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I Tested 10 Jiggers for Making Cocktails— Here Are My Favorite Models

Our top pick is actually a mini measuring cup.

By
Kate Dingwall
Kate Dingwall
Kate Dingwall

Kate is a writer, editor and photographer covering the intersection between spirits, business, culture, and travel. By night, she’s a working sommelier at one of the top restaurants in Canada.

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Updated May 13, 2024
Juice being squeeze from a lemon into a small metal measuring cup.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Straight to the Point

Our favorite jigger is the OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup. It has plenty of measurement markings and its spout makes for spill-free pouring.

While not the flashiest of bar tools, a good jigger is essential—if it measures incorrectly, you’re left with a less balanced cocktail; if it starts to rust quickly, well, that feels like a waste of money. And if it's tough to use—with too small or sparse measurements or a lip that doesn't easily angle liquids into a shaker or mixing glass—that's no good either.

Essentially, a good jigger is a helping hand. After a decade working in bars, there are some other criteria I consider (which I'll go into below). To find the best jigger, I put 10 top-rated models to the test—including bell, cone, and handled jiggers. The best ones combine precision, durability, and affordability.

The Winners, at a Glance

The OXO Mini angled cup is easy to use, highly durable, and smartly designed, with various conversions and an angled spout for easy pouring. We've written about how great it is before.

Piña's bell jigger excelled in multiple tests. It was perfectly weighted, with a sleek brushed finish that kept fingerprints at bay.

This double-ended jigger featured a weighted, rounded handle that made for comfortable pouring. With this style of jigger, you can hold it straight over the mixing glass or shaking tin, fill it, then pour it. However, it only offers two measurements: a half-ounce and one-and-a-half ounces.

With clear markings and a cone shape that allows you to easily fill the jigger to the very top, this model was easy to use and ergonomic. The band in the (somewhat) center also provided a nice resting place for your fingers.

The Tests

liquor being poured in a measuring cup

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

  • Readability Tests: With each jigger, I poured 1-, 1.5-, and 2-ounce (if applicable) shots to assess the precision and readability of its markings.
  • Pouring Test: I poured one ounce of alcohol into the jigger to assess how easy it was to pour into it and measure without spilling. I then poured the alcohol from the jigger into a shaking tin.
  • Simple Syrup Test: I wanted to see how each jigger handled liquids beyond alcohol, namely sticky syrups. I poured a half-ounce of simple syrup into each jigger, then poured the simple syrup out of the jigger and into a shaking tin. I washed each jigger by hand, evaluating how easy it was to clean the sticky syrup off.
  • Cocktail Test: Using each jigger, I built a cocktail: including two ounces of base spirit, one ounce of lemon juice, and a half ounce of simple syrup. I then washed each jigger by hand.
  • Usability Tests: Throughout testing, I evaluated how comfortable each jigger was to hold and pour with. At the end of testing, I ran the dishwasher-safe models through the dishwasher.

What We Learned

We Preferred Bold, Plentiful Measurement Markings

a small plastic on black countertop
The OXO has plenty of clear, large markings in various units of measurement.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

The jiggers that were easiest to use had clearly marked capacity measurements, with bold, large lettering and etchings. Many jiggers had tiny fonts that felt impossible to read without holding them up to your face. Others had no numbered markings, noting their capacity levels with just lines. If you're more experienced with mixology, this might not bother you, but for those who are just starting out, clearer measurements can be helpful.

Furthermore, there’s also the importance of measurement translation. While many jiggers indicate their capacities in ounces, what if your recipe is listed in tablespoons or milliliters? I liked jiggers that had two or more different units of measurement on them.

A Jigger Should Feel Like a Natural Extension of Your Hand

pouring a spirit into a jigger and that jigger overflowing into a measuring glass

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

You want to be able to twist and pour a jigger in one smooth motion with zero spillage. And you don't want a cumbersome or too-tall jigger—it should feel like a natural extension of your hand. (For a primer on how to use a jigger, head here.) I found jiggers that were weighted or had weighted handles were more balanced than most non-weighted ones, and that two to three ounces in size was best (though you can go up to five if the jigger has a handle). This provided the stability I looked for without feeling clunky. The exception to all of this was the OXO mini angled measuring cup; it was lighter—coming in at just 18 grams—and not weighted. However, it's also not a traditional jigger.

What Jigger Style Do You Prefer?

three types of stainless steel jiggers on a wooden surface

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

A bell jigger is hourglass-shaped and two-sided, the larger of which will measure one-and-a-half ounces or two ounces, and the smaller of which will measure a half-ounce or three-fourths ounces. There are also double-sided conical jiggers (with straight sides that flare out at the top). Handled jiggers feature a handle (preferably weighted) attached to a double-sided bell- or cone-shaped jigger. All three of these styles are good options for those who feel more comfortable making drinks, as your pours will usually fill the whole cup. Beginners may prefer a mini measuring cup, like the OXO, as it allows for more control and a plethora of measurements. Its angled spout tempers the chance for spillage, too.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Jigger

We looked for jiggers that could suit a variety of mixology experience. Was it built for speed, but did it also fit snuggly in your hand? Was there one that held and indicated a range of measurements, including ounces and tablespoons? Did it pour without spilling?

