Liters to Gallons Converter
Convert liters to US gallons instantly. Type a liter value and get the exact gallons result. Formula: 1 L = 0.264172 US gal.
The liter-to-gallon conversion is central to fuel economy, cooking, and large-volume liquid measurement across metric and imperial contexts. This converter uses US gallons (1 US gallon = 3.78541 liters), which is distinct from the Imperial gallon (4.54609 liters) used historically in the UK. Fuel economy comparison is the most common use case. European fuel efficiency is stated in liters per 100 km (L/100km) while Americans use miles per gallon (mpg). A car getting 8L/100km consumes 8 liters to travel 100 km; to convert to mpg, you also need the miles-to-km and liters-to-gallons conversions together (the formula is 235.215 ÷ L/100km). For large-scale cooking and brewing, American recipes specify quantities in gallons — a 5-gallon homebrew batch is 18.93 liters. Swimming pool volume is stated in gallons in the US (a standard residential pool holds 15,000–20,000 gallons, or 56,781–75,708 liters). In agriculture and irrigation, water usage is measured in gallons in the US. A cow drinks approximately 30–50 gallons (114–189 liters) per day. Drip irrigation specs list flow rates in gallons per hour. Aquarium sizes are sold in gallons in North America: a common 10-gallon "starter tank" is 37.85 liters. Note that UK fish keepers use Imperial gallons, so a 10-gallon UK tank is 45.46 liters — important for dosing medications.
Related Conversions
Free Online Unit Converter
Zolkit's unit converter supports 7 categories covering dozens of the most common conversions — length, weight, temperature, volume, area, speed, and torque. Pick a category, select your units from the dropdowns, type a value, and see the result instantly. A swap button reverses the conversion direction with one click. Your last-used category and units are remembered locally so the converter is ready when you return.
7 Unit Categories
Convert length, weight, temperature, volume, area, speed, and torque — all the unit conversions you need in one tool.
Instant Conversion
Results update as you type. Switch between units with dropdowns and see the converted value immediately.
Swap Units
Hit the swap button to instantly reverse the conversion direction. Saves time when you need both directions.
Offline-Ready
All conversions are calculated locally in your browser. No internet required after the page loads.
Works on Any Device
Clean, responsive layout that works on phones, tablets, and desktops alike.
Always Free
No account required, no ads, no limits. Convert as many units as you need, whenever you need.
How to Use the Unit Converter
- 1
Choose a unit category from the tab bar at the top: Length, Weight, Temperature, Volume, Area, Speed, or Other.
- 2
Select the unit you're converting from and the unit you're converting to using the dropdowns. Type your value and the result appears instantly.
- 3
Click the swap button (↔) to reverse the conversion direction, or click Copy to save the result to your clipboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many gallons is 1 liter?
1 liter equals 0.264172 US gallons. Since 1 US gallon = 3.78541 liters, dividing gives 1 liter = 1/3.78541 ≈ 0.2642 US gallons.
What is the difference between a US gallon and an Imperial gallon?
A US gallon = 3.78541 liters. An Imperial (UK) gallon = 4.54609 liters. The US gallon is about 16.7% smaller. This difference matters when reading fuel economy figures or following UK recipes.
How many liters is a 5-gallon bucket?
A standard 5-US-gallon bucket holds 18.927 liters. These are commonly used in homebrewing, concrete mixing, and gardening across North America.
How do I convert liters to gallons mentally?
Divide liters by 4 for a rough estimate (actual divisor is 3.785). For example, 20 liters ÷ 4 = 5 gallons (actual: 5.28 gallons). For more precision, multiply liters by 0.264.