Convert Gallons to Liters -
Convert Liters to Gallons

Convert gallons to liters and vice versa

Gallons and liters

A gallon and a liter are both units of measure used to denote the volume of a liquid. The gallon is a unit of the imperial system, used in the United States and other countries that have adopted the imperial system. A liter, on the other hand, is a unit of the metric system and is internationally recognized and used in most countries around the world.

The difference between the US Gallon and the Imperial Gallon

What is the US Gallon?

The US gallon is used in the United States and is equivalent to about 3.78541 liters. This unit of measure is typically used to measure the capacity of liquids, such as vehicle fuel, the capacity of portable water containers, and the size of refrigerators. For example, the American dairy industry uses gallons as a standard measure for its packaging. Therefore, if you buy a gallon of milk in an American supermarket, you are getting about 3.78541 liters of milk.

What is the Imperial Gallon?

The Imperial gallon is used in the United Kingdom, Canada, and some other countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. An Imperial gallon is larger than a US gallon and is equivalent to about 4.54609 liters. This unit is often used in the UK to measure fuel efficiency in vehicles, with expressions like "miles per gallon". Therefore, a car that runs on a 'gallon' of gasoline in the UK would go further than a car that runs on a 'gallon' of gasoline in the US, simply because the gallon is larger in the UK.

Why is this difference important?

Understanding the difference between the US gallon and the Imperial gallon is important when converting units of measure or when comparing products from different countries. For example, an American car that gets 20 miles per gallon is not as efficient as a British car that gets 20 miles per gallon, because the British gallon is larger. Likewise, a 5-gallon jerrycan from the US will contain less liquid than a 5-gallon jerrycan from the UK.

The conversion factor: How many gallons is a liter and vice versa?

Converting between gallons and liters can be tricky, as there are different types of gallons. The American liquid gallon (most commonly used) is approximately equal to 3.78541 liters. The British gallon is larger, equal to approximately 4.54609 liters. Therefore, it is important to know which type of gallon is being used when converting to liters.

1 American gallon = 3.78541 liters

1 British gallon = 4.54609 liters

Conversely, a liter is equal to about 0.264172 American gallons and about 0.219969 British gallons.

1 liter = 0.264172 American gallon

1 liter = 0.219969 British gallon

Where are gallons and liters mainly used?

The gallon is mainly used in the United States, but also in some Caribbean countries, Liberia and some other countries. It is often used for measuring liquid products such as gasoline and milk.

The liter is used in most countries around the world, especially in countries that use the metric system. It is the official unit of measure for measuring volume in the European Union. It is used for all kinds of liquid and dry goods, from beverages and fuel to dry goods such as flour and sugar.

Conversion table from gallons to liters