Fluid Unit Info

Common fluid units:

  • Volume: liter (L), milliliter (mL), gallon (gal), quart (qt)
  • Flow Rate: liters per minute (L/min), gallons per minute (GPM)
  • US Units: fluid ounce (fl oz), cup, pint (pt), quart (qt)
  • UK Units: imperial gallon, imperial pint, imperial fluid ounce

Key relationships:

  • 1 L = 1000 mL = 0.264 US gal
  • 1 US gal = 3.785 L = 128 US fl oz
  • 1 UK gal = 4.546 L = 160 UK fl oz
  • 1 US cup = 236.6 mL

Metric System:

The metric system for fluid measurements was established during the French Revolution as part of standardizing all measurements. The liter was initially defined as one cubic decimeter.

Imperial System:

The British Imperial fluid measures were standardized in 1824, with the gallon defined based on the volume of 10 pounds of water at a specific temperature. The US retained older English measures.

Modern Standards:

Today, the International System of Units (SI) recognizes the liter (though not as a base unit), while many countries still use traditional volume measures for everyday purposes.

Cooking & Food:

  • Recipe conversions (cups, tablespoons)
  • Beverage measurements (fluid ounces, pints)
  • Nutritional labeling (milliliters, fluid ounces)

Medical & Scientific:

  • Medicine dosages (milliliters, cc)
  • Laboratory measurements (microliters, liters)
  • IV fluids and blood products (milliliters)

Industrial & Engineering:

  • Flow rates (gallons per minute, liters per second)
  • Fuel consumption (miles per gallon, liters per 100km)
  • Chemical processing (cubic meters, barrels)

Fluid Unit Conversion Calculator

Conversion Result

1 m³/h=
1.000 m³/s

Use the converter above to calculate different values and units

What are Fluid Units?

Fluid units are measurements used to quantify the volume of liquids and gases. These units are essential in numerous fields, from cooking and medicine to engineering and scientific research, allowing for precise measurement of substances in different volumes.

The two primary systems are the metric system (using liters and milliliters) and the US/Imperial system (using gallons, quarts, pints, and fluid ounces). Understanding conversions between these systems is crucial for international recipes, scientific work, and global trade.

Learn more from NIST or Encyclopedia Britannica.

Common Fluid Conversions

TypeFromToMultiplication Factor
VolumeLiters (L)US Gallons (gal)0.264172
VolumeUS Gallons (gal)Liters (L)3.78541
VolumeMilliliters (mL)US Fluid Ounces (fl oz)0.033814
VolumeUS Fluid Ounces (fl oz)Milliliters (mL)29.5735
VolumeUS Cups (cup)Milliliters (mL)236.588
VolumeUS Pints (pt)US Cups (cup)2
VolumeUK Gallons (gal)US Gallons (gal)1.20095

Flow Rate Conversions

FromToMultiplication Factor
Liters per minute (L/min)Gallons per minute (GPM)0.264172
Gallons per minute (GPM)Liters per minute (L/min)3.78541
Cubic meters per hour (m³/h)Liters per minute (L/min)16.6667

Practical Applications of Fluid Measurements

Cooking & Food Preparation

  • Recipe conversions between US and metric measurements
  • Beverage serving sizes (shots, pints, liters)
  • Food processing and commercial production scaling
  • Nutritional information on food packaging

Medical & Healthcare

  • Precise medication dosing in milliliters or cubic centimeters
  • IV fluid administration rates (mL/hour)
  • Blood and plasma volume measurements
  • Respiratory volume monitoring (liters per minute)

Industrial & Engineering

  • Plumbing system flow rates and capacity planning
  • Pump specifications (gallons per minute, liters per second)
  • Fuel consumption measurements for vehicles and equipment
  • Chemical mixing ratios and solution preparation

Scientific Research

  • Laboratory sample preparation and analysis
  • Environmental monitoring of water resources
  • Chemical reactions and solution concentrations
  • Fluid dynamics experiments and studies

Educational Resource

This educational video from The Organic Chemistry Tutor explains how to convert between fluid volume units with a focus on cubic measurements. With hundreds of thousands of views, it provides clear examples of conversions between cubic centimeters, cubic meters, and other volume units commonly used in fluid dynamics and engineering applications.

Fluid Conversion Resources

Download Fluid Conversion Chart (PDF)

Get our comprehensive fluid conversion chart showing key volume and flow rate conversions for quick reference in your cooking, laboratory, or engineering projects.

Fluid Conversion FAQs

Find answers to common questions about fluid measurements and volume conversions.