Symbol: gal (gallon), L (liter)
The gallon and liter are units of volume measurement, with the gallon being part of the imperial/US system and the liter being part of the metric system (SI).
Formula: 1 US gallon = 3.78541 liters
Common Conversions:
- 1 gal = 3.785 L
- 5 gal = 18.93 L
- 10 gal = 37.85 L
- 1 L = 0.264 gal
- 1 Imperial gal = 4.546 L
Gallon (US) to Liter Converter
Quick Answer
1 gal = 3.78541 L
Formula: Liter = Gallon (US) x 3.78541
Quick values
What are Volume Measurements?
Volume measurements quantify the amount of space occupied by substances, most commonly liquids. The gallon (gal) is the standard volume unit in the imperial and US customary systems, while the liter (L) is the primary unit of volume in the metric system.
It's important to note that there's a distinction between US gallons and imperial (UK) gallons. This converter uses US gallons, which equal 231 cubic inches or about 3.785 liters. In contrast, imperial gallons equal 277.4 cubic inches or about 4.546 liters.
Learn more from Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) or NIST.
Common Gallon to Liter Conversions
| US Gallons (gal) | Liters (L) | Common Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 0.26 | 1 | Large water bottle |
| 0.53 | 2 | Large soda bottle |
| 1 | 3.79 | US gallon milk jug |
| 1.06 | 4 | Standard paint can |
| 2.64 | 10 | Office water cooler bottle |
| 5.28 | 20 | Small aquarium |
| 13.21 | 50 | Compact washing machine |
| 26.42 | 100 | Bathtub capacity |
Practical Use Cases
- Fuel Purchases: Converting between gallons (US) and liters when traveling from the US to countries that use the metric system
- Cooking and Baking: Converting US recipes with gallon measurements to metric units for international use
- Aquarium Maintenance: Converting aquarium sizes from US gallons to liters for international products
- Swimming Pool Management: Converting pool chemical dosages between US and metric instructions
- Automotive Fluids: Understanding vehicle specifications when traveling internationally or importing vehicles
- Water Consumption: Comparing US water usage (gallons) to international standards (liters)
Educational Resource
This educational video explains the relationship between gallons and liters and demonstrates how to convert between these units with practical examples and applications.
Conversion Tools
Download Conversion Chart (PDF)Get our comprehensive gallons to liters conversion chart for quick reference when you're offline.
Gallons to Liters Conversion FAQs
Find answers to common questions about converting between gallons and liters.
How do you convert gallons to liters?
To convert gallons to liters, multiply the gallon value by 3.78541. For example: 1) 1 gallon = 3.78541 liters, 2) 2 gallons = 7.57082 liters, 3) 5 gallons = 18.9271 liters. Our calculator handles this automatically.
What is 1 gallon equal to in liters?
1 US gallon equals exactly 3.78541 liters. For quick estimates: 1) 1 gal ≈ 3.79 L, 2) 2 gal ≈ 7.57 L, 3) 5 gal ≈ 18.93 L. Note that this is for US gallons - Imperial gallons are different (1 Imperial gallon = 4.54609 liters).
What are common gallon to liter conversions?
Common gallon to liter conversions include: 1) 1 gal = 3.79 L, 2) 2 gal = 7.57 L, 3) 5 gal = 18.93 L, 4) 10 gal = 37.85 L, 5) 20 gal = 75.71 L, 6) 50 gal = 189.27 L, 7) 100 gal = 378.54 L.
What's the difference between US and Imperial gallons?
US and Imperial gallons differ in size: 1) 1 US gallon = 3.78541 liters, 2) 1 Imperial gallon = 4.54609 liters, 3) 1 Imperial gallon = 1.20095 US gallons, 4) This difference affects fuel economy ratings and other measurements between countries.
What's the easiest way to estimate gallons to liters?
For quick estimates of gallons to liters: 1) Multiply gallons by 3.8 (slightly more than 3.78541), 2) For example: 5 gal × 3.8 = 19 L, 3) 10 gal × 3.8 = 38 L, 4) Remember that 1 gallon is about 3.8 liters, 5) This gives a close approximation for most purposes.
How are gallons and liters used in everyday life?
Gallons and liters are used in various contexts: 1) Fuel sales (gallons in US, liters elsewhere), 2) Milk and beverages (varies by country), 3) Swimming pools (both units), 4) Car fuel tanks (manufacturer's region determines unit), 5) Paint and other liquids (often shows both), 6) Water consumption measurements.