Convert liters to gallons
PrintLiter to Gallon (US) Conversion Table
| Liter (L) | Gallon (US gal) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 L | 0.0026417205 gal (US) |
| 0.1 L | 0.0264172052 gal (US) |
| 1 L | 0.2641720524 gal (US) |
| 2 L | 0.5283441047 gal (US) |
| 3 L | 0.7925161571 gal (US) |
| 5 L | 1.3208602618 gal (US) |
| 10 L | 2.6417205236 gal (US) |
| 20 L | 5.2834410472 gal (US) |
| 50 L | 13.2086026179 gal (US) |
| 100 L | 26.4172052358 gal (US) |
| 1000 L | 264.1720523581 gal (US) |
Liters and gallons are the two predominant units used worldwide to measure liquid volume, beverage capacity, car fuel tank sizes, aquariums, and municipal water consumption. While the liter (L) is the standard decimal metric unit accepted across Continental Europe, Asia, Latin America, and global science, the gallon (gal) remains the primary volume unit in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Our free online Liters to Gallons Converter provides instant, high-precision liquid volume conversions in both directions:
- Liters to US Gallons: Multiply liters by
0.26417205(or divide by3.78541178). - US Gallons to Liters: Multiply gallons by
3.78541178(exact US customary standard). - UK Imperial Gallons: 1 UK Imperial Gallon equals
4.54609 liters(0.219969 Imp gal per liter).
Exact Volume Conversion Formulas: US & Imperial Gallons
Understanding liquid volume conversions requires distinguishing between the US Liquid Gallon (based on the historical 1707 Queen Anne wine gallon of 231 cubic inches) and the UK Imperial Gallon (established in 1824 based on 10 pounds of distilled water):
| Gallon Unit System | Exact Equivalent in Liters | Liters to Gallons Formula | Fluid Ounces per Gallon |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Liquid Gallon | 3.785411784 Liters |
US Gal = Liters ÷ 3.785412 |
128 US fl oz (29.57 mL each) |
| UK Imperial Gallon | 4.546090000 Liters |
Imp Gal = Liters ÷ 4.546090 |
160 UK fl oz (28.41 mL each) |
Step-by-Step Calculation Example
To convert 15 liters to US gallons:
15 L ÷ 3.785411784 = 3.962581 US gallons (or 15 × 0.26417205 = 3.962581 gal)
Thus, 15 liters is equal to approximately 3.96 US gallons (just under 4 gallons).
Liter to US Gallon Conversion Table
Below is a precision reference lookup table for converting beverage bottles, fuel tanks, and water containers from 0.01 L up to 1,000 L:
| Volume in Liters (L) | Equivalent in US Gallons (gal) | Common Automotive / Beverage Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| 0.01 L | 0.00264172 gal | 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) |
| 0.1 L | 0.02641721 gal | 100 mL (3.38 US fl oz shot) |
| 1.0 L | 0.26417205 gal | 1 Liter bottle / 1,000 cm³ pure water |
| 2.0 L | 0.52834410 gal | Standard 2-Liter soda bottle (~0.53 gal) |
| 3.785 L (1 US Gallon Exact) | 1.00000000 gal | 1.0 US Gallon Milk / Water Jug Benchmark |
| 4.546 L (1 Imperial Gallon) | 1.20095042 gal | 1 UK Imperial Gallon (4.546 L) |
| 5.0 L | 1.32086026 gal | 5-Liter engine oil jug |
| 10.0 L | 2.64172052 gal | Small 10-liter watering can |
| 18.9 L (5 US Gallons) | 5.00000000 gal | Standard office water cooler bottle (5 gal) |
| 20.0 L | 5.28344105 gal | 20-liter jerry can / fuel canister |
| 50.0 L | 13.20860262 gal | Standard passenger car gas tank capacity |
| 100.0 L | 26.41720524 gal | 100-liter home aquarium tank |
| 1,000.0 L (1 m³) | 264.17205236 gal | 1 Cubic Meter / IBC tote container |
History & Scientific Definition: Liter vs. Gallon
The Definition & History of the Liter (L)
Established in 1795 in France during the French Revolution, the liter was defined as 1 cubic decimeter (1 dm³ = 1,000 cm³). From 1901 to 1964, the CGPM temporarily redefined the liter as the volume of 1 kilogram of pure water at maximum density (4°C). However, because the physical prototype kilogram cylinder in France was 28 parts per million too heavy (making 1 liter equal to 1.000028 dm³), CGPM reverted back to the exact definition of 1 cubic decimeter in 1964.
The Origin of the Gallon (gal)
The word gallon stems from Old Northern French galon, used to measure wine and ale in medieval England. Prior to 1824, Britain used different gallons for different liquids: the wine gallon (231 cu in), the ale gallon (282 cu in), and the corn gallon (268.8 cu in). In 1707, Queen Anne adopted the 231-cubic-inch wine gallon as the legal standard. When the US declared independence, it retained Queen Anne’s 231-cubic-inch wine gallon as the modern US Liquid Gallon (3.785412 L). Britain later created the unified Imperial Gallon (4.54609 L) in 1824.
To analyze fuel efficiency, visit our Gas Mileage Calculator. For overall volume transformations across cubic meters, fluid ounces, and quarts, explore our Volume Calculator or Conversion Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many gallons are in 1 liter?
There are approximately 0.264172 US gallons (or 0.219969 UK Imperial gallons) in 1 liter.
How many liters are in 1 US gallon?
There are exactly 3.785411784 liters in 1 US liquid gallon (commonly rounded to 3.785 liters).
Why is a UK Imperial gallon larger than a US gallon?
The US gallon is based on the 1707 English Queen Anne wine gallon (231 cubic inches = 3.785 L). The UK abolished historical wine and ale gallons in 1824 to create a single Imperial gallon defined as the volume of 10 pounds of distilled water (277.42 cubic inches = 4.546 L).
How do I convert a 50-liter car fuel tank to US gallons?
Divide 50 by 3.785412: 50 ÷ 3.785412 = 13.21 US gallons. Thus, a 50-liter gas tank holds approximately 13.2 gallons of fuel.