When it comes to measuring fuel, water, or other liquids, you may find yourself needing to convert pints to litres to gallons or gallons to litres to pints. Commonly people want to know how many litres in a gallon (there’s 4.55 litres in a UK gallon, 3.79 litres in a US Gallon).
In the UK we mix between pints (for milk and beer) to litres (petrol, soft drinks) as we use both imperial and metric measurements for liquid capacity. Of course we like to be confusing, so often with barrels and large containers it’s measured in multiples of an imperial gallon.Â
Whether you’re calculating fuel efficiency, checking petrol prices, or converting volumes for recipes or industrial use, understanding the difference between UK and US gallons is essential. One of the most common misconceptions is that a gallon and pints are the same worldwide. But it isn’t.
- A UK gallon (also called an Imperial gallon) is approximately 4.55 litres.
- A US gallon is only 3.79 litres, making it smaller than a UK gallon.
- A UK Pint is 20 British fluid oz equal to 28.413 ml
- A US Pint is 16 US fluid oz equal to 29.574 ml.
Historically both the US and UK pints were defined as 1/8 of a gallon until 1824 when the UK adopted a new definition of the gallon. As there is a difference in the US between dry (551ml) and liquid (473ml) pints, I won’t convert these for my sanity more than anything else.
This difference for gallons means that miles per gallon (MPG) ratings for cars differ between the UK and the US. A vehicle advertised as achieving 40 miles per gallon (US) actually achieves around 48 miles per gallon (UK). You can convert miles to kilometres here if needed.
To make conversions easier, use the following formulas:
- To convert litres to UK gallons: litres ÷ 4.55 = UK gallons
- To convert litres to US gallons: litres ÷ 3.79 = US gallons
- To convert litres to Pints: litres x 1.75 = Pints
- To convert UK gallons to litres: UK gallons × 4.55 = litres
- To convert UK gallons to Pints: UK gallons × 7.96 = UK Pints
- To convert US gallons to litres: US gallons × 3.79 = litres
- To convert US gallons to Pints: US gallons × 8 = USA Pints
Litres to Gallons to Litres Convertor
Quick Conversion Chart Litres/Gallons
The table below provides a handy reference guide for litres to gallons and vice versa.
| Litres | Gallons (UK) | Gallons (US) | Gallons (UK to Litres) | Gallons (US to Litres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.22 | 0.26 | 1 UK gallon = 4.55 L | 1 US gallon = 3.79 L |
| 2 | 0.44 | 0.53 | 2 UK gallons = 9.09 L | 2 US gallons = 7.57 L |
| 3 | 0.66 | 0.79 | 3 UK gallons = 13.64 L | 3 US gallons = 11.40 L |
| 4 | 0.88 | 1.06 | 4 UK gallons = 18.18 L | 4 US gallons = 15.10 L |
| 5 | 1.10 | 1.32 | 5 UK gallons = 22.73 L | 5 US gallons = 18.90 L |
| 6 | 1.32 | 1.59 | 6 UK gallons = 27.28 L | 6 US gallons = 22.70 L |
| 7 | 1.54 | 1.85 | 7 UK gallons = 31.82 L | 7 US gallons = 26.50 L |
| 8 | 1.76 | 2.11 | 8 UK gallons = 36.37 L | 8 US gallons = 30.30 L |
| 9 | 1.98 | 2.38 | 9 UK gallons = 40.91 L | 9 US gallons = 34.10 L |
| 10 | 2.20 | 2.64 | 10 UK gallons = 45.46 L | 10 US gallons = 37.90 L |
Why Are UK and US Gallons Different?
The Imperial gallon (UK) was defined in 1824 as the volume of 10 pounds of water at 62°F (16.6°C). Meanwhile, the US gallon was based on an older wine gallon standard dating back to the 1700s. This historical difference is why US gallons are smaller than UK gallons.
Common Uses for Gallon and Litre Conversions
Understanding litres and gallons is useful in many situations, including:
- Fuel efficiency: UK car fuel economy is measured in miles per gallon (MPG UK), while the US uses MPG (US), which differs due to the smaller US gallon.
- Cooking and baking: Some international recipes list ingredients in gallons, requiring conversion for accuracy.
- Industrial use: Storage tanks for fuel, chemicals, and beverages may be measured in litres or gallons depending on the country.
- Swimming pools and aquariums: Water capacity is often listed in litres or gallons, depending on location.
Knowing how to convert litres to gallons is useful in daily life, especially for fuel efficiency, pricing, and industrial measurements. Whether you’re checking miles per gallon, buying fuel abroad, or following an international recipe, this guide provides the accurate conversions you need. For quick conversions on the go, consider using our metric conversion apps or our online litres-to-gallons calculator above.
FAQs About Litres and Gallons
How do I quickly estimate litres to gallons?
For a rough estimate, divide litres by 4 for UK gallons and by 3.8 for US gallons.
Are petrol prices displayed in litres or gallons in the UK?
In the UK, petrol is sold by the litre, while in the US, it is sold by the gallon.
Is it better to use litres or gallons for fuel efficiency?
Most of the world (except the US and a few other countries) uses litres per 100 km (L/100 km), which is a more precise measure of fuel efficiency than miles per gallon.
Why do some countries use litres while others use gallons?
The UK switched to the metric system in 1965, but gallons are still commonly referenced for fuel efficiency. The US remains on the imperial system, so gallons are still in use.
