Exactly one US gallon
- Liters
- 3.785411784
Result Gallons (US): 1
- 3.7854 L × 0.264172 = 1 gal
The US gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches, which is exactly 3.785411784 litres, so that volume converts to a round 1 gallon.
Liters to Gallons Converter
One liter equals 0.264172 US gallons, so divide liters by 3.785411784 (or multiply by 0.264172) to get gallons. A 50-liter fuel tank holds 13.21 US gallons. The factor is exact because the US gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches, which is 3.785411784 liters.
Liters to Gallons (US) conversion table
| L | gal |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.264172 |
| 2 | 0.528344 |
| 5 | 1.32086 |
| 10 | 2.64172 |
| 20 | 5.28344 |
| 25 | 6.6043 |
| 50 | 13.2086 |
| 100 | 26.4172 |
| 250 | 66.043 |
| 500 | 132.086 |
| 1,000 | 264.172 |
About this tool
Fuel tanks, aquariums, water heaters and paint tins are labelled in liters across most of the world, while American specs, recipes and pump prices use gallons. This converter turns liters into US liquid gallons as you type and shows the multiplication behind the answer. It uses the US gallon of 3.785411784 L. The British imperial gallon is about 20 % larger at 4.54609 L, so a UK figure needs a different factor; the result here will read high for British sources. Use the swap button to convert gallons back to liters.
How to use it
Type the volume in liters
Enter the amount in the Liters field. Decimals work, for example 0.5 for a half-liter bottle.
Read the US gallons
The gallon figure updates as you type, together with the factor used to reach it.
Swap or share
Press Swap to go from gallons to liters, or Share to send a link that reopens the same value.
Examples
A 50-litre fuel tank
- Liters
- 50
Result Gallons (US): 13.2086
- 50 L × 0.264172 = 13.2086 gal
A typical compact-car tank of 50 litres holds a little over 13 US gallons, useful when comparing European and American spec sheets.
A 200-litre aquarium
- Liters
- 200
Result Gallons (US): 52.8344
- 200 L × 0.264172 = 52.8344 gal
A 200 L tank sold in Europe is roughly the size of a 55-gallon tank in US shops, at about 52.8 US gallons.
How it is calculated
gal = L ÷ 3.785411784 = L × 0.264172
L- volume in liters (one cubic decimeter)
gal- volume in US liquid gallons (231 cubic inches)
The US gallon is fixed by law at 231 cubic inches. With the inch defined as exactly 2.54 cm, that is 3,785.411784 cubic centimeters, or 3.785411784 liters. Dividing a liter volume by that number gives gallons; the reciprocal, 0.2641720524, is the multiplier. Both units start at zero, so there is no offset.
When not to use it
- Do not use it for UK or Canadian imperial gallons, which hold 4.54609 liters each.
- For US dry gallons, used for grain and produce, the size is 4.405 liters and this factor does not apply.
Common mistakes
- Multiplying liters by 3.785 instead of dividing gives a figure about 14 times too large.
- Reading a British fuel economy or tank figure as US gallons understates the volume by about 17 %.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters are in a US gallon?
Exactly 3.785411784 liters. That value follows from the US gallon being 231 cubic inches and the inch being exactly 2.54 centimeters.
How many gallons is 20 liters?
Twenty liters is about 5.28 US gallons. A common 20-liter jerrycan therefore holds a little more than five gallons.
Why is a UK gallon bigger than a US gallon?
The imperial gallon was redefined in 1824 as the volume of 10 pounds of water, 4.54609 liters, while the US kept the older 231-cubic-inch wine gallon. The imperial gallon is about 1.2 US gallons.
Is a liter more or less than a quart?
A liter is slightly more than a US liquid quart. One quart is a quarter of a gallon, 0.946353 liters, so a liter is about 1.057 quarts.
How many gallons does a 1,000-liter IBC tote hold?
A 1,000-liter intermediate bulk container holds about 264.17 US gallons, which is why totes are often advertised as 264-gallon units.
Cite this tool
Using this tool in an assignment, article or report? Copy a citation, or a link for your website.
APA
Tools Directory Editorial Team. (2026, October 25). Liters to Gallons Converter. Tools Directory. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://tools.milunir.com/converters/volume/liters-to-gallons-converter/
MLA
Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Liters to Gallons Converter.” Tools Directory, 25 Oct. 2026, https://tools.milunir.com/converters/volume/liters-to-gallons-converter/. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Liters to Gallons Converter.” Tools Directory. Last modified October 25, 2026. Accessed October 25, 2026. https://tools.milunir.com/converters/volume/liters-to-gallons-converter/.
Link
<a href="https://tools.milunir.com/converters/volume/liters-to-gallons-converter/">Liters to Gallons Converter – Tools Directory</a>