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ItalianoLiters to gallons: the formula and an example
To convert liters to US gallons, divide by 3.785411784: US gallons = liters ÷ 3.7854. Example: a rental car with a 45-liter tank holds 45 ÷ 3.7854 = 11.89 US gallons. The imperial gallon used in the UK is larger, 4.54609 liters, so the same tank holds 9.90 imperial gallons.
The converter above is set to liters to US gallons. The answer updates as you type, to six significant figures, and the "Formula:" line shows the factor. If you think in imperial gallons, open the To list and pick "UK gallon": both gallons are in the list. The "In every unit" table shows them side by side anyway, along with pints, cups and fluid ounces. The swap button turns gallons back into liters.
Liters to gallons conversion chart
| Liters | US gallons | UK gallons | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 0.40 | 0.33 | Large water bottle |
| 2 | 0.53 | 0.44 | Soda bottle |
| 9 | 2.38 | 1.98 | Watering can |
| 12 | 3.17 | 2.64 | Picnic cooler |
| 30 | 7.93 | 6.60 | Hiking backpack (volume) |
| 45 | 11.89 | 9.90 | Small car fuel tank |
| 55 | 14.53 | 12.10 | Mid-size car tank |
| 75 | 19.81 | 16.50 | Pickup or SUV tank |
| 120 | 31.70 | 26.40 | Mid-size aquarium |
| 240 | 63.40 | 52.79 | Large aquarium, rain barrel |
| 300 | 79.25 | 65.99 | Hot water tank |
| 500 | 132.09 | 109.98 | Hot tub, small pond |
Fuel, fish tanks, mileage: liters in everyday life
Fuel prices abroad
Almost every country outside the US prices fuel by the liter. To compare with home, multiply the price per liter by 3.785: €1.80 a liter works out to €6.81 per US gallon, before currency conversion. British drivers should multiply by 4.546, which gives €8.18 per imperial gallon.
Aquariums
European tanks are sold by volume in liters. A 240-liter tank is about a 63-gallon tank by US standards, and the familiar 55-gallon tank holds 208 liters. Stocking guides written for US gallons will not match imperial ones: a 55 US gallon tank is only 45.8 UK gallons.
From L/100 km to mpg
The tool does not convert fuel economy, which is an inverse ratio. Use US mpg = 235.21 ÷ L/100 km or UK mpg = 282.48 ÷ L/100 km: a car rated 6 L/100 km does 39.2 US mpg or 47.1 UK mpg.
Mental math: divide by 4, then add 5 percent
Dividing liters by 4 gets you close to US gallons but comes out 5.4% low: 45 liters gives 11.25 instead of 11.89. Add 5% of that result and you get 11.81, within 0.6%. For imperial gallons, divide by 4.5: only 1% too high.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters are in a gallon?
A US gallon is exactly 3.785411784 liters; a UK gallon is exactly 4.54609 liters. A UK gallon is about 20% bigger.
Why are US and UK gallons different?
The US kept the old English wine gallon of 231 cubic inches. In 1824 Britain replaced its gallons with a new one, defined as the volume of 10 pounds of water.
Is a liter more than a quart?
Slightly. A US quart is a quarter gallon, 0.946 liters, so one liter is 1.057 US quarts.