Unit-To-Unit Fluid conversion

US Gallons to Litres

1 US gallon = 3.785411784 litres

US fuel and milk volumes come in gallons; almost everywhere else uses litres. The US gallon is 3.785411784 L, defined as 231 cubic inches, which is a smaller vessel than the Imperial gallon of 4.54609 L.

Formula L = gal × 3.785411784

=

Type in either field — the other updates on every keystroke. Need other units? Open the full fluid converter.

US Gallons to Litres — quick reference
US gallonLitre
1 gal3.785412 L
2 gal7.570824 L
3 gal11.356235 L
4 gal15.141647 L
5 gal18.927059 L
10 gal37.854118 L
15 gal56.781177 L
20 gal75.708236 L
25 gal94.635295 L
50 gal189.270589 L
100 gal378.541178 L
500 gal1892.705892 L
1000 gal3785.411784 L
Litres to US Gallons — reverse
LitreUS gallon
1 L0.264172 gal
2 L0.528344 gal
3 L0.792516 gal
4 L1.056688 gal
5 L1.32086 gal
10 L2.641721 gal
15 L3.962581 gal
20 L5.283441 gal
25 L6.604301 gal
50 L13.208603 gal
100 L26.417205 gal
500 L132.086026 gal
1000 L264.172052 gal

Worked examples

Common values
SituationFromTo
Gallon of milk1 gal3.79 L
Water cooler jug5 gal18.93 L
Car fuel tank14 gal53 L
Large aquarium75 gal283.91 L
Standard drum55 gal208.2 L

Mental-math shortcut

Multiply by 4 and subtract 5%. For 14 gal: 56 less 2.8 is 53.2 L, against an exact 53 L.

Where this conversion comes up

US fuel pumps, paint, milk and water jugs use gallons, while elsewhere litres rule. A 14-gallon fuel tank holds 53 L, a 55-gallon drum holds 208.2 L, and a gallon of milk is 3.79 L. Fuel economy converts the same way: 30 mpg is about 7.84 L/100 km.

Common mistakes

The imperial (UK) gallon is 4.54609 L, about 20% larger, so UK mpg figures are not comparable with US ones. Confirm which gallon a source uses before converting.

Background

The US gallon descends from the English wine gallon of 231 cubic inches, standardised in 1707 under Queen Anne. Britain replaced its several gallons with the imperial gallon, defined by 10 pounds of water, in 1824.

Learn more

Related guides: Imperial vs metric: differences and quick conversion tricks · How much paint do I need for a room? Gallons and litres · US vs UK weights and measures: gallons, pints and tons

Frequently asked

How many litres are in a US gallon?
1 US gallon = 3.785411784 litres. In the other direction, 1 litre = 0.264172052 US gallons.
What is a US gallon?
A US liquid gallon is 231 cubic inches, or 3.785411784 litres. It is about 17 percent smaller than the Imperial gallon.
What is a litre?
A litre is one cubic decimetre — 1,000 cubic centimetres. It is accepted for use with SI and is the everyday volume unit for beverages and fuel in most countries.
Is a US gallon the same as a UK gallon?
No. The UK imperial gallon is 4.54609 L, versus 3.785 L for the US gallon.

Related fluid conversions

Litres to US Gallons US Fluid Ounces to Millilitres Millilitres to US Fluid Ounces US Cups to Millilitres US Pints to Millilitres US Quarts to Litres Imperial Gallons to Litres