Liters to Gallons Converter
Convert liters to gallons (US and Imperial) with precise calculations. Essential for fuel, cooking, and liquid volume measurements.
Enter liters to calculate gallons and other volume measurements
Conversion Formulas
| Liters | US Gallons | Imperial Gallons | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 L | 0.264 US gal | 0.220 Imp gal | 1 liter |
| 4 L | 1.057 US gal | 0.880 Imp gal | 4 liters |
| 10 L | 2.642 US gal | 2.200 Imp gal | 10 liters |
| 20 L | 5.283 US gal | 4.399 Imp gal | 20 liters (gas can) |
| 50 L | 13.209 US gal | 10.998 Imp gal | 50 liters |
| 100 L | 26.417 US gal | 21.997 Imp gal | 100 liters |
| 200 L | 52.834 US gal | 43.994 Imp gal | 200 liters (drum) |
| 1000 L | 264.172 US gal | 219.969 Imp gal | 1000 liters (cubic meter) |
How It Works
Converting liters to gallons uses different formulas for US and Imperial gallons:
US Gallons
Imperial Gallons
The conversion factors come from the different definitions of gallons. The US gallon is defined as exactly 3.785411784 liters, while the Imperial gallon is defined as exactly 4.54609 liters.
Why different gallon sizes?
The US gallon is based on the wine gallon used in England before 1824, while the Imperial gallon was standardized in 1824 as 10 pounds of water at 62°F. This makes the Imperial gallon about 20% larger than the US gallon.
Examples
Compare
Liters vs Gallons Comparison
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What is Liters to Gallons Conversion?
Liters to gallons conversion is the process of converting volume measurements from the metric system (liters) to imperial systems (US or Imperial gallons). This conversion is essential for fuel calculations, cooking, industrial processes, and international trade where different volume measurement systems are used.
The conversion requires different factors for US gallons (0.264172) and Imperial gallons (0.219969) because these gallon definitions differ significantly in size.
Formulas
How It Works
The conversion uses different relationships based on gallon type:
US Gallon: Defined as exactly 3.785411784 liters, making the conversion factor 1/3.785411784 = 0.264172052 gallons per liter.
Imperial Gallon: Defined as exactly 4.54609 liters, making the conversion factor 1/4.54609 = 0.219969248 gallons per liter.
History and Background
The liter was introduced during the French Revolution as part of the metric system, originally defined as the volume of one kilogram of water. The US gallon is based on the English wine gallon used before 1824, while the Imperial gallon was standardized in 1824 as the volume of 10 pounds of water at 62°F. This historical difference explains why the two gallon systems differ in size.
Practical Applications
This conversion is essential for automotive fuel calculations, international shipping of liquids, swimming pool maintenance, industrial chemical processes, and cooking for large quantities. It enables accurate communication of volumes across different countries and industries using different measurement systems.
Best Practices
Always specify whether you're using US or Imperial gallons, as they differ by 20%. Use the exact conversion factors for precision work. For fuel economy, remember that US MPG and Imperial MPG are different. When traveling internationally, check which gallon system is used locally. For large volumes, consider using cubic meters (1000 liters) for easier calculations.