The quick answer
A standard wine bottle holds 750 mL, or about 25.4 US fluid ounces. That is roughly five 5-ounce servings. A half bottle holds 375 mL, while a magnum holds 1.5 liters—the equivalent of two standard bottles.
The sizes you will actually see
Most still wine is sold in 750 mL bottles, but US rules authorize many other metric sizes. Small formats are useful for one or two people; magnums are made for groups and can age differently because they contain proportionally less oxygen per volume of wine.
- 187 mL: split or piccolo; about one generous glass
- 375 mL: half bottle; about 2½ five-ounce servings
- 750 mL: standard; about five five-ounce servings
- 1.5 L: magnum; two standard bottles
- 3 L: double magnum; four standard bottles
Servings are estimates
Actual pours vary. Restaurants often use five- or six-ounce servings, while tasting pours are smaller. Sparkling wine, dessert wine, and fortified wine are commonly served in smaller amounts. Plan with the glass size and alcohol level in mind, not only the bottle count.
Bottle shape is not volume
Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Champagne, and flute-shaped bottles can all hold 750 mL despite looking different. Shape may hint at a region or tradition, but the net contents statement—not the silhouette—tells you the amount inside.
Sources and further reading
We use established educational and regulatory references, then write original explanations for everyday readers.
TTB: Wine net contents and authorized sizes ↗