Convert Liter to Gallon (US)
Conversion Formula
gal = L × 0.264172To convert Liter to Gallon (US), use the formula above. This is the standard conversion factor used worldwide.
Conversion Table
| Liter (L) | Gallon (US) (gal) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.264172 |
| 2 | 0.528344 |
| 5 | 1.320860 |
| 10 | 2.641720 |
Why convert Liter to Gallon (US)
Fuel economy is the conversion that trips people up most: a car's fuel consumption listed in liters per 100 km from a European or Canadian source needs converting before it means anything next to a US miles-per-gallon rating. Bulk liquids, from a 5 liter water jug to a European recipe's stock quantity, are the other common case, since American pitchers and containers are usually marked in gallons and quarts, not liters.
Where the number comes from
This page converts to the US liquid gallon, which equals exactly 3.785411784 liters. That is a smaller unit than the imperial gallon still used in the UK, which equals 4.54609 liters, about 20 percent more liquid for the same word 'gallon,' and mixing the two up is a common error.
Quick reference
| 1 L | 0.2642 US gal | |
| 1 US gal | 3.7854 L | exact ratio 3.785411784 |
| 1 imperial gal | 4.54609 L | UK gallon, not this page's default |
| 20 L | 5.283 US gal | a common bulk water jug size |
| 50 L | 13.21 US gal | close to a full US car fuel tank |
| 3.785 L | 1 US gal | the exact defining ratio |
Common mistakes
- Comparing a UK car's fuel economy in miles per imperial gallon directly against a US car's miles per US gallon overstates the UK car's apparent efficiency by roughly a fifth, since the imperial gallon holds more fuel per unit.
- Recipe and bulk liquid conversions have the same trap: a 'gallon' of milk in a UK cookbook is not the same volume as a US gallon, and using the wrong factor throws off a scaled recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this page use the US gallon or the UK imperial gallon?
The US liquid gallon, 3.785411784 L. If you're working from a UK source, use the imperial gallon figure instead, 4.54609 L, since the two differ by about 20 percent.
How do I compare a European car's L/100km rating to US mpg?
The two measure fuel efficiency in opposite directions, liters per distance versus distance per gallon, so you need to invert one before converting units. Roughly, mpg equals 235.21 divided by the L/100km figure.
Why are there two different gallons?
The US kept its colonial-era liquid gallon after independence, while the UK redefined its gallon in 1824 to a larger, more precise imperial standard, and the two measurement traditions never reconciled.
Is a liter closer to a US quart or a US gallon?
A liter is very close to a US quart, 1.057 quarts, which is why the two are sometimes used loosely as if interchangeable, though they aren't identical.