Liters and gallons
Liters and gallons both measure volume, but they belong to different systems. The liter (L) is the everyday metric unit of capacity used almost everywhere in the world, while the gallon (gal) survives mainly in the United States and, in a different size, in the United Kingdom. Because the two units describe the same physical quantity, switching between them is just a matter of multiplying by a fixed factor.
This converter works in both directions. Type a value in either field and the matching volume appears in the other, so it is equally handy for reading a metric label in gallons or sizing a US container in liters.
US gallon vs. Imperial gallon
There is no single “gallon.” The gallon you mean depends on where you are:
- US liquid gallon (US gal): Used throughout the United States for fuel, milk, paint, and most liquids. One US gallon equals about 3.785412 liters.
- Imperial gallon (UK gal): Used in the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries. One Imperial gallon equals 4.54609 liters, roughly 20% larger than the US gallon.
Always confirm which gallon a source intends, because the same number of gallons describes noticeably different volumes in the two systems.
Formula
One US gallon is defined as 3.785411784 liters. Dividing gives the conversion factor for liters to US gallons:
To reverse the calculation:
For the Imperial gallon, substitute its factor of 4.54609 liters:
How to convert liters to gallons
- Take your volume in liters.
- Divide it by 3.785412 for US gallons, or by 4.54609 for Imperial gallons.
- The result is the equivalent volume in gallons.
To go from gallons back to liters, multiply instead of divide using the same factor for the gallon type you selected.
Worked examples
Example 1: 1 liter to US gallons
So 1 liter is about 0.264172 US gallons.
Example 2: 10 liters to US gallons
So 10 liters is about 2.641722 US gallons.
Example 3: 1 liter to Imperial gallons
So 1 liter is about 0.219969 Imperial gallons.
These are the same numbers used to verify the converter, so you can trust the results to several decimal places.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters are in a US gallon?
A US liquid gallon holds 3.785412 liters. An Imperial gallon holds 4.54609 liters, so it is the larger of the two.
Why does the answer change when I switch gallon types?
The US and Imperial gallons are different sizes by definition. The Imperial gallon is about 20% larger, so the same liter value converts to fewer Imperial gallons than US gallons.
Is this converter exact?
The relationship between liters and gallons is a fixed definition, so the conversion is exact. Displayed results are rounded for readability but the underlying factors carry full precision.
For more volume conversions, try the cubic inches to gallons converter.