A standard 1.5-ounce shot of tequila contains roughly 97 to 100 calories. That number applies to 80-proof (40% alcohol) tequila, which covers most bottles you’ll find on a shelf. The calories come almost entirely from the alcohol itself, since tequila has zero carbs, zero fat, and zero protein.
Where Tequila’s Calories Come From
Pure alcohol contains 7 calories per gram. A standard U.S. drink, as defined by the CDC, contains 14 grams of pure alcohol. Multiply those together and you get 98 calories, which is the baseline for any 80-proof spirit: tequila, vodka, gin, rum, or whiskey. They’re all virtually identical in calorie count at the same proof.
Higher-proof tequilas push the number up. A 100-proof tequila has more alcohol per ounce, so that same 1.5-ounce pour climbs to around 124 calories. If you’re pouring at home without measuring, it’s also easy to overshoot the 1.5-ounce mark, which adds calories faster than most people realize. A generous two-ounce pour bumps an 80-proof shot to about 130 calories.
Tequila vs. Wine, Beer, and Other Drinks
Comparing drinks gets tricky because serving sizes differ. A shot of tequila is 1.5 ounces. A glass of wine is 5 ounces. A beer is 12 ounces. Each of these counts as one “standard drink” with roughly the same amount of alcohol, but the calorie totals vary because beer and wine contain carbohydrates and residual sugars that spirits don’t.
- Tequila (1.5 oz, 80 proof): ~97 calories
- Red wine (5 oz): 122 to 125 calories
- White wine (5 oz): 128 calories
- Light beer (12 oz): 103 calories
- Regular beer (12 oz): 153 calories
- Craft beer (12 oz): 170 to 350 calories
On a per-drink basis, tequila is one of the lower-calorie options. But that advantage disappears the moment you mix it into a cocktail.
Cocktails Change the Math Quickly
Most people don’t drink tequila neat. The mixers, syrups, and juices in popular tequila cocktails often carry more calories than the tequila itself.
A classic margarita made with triple sec and sweetener typically runs 200 to 300 calories per glass. A paloma, which pairs tequila with grapefruit soda, comes in lighter at 150 to 200 calories, especially if it’s made with fresh juice and soda water instead of sugary grapefruit soda. A tequila soda (tequila plus plain sparkling water and a lime wedge) keeps you closest to that original 97-calorie baseline, adding only a few calories from the lime.
Frozen margaritas from restaurants are the biggest calorie traps. The pre-made mixes are loaded with sugar, and portions tend to be large. A big frozen marg can easily hit 400 to 500 calories.
Why Alcohol Labels Don’t Show Calories
If you’ve ever flipped a tequila bottle looking for a nutrition label and found nothing, you’re not alone. Distilled spirits, wine, and beer are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau rather than the FDA, and calorie labeling has been voluntary since 2013. Brands can choose to include a “Serving Facts” panel, but most don’t.
The TTB proposed a rule in 2025 that would make “Alcohol Facts” labels mandatory on all alcoholic beverages, similar to the Nutrition Facts panels on food. Even if that rule is finalized, the proposed compliance timeline gives the industry five years to update their labels. For now, you won’t find calorie information on most bottles.
How Your Body Processes Alcohol Calories
Alcohol calories don’t work the same way as calories from food. When you drink, your liver treats alcohol as a priority toxin and shifts its resources toward breaking it down. While that’s happening, your body’s normal fat-burning processes slow down significantly. The chemical changes in your liver actively block fatty acid breakdown and promote fat storage instead.
This means the calories from the food you eat alongside your drinks are more likely to be stored as fat, because your body is busy dealing with the alcohol first. It’s not just the 97 calories in the shot that matter. It’s that those 97 calories also change how your body handles everything else you consume that evening. The late-night tacos after a few tequilas are more problematic than the same tacos on a sober Tuesday.
Lower-Calorie Ways to Drink Tequila
If you’re watching calories, the simplest strategy is keeping your tequila drinks close to the base spirit. Tequila on the rocks with a squeeze of lime, or tequila with sparkling water, keeps you under 110 calories per drink. Choosing 80-proof over higher-proof options saves a small but real amount per serving.
For cocktails, swap sugary mixers for fresh citrus juice and soda water. A “skinny margarita” made with tequila, fresh lime juice, a splash of orange juice, and soda water cuts the calorie count roughly in half compared to the traditional version. Avoid anything that comes from a premixed bottle or a slushie machine.
Blanco (silver) tequila and reposado tequila have the same calorie count at the same proof. Aged varieties like añejo aren’t meaningfully different either. The proof on the label is the only number that matters for calories.