Highball vs. Lowball Glasses: Which Should You Buy for Your Home Bar?

Highball glasses are tall and suit long drinks with plenty of mixer and ice, like a gin and tonic. Lowball glasses are short and suit spirit forward drinks and whiskey over ice, like an Old Fashioned. If you're buying your first set, start with the shape that matches the drinks you make most often.

You don't need a different glass for every recipe. A good home collection makes your favorite drinks easier to prepare and serve, without filling cupboards with pieces you rarely use.

Here's how to compare the two, decide which to buy first and recognize when owning both makes sense.

Quick Answer: Which Glass Should You Buy First?

If you mostly drink	Buy first	Why
Gin and tonics, whiskey sodas, Tom Collins	Highball	Room for the mixer and plenty of ice
Alcohol free spritzes and sparkling drinks	Highball	Tall shape suits larger, fizzy serves
Old Fashioneds and Negronis	Lowball	Compact size for short, stirred drinks
Whiskey neat or over a large cube	Lowball	Wide opening for a single large cube
A little of everything	Highball	Holds long drinks a lowball can't, and works for many everyday drinks

 

What Is a Highball Glass?

A highball is a tall drinking glass for drinks served with ice and a generous amount of mixer. Its height leaves room for the drink, the ice and a garnish.

Think of a whiskey and soda, a gin and tonic, or an alcohol free mix of sparkling water, citrus and syrup.

"Highball" describes a style, not a fixed size, and guides don't agree on one. Food Republic puts a classic highball at 8 to 12 ounces and the taller Collins glass at 10 to 14, while Monin lists highballs at 10 to 14 ounces. Crafted Barware's Copper Rimmed Highball Glass set is larger than either range, with four lead free glasses at 15 ounces each, a copper colored rim and a gift box. That extra capacity gives more room for ice.

Capacity describes the glass, not how much alcohol to pour. Ice, mixer and the space below the rim all count toward the finished drink.

What Is a Lowball Glass?

A lowball is a short glass associated with whiskey, drinks over ice and short cocktails. You'll also see it called a rocks glass or an Old Fashioned glass. Retailers use these names a little differently, so check the actual capacity when comparing.

Monin lists lowballs at 4 to 10 fluid ounces. Crafted Barware's Copper Rimmed Old Fashioned (Lowball) Glass set includes four glasses at 10 ounces each, with a solid base and a wide mouth that's easy to fill, drink from and rinse. Names and initials engraving is available as an option, which makes the set an easy personalized gift.

A lowball is a handy everyday glass too. It suits alcohol free drinks that don't need a tall glass, such as a chilled espresso or iced tea over ice. The glass doesn't decide whether a drink contains alcohol, so choose the shape around the recipe.

The Main Differences at a Glance

	Highball glass	Lowball glass
Shape	Tall	Short and wide
Typical capacity	About 8 to 14 oz (guides vary)	About 4 to 10 oz
Crafted Barware set	15 oz each, set of four	10 oz each, set of four
Best for	Long drinks with mixers	Short drinks and drinks over ice
Main advantage	Room for mixer and ice	Compact, easy to hold
What to check	Height and shelf clearance	Width and ice fit

 

Neither is automatically better. The real question is whether your usual drink needs the extra room of a tall glass. Looks matter too, but they should follow function: a glass you love still needs to suit your recipes, your cupboard and your washing routine.

Which Drinks Belong in a Highball?

Choose a highball when the finished drink includes a lot of mixer alongside ice. Common examples are a gin and tonic, a whiskey and soda and a Tom Collins. Alcohol free spritzes also work well when their final volume needs a taller glass.

Follow the recipe rather than filling the glass by eye. A bigger glass can tempt you to add extra mixer, which changes the balance of the drink. If a recipe looks underfilled, you may need a smaller glass, not more ingredients.

Leave some room at the top for carrying and garnishing. A drink filled to the brim is awkward to carry and easy to spill.

When Does a Lowball Make More Sense?

A lowball suits whiskey over ice and cocktails designed as short drinks. An Old Fashioned and a Negroni are classic examples. For a step by step guide, see the right way to make an Old Fashioned.

Check that your ice fits. A large cube should leave room for the liquid and let you hold the glass comfortably. Crafted Barware's 6 Cavity Large Clear Ice Cube Tray makes 2 inch cubes, so compare that size with the opening of your glass before buying. Our guide to slow melting ice explains why large cubes are worth it.

You can also use a lowball for everyday cold drinks. A collection is more useful when it works on ordinary days as well as cocktail nights. For whiskey specifically, see why the right whiskey glass matters.

Can You Use One Instead of the Other?

Often, yes. At home, using a different glass doesn't mean giving up on the drink.

The key is keeping the recipe the same. Moving a short cocktail into a tall glass doesn't mean you should add more mixer. And a smaller glass may not fit a long drink with all its ice.

If you swap, check the space before you pour. Dedicated glassware is most useful when it fixes a problem that keeps coming up. If your usual drink always feels crowded, or your short drinks look lost in big glasses, the right shape makes serving easier.

Which Set Should You Buy First?

Look at what you've actually been drinking over the last few weeks. If most of your drinks use soda, tonic or other mixers, start with highballs. If you mostly enjoy whiskey over ice or short cocktails, start with lowballs. If it's a real mix, highballs are the more flexible first buy, because they can hold drinks a lowball can't.

Next, think about how many people usually need a glass at once, and buy for that, not for a party you rarely host. Both Crafted Barware sets come in fours, at $49.95 each as of November 2026.

Measure your storage before ordering. Check shelf height, usable width and whether the glasses can sit securely without touching. Don't assume glasses can be stacked unless the product says so. Crafted Barware recommends hand washing both sets to keep the copper rims clean and bright.

When Owning Both Is Worth It

Both styles make sense when you regularly make a mix of long and short drinks. They also give you flexibility when hosting, so guests can enjoy different drinks without everything going into the same glass.

You can match the two sets or mix styles. Matching is a preference, not a requirement. Crafted Barware's Barware Boutique collectionincludes the copper rimmed glasses and a Smoke Amber Tinted Highball set if you'd prefer a different look.

Start with the shape you'll use most, then add the other when it fills a clear gap.

Shop This Guide

If you want	Our pick	Why
Long drinks with mixer	Copper Rimmed Highball Glasses	15 oz each, set of four, room for ice and mixer
Short drinks and whiskey	Copper Rimmed Old Fashioned Glasses	10 oz each, set of four, optional names and initials engraving
A different look	Smoke Amber Tinted Highball set	Amber tinted alternative in the Barware Boutique collection
Slow melting ice	6 Cavity Large Clear Ice Cube Tray	Makes six 2 inch cubes
Stirred drinks like an Old Fashioned	Premium Crystal Cocktail Mixing Glass	20 oz, weighted base and pour spout

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between highball and lowball glasses?

A highball is tall and suits long drinks with mixer and ice. A lowball is short and suits whiskey over ice and short cocktails. Exact capacities vary by product.

How many ounces is a highball glass?

Guides vary. Some put a classic highball at 8 to 12 ounces, while others list highballs at 10 to 14 ounces. Crafted Barware's Copper Rimmed Highball Glasses hold 15 ounces each. Lowballs are usually between 4 and 10 ounces, and Crafted Barware's lowballs hold 10 ounces.

Is a highball glass the same as a Collins glass?

Not quite. A Collins glass is usually taller and narrower, and often holds a little more. Food Republic gives 8 to 12 ounces for a highball and 10 to 14 ounces for a Collins. At home, either works for most tall drinks, and a 15 ounce highball has room for Collins style drinks like a Tom Collins.

Is a Jack and Coke a highball?

Yes. A highball is a base spirit with a larger amount of non alcoholic mixer, usually served over ice in a tall glass. Jack Daniel's own Jack and Coke recipe page describes it as a highball.

Can I serve an Old Fashioned in a highball glass?

Yes, if needed, as long as you keep the recipe's proportions. The extra space doesn't mean you should add more liquid. A lowball usually gives a more compact presentation for this style of drink.

Do I need both types for a home bar?

No. Start with the style that suits your usual drinks. If you drink a bit of everything, highballs are the more flexible first set. Add the other when you regularly need its size or shape.

Are Crafted Barware's copper rimmed glasses dishwasher safe?

Crafted Barware lists hand washing as the care instruction for both the highball and lowball sets, to keep the copper rims clean and bright.