Volume Converter
Gallons, Liters, Cups & More
The Gallon Confusion: US vs. UK
If you are driving a rental car in Europe or Canada, you might assume a "Gallon" is the same everywhere. It is not.
There are two distinct types of gallons still in use today:
- US Liquid Gallon: 3.78 Liters (Used in the USA and some Latin American countries).
- Imperial (UK) Gallon: 4.54 Liters (Used in the UK, Canada, and Caribbean).
The UK gallon is about 20% larger. If you are calculating fuel economy (MPG), a UK car will always seem more efficient simply because their gallons are bigger!
Travel Math: Liters to Gallons
In most of the world, gasoline is sold by the Liter. In the US, it is sold by the Gallon. This makes comparing gas prices tricky.
Quick Rule of Thumb:
1 US Gallon ≈ 3.8 Liters.
If gas costs $1.50 per liter in Canada, that is roughly $5.70 per gallon ($1.50 x 3.8).
1 US Gallon ≈ 3.8 Liters.
If gas costs $1.50 per liter in Canada, that is roughly $5.70 per gallon ($1.50 x 3.8).
Science vs. Kitchen Units
Volume measures space. In the kitchen, we use Cups and Teaspoons. In science and engineering, we use Cubic Meters.
- Cubic Meter (m³): A giant box 1m x 1m x 1m. It holds exactly 1,000 Liters.
- Cubic Centimeter (cm³ or cc): The size of a sugar cube. It holds exactly 1 Milliliter.
Engine medicine dosage is often measured in "cc" (cubic centimeters), which is exactly the same as "ml."
Common Conversion Chart
| Unit | Metric Equivalent | US Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Liter | 1,000 ml | 0.26 Gallons |
| 1 US Gallon | 3.78 L | 4 Quarts |
| 1 Cubic Meter | 1,000 L | 264 Gallons |
| 1 Fluid Ounce | 29.5 ml | 1/8 Cup |