Our Favorite Jiggers

What we liked: This versatile jigger will get you through both cooking and bartending. It offers tablespoon, ounce, milliliter, and cup markings. Its clear appearance allows you to easily see if, say, a rogue citrus seed ends up in your jigger. Its wide size and angled spout make it easy to pour into and from.

What we didn’t like: It doesn't allow for the speediness of a standard, two-sided jigger. However, this might not matter much for those making casual drinks at home.

Key Specs

  • Max reading: 2 ounces; 4 tablespoons
  • Minimum reading: 0.25 ounces
  • Materials: Plastic
  • Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
a close up of an oxo mini measuring cup

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

What we liked: This jigger has a gorgeous weight and quality finish, and it features measurement indications on the inside and out. It also felt great when flipping. Its brushed finish resisted smudges and fingerprints—a small feature that made it feel like a high-quality product.

What we didn’t like: While it has a variety of measurement markings, the letters/numbers themselves are on the small side, so they're tougher to read.

Key Specs

  • Max reading: 2 ounces
  • Minimum reading: .25-ounce
  • Materials: Stainless steel
  • Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
A bell-style dual-sided jigger on a black countertop

Serious Eats / Kate Dingwall

What we liked: This model's handle is weighted for a nice balance and large enough to get a good grip on. This jigger allowed for greater speed and stability when pouring—you can hold it straight over the mixing glass or shaker tin when filling without worrying about moving the full jigger afterward.

What we didn’t like: This jigger only has 0.5- and 1.5-ounce markings. Ideally, it would have .75- and 1-ounce measurements as well. However, it was the easiest to use long-handled jigger of the bunch. And if you’re set on getting this style of jigger, it’ll get the job done.

Key Specs

  • Max reading: 1.5-ounce
  • Minimum reading: 0.25-ounce
  • Materials: Stainless steel
  • Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
a double-sided, handled jigger on a black countertop

Serious Eats / Kate Dingwall

What we liked: This conical, two-sided jigger has three clear markings in its interior for 1/2- and 3/4-ounce and 1 1/2 ounces. To achieve 1- and 2-ounce pours, you just fill the corresponding side to the very top. It was ergonomic and comfortable to hold, thanks to the band towards the end of its smaller side that provided a nice grip for your fingers. It had a brushed finish that resisted fingerprints and smudges.

What we didn't like: The measurements might be tougher to read for some. For those looking for more measurement guidance, you might be more comfortable with something like the OXO.

Key Specs

  • Max reading: 1.5 ounces
  • Minimum reading: 0.5-ounce
  • Materials: Stainless steel
  • Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
a conical, dual-sided style jigger on a black countertop

Serious Eats / Kate Dingwall

The Competition

  • OXO SteeL Double Jigger: The grip around the middle of this jigger made it incredibly easy to hold even with slippery hands, but it was also heavier and felt unbalanced. 
  • Barfly Measuring Cup: If the measurements were printed on the inside of the cup as well as the exterior, this would’ve been a clear winner. The exterior-only markings just make this jigger harder to use. 
  • Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Jigger: This jigger was fine, but the Piña Barware version was a better bang for your buck. 
  • OXO SteeL Angled Measuring Jigger: This is a great jigger, but its measurements tend to fade much quicker than the plastic version.
  • i Kito Double Jigger Stainless Steel Cocktail Measuring Cup with Handle: There are a few technical details (flimsiness, rusting) that prevent this jigger from being excellent.
  • Pina Barware Slim Jigger: This piece is a bartender standard. The high profile is a little hard to get used to, but it inevitably allows more precision and consistency. However, the numbers are tiny! It’s almost impossible to see the measurements without squinting.

FAQs

Why is a jigger called a jigger?

The word jigger was first recorded in 1824, as slang for an illicit distillery. David Wondrich suggests jigger was another word for "thingamajig." Before those instances, the history of the word goes back to the Royal British Navy, who called the smallest mast on the ship a jiggermast, and a jigger was a sailor’s daily ration of rum served in a small cup. 

Is a jigger equal to a shot?

It depends on the jigger! The average jigger should measure out a shot (1-ounce).

What are the two sizes of jiggers?

There are two sizes of jiggers available: a single and a double. The former offers one big bowl, while the latter is a level-up: it has two different bowls, one small and one large with corresponding (smaller and larger) measurements.

How do you hold a jigger?

For a standard hourglass-shaped jigger, hold it between your thumb and forefinger. Hold it steady, fill it to the brim (or your desired level), and quickly tip the contents into a shaker or mixing glass.

Why We're the Experts

  • Kate Dingwall is a writer and sommelier. She spent more than a decade working behind the bar, too.
  • Kate's written other cocktail-related reviews for Serious Eats, including cocktail smokers.
  • For this review, Kate tested 10 jiggers.

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