifespan in cocktails
Calculate how many cocktails you make per week and multiply by the expected lifespan in years. Be conservative: 3-5 years for most tools, 2-3 years for citrus presses.
Calculate the cost per cocktail
Divide the total purchase price by the number of cocktails over the lifespan. Add up all tools for the total bar equipment cost per cocktail. Round up for safety.
✨ Pro tip
Calculate €0.08 per cocktail for all bar equipment combined. That covers virtually everything and you don't have to track each item separately.
Calculate this yourself?
In the KitchenNmbrs app you can do this in just a few clicks. 7 days free, no credit card.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I include glasses in the bar equipment costs?
Yes, but calculate them separately. Glasses break regularly. Budget for 10-15% replacement costs per year. A cocktail glass costing €3 at 10% breakage costs €0.30 per year, divided by the number of cocktails served in that glass.
What about ice machines and other large equipment?
Large equipment you usually don't calculate per cocktail but as fixed costs. An ice machine costing €2000 that lasts 10 years costs €200 per year, regardless of how many cocktails you make.
Can I calculate a fixed amount per cocktail?
Yes, many bars calculate €0.05-0.10 per cocktail for all bar equipment combined. That's simpler than calculating everything separately and also covers unexpected replacements.
Should I include this in my pour cost calculation?
Technically yes for a complete cost price, but the impact is minimal. Most bars focus first on ingredient costs (spirits, mixers) because those are 95% of the costs.
How often should I update this calculation?
Once per year is enough, unless you purchase a lot of new tools. The costs are so small that minor adjustments have barely any impact on your profitability.
📚 Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- Warenwetbesluit Bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen (2024) — Official source
- WHO — Foodborne diseases estimates (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
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