Unit converter
Liters to US Gallons Converter
Convert litres into US gallons here.
1 liter = 0.264172 US gallons
Common liters to US gallons values
| Liters | US gallons |
|---|---|
| 1 l | 0.264172 gal |
| 2 l | 0.528344 gal |
| 5 l | 1.3209 gal |
| 10 l | 2.6417 gal |
| 20 l | 5.2834 gal |
| 50 l | 13.2086 gal |
| 100 l | 26.4172 gal |
The US gallon is defined as exactly 3.785411784 litres, so one litre is about 0.264172 US gallons. This pairing turns up when comparing fuel economy across the Atlantic, reading a US recipe that calls for gallons, sizing an aquarium or water tank sold in American units, or working out how much paint or fuel a litre quantity buys in gallon terms. Enter a litre amount and the US gallon equivalent appears at once, with a handy table for the figures people convert most.
How to convert
- Take the volume in litres.
- Divