US Gallons to Liters Converter
1 US gallon = 3.78541 liters
Converting us gallons to liters is a fundamental task in volume and capacity measurement. The US gallon (231 cubic inches) was defined by the US in 1832 and differs from the Imperial gallon. Today, 1 gal equals 3.78541 L, and this conversion is commonly needed in cooking and chemistry.
Did you know? Did you know? The US gallon (231 cubic inches) was defined by the US in 1832 and differs from the Imperial gallon. Meanwhile, the liter was introduced in france in 1795 as a unit equal to one cubic decimeter. These different origins explain why both units remain in common use today.
Conversion Formula
liters = US gallons x 3.78541
To convert US gallons to liters, multiply by 3.78541. The US gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches, which equals 3.785411784 liters.
US Gallons to Liters Table
| US Gallons (gal) | Liters (L) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.89271 |
| 1 | 3.78541 |
| 2 | 7.57082 |
| 3 | 11.3562 |
| 5 | 18.9271 |
| 10 | 37.8541 |
| 15 | 56.7812 |
| 20 | 75.7082 |
| 50 | 189.271 |
| 100 | 378.541 |
About US Gallons to Liters
Converting US gallons to liters is essential for international fuel purchases, cooking, aquarium setup, and any liquid measurement crossing the metric-imperial divide.
Gas prices worldwide are listed per liter, except in the US where they are per gallon. If gas costs $3.50 per gallon in the US, that is about $0.92 per liter. When Europeans see $1.80/liter at their pumps, that is $6.81 per US gallon.
For aquarium enthusiasts, a 55-gallon fish tank holds 208.2 liters. A 10-gallon nano reef is 37.85 liters. Chemical dosing for aquariums (often in mL per liter) requires knowing the exact volume.
In homebrewing, a standard 5-gallon batch of beer is 18.93 liters. A corny keg holds 5 gallons (18.93 L), while a half-barrel commercial keg is 15.5 gallons (58.67 liters).
Water storage for emergency preparedness follows the rule of 1 gallon per person per day. For a family of four planning for 72 hours, that's 12 gallons (45.4 liters) of drinking water.
Paint coverage is often listed as one gallon covering 350-400 sq ft. That's 3.785 liters covering 32.5-37.2 m2 - useful when buying paint in metric countries.
For quick estimation, multiply gallons by 3.8 or simply by 4 and subtract 5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many liters in 1 gallon?
1 US gallon equals 3.785 liters. For Imperial (UK) gallons, 1 gallon = 4.546 liters.
How many liters of gas does a car hold?
Average US car fuel tanks hold 12-16 US gallons, which is 45-60 liters. Larger SUVs and trucks can hold 20-35 gallons (76-132 liters).
Is a gallon of water really 8 pounds?
Close - 1 US gallon of water weighs about 8.34 pounds (3.78 kg). The saying "a pint is a pound the world around" is approximate.
How many water bottles equal a gallon?
A standard water bottle is 500 mL (0.5 L). Since 1 gallon = 3.785 liters, you need about 7.57 standard bottles - roughly 8 water bottles per gallon.