Convert volume units — liters, gallons, cups, milliliters, cubic meters, pints, quarts.
| Unit | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| mL | Milliliter | 1000 |
| m³ | Cubic Meter | 0.001 |
| gal(US) | US Gallon | 0.26417218 |
| gal(UK) | UK Gallon | 0.21996925 |
| qt | US Quart | 1.0566881 |
| pt | US Pint | 2.1133785 |
| cup | US Cup | 4.2267571 |
| fl oz | Fluid Ounce | 33.814057 |
Common liter values converted to us gallon — factor: 1 L = 0.2642 gal
| Liter (L) | US Gallon (gal) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 0.01 L | 0.002642 gal | Tablespoon |
| 0.05 L | 0.01321 gal | Shot glass |
| 0.1 L | 0.02642 gal | One cup |
| 0.25 L | 0.06604 gal | One cup |
| 0.5 L | 0.1321 gal | Water bottle |
| 0.75 L | 0.1981 gal | Wine bottle |
| 1 L | 0.2642 gal | Liter bottle |
| 2 L | 0.5283 gal | Soda bottle |
| 3.785 L | 0.9999 gal | US gallon |
| 5 L | 1.321 gal | Small jerrycan |
| 10 L | 2.642 gal | Large container |
| 20 L | 5.283 gal | Jerrycan |
| 50 L | 13.21 gal | Keg |
| 100 L | 26.42 gal | Keg |
| 200 L | 52.83 gal | Oil drum |
Converting liter to us gallon comes up frequently in cooking, chemistry, medicine, and engineering. A recipe written in metric units may need to be adapted for a kitchen using us gallon, or a laboratory protocol may specify volumes in liter that need to be measured with equipment calibrated in us gallon.
In everyday use, knowing that 5 L = 1.321 gal and 10 L = 2.642 gal covers most common situations. For bulk calculations, 100 L = 26.42 gal is a useful anchor. The reverse conversion — us gallon back to liter — uses the factor 3.785, so 1 gal = 3.785 L.
All conversions use the internationally recognized factor of exactly 1 L = 0.2642 gal. Calculations are performed in IEEE 754 double-precision floating point, giving accuracy to at least 8 significant figures — more than sufficient for any practical application.
Formula: US Gallon = Liter × 0.26417218
Multiply any liter value by 0.26417218 to get us gallon. One liter equals 0.26417218 gal.
Reverse: Liter = US Gallon × 3.78541
Divide liters by 3.785 for US gallons. Round to 3.8 for quick estimates (0.4% error).
Four liters ≈ 1 US gallon. Good for fuel cost comparisons.
A 20-liter jerry can is 5.28 gallons — handy anchor.
Measures fermentation batches, keg volumes (50 L), and canning runs in liters for recipe consistency.
Specifies fuel tank capacity (40-70 L) and engine coolant volumes in liters.
Calibrates volumetric flasks, graduated cylinders, and bulk reagent purchases in liters.
Estimates pool capacity in liters to calculate pump sizing and chemical dosing.
Designs drip and sprinkler systems with flow rates in liters per hour per emitter.
Prepares bulk IV solutions, disinfectants, and liquid medications in liter batches.
The liter was introduced by the French metric system in 1793, defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water at 4°C. The word derives from the older French unit litron, from Medieval Latin litra. It was redefined in 1964 as exactly 1 cubic decimeter.
France adopted the liter as part of revolutionary metric standardization, spreading across Europe with Napoleonic expansion. Today it is the standard unit for liquids in most of the world, from soda bottles to fuel pumps.
Interesting fact: A liter of water at 4°C weighs almost exactly 1 kilogram, which is why the kilogram was originally defined through it.
The US liquid gallon is defined as exactly 231 cubic inches, or 3.785411784 liters. It traces its origins to the Queen Anne wine gallon of 1707, which American colonies adopted.
The US gallon differs from the UK Imperial gallon by about 16.5%. This matters for fuel economy: a US MPG figure is lower than the equivalent UK MPG for the same car.
Interesting fact: The United States, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only countries using the US gallon as a primary everyday volume unit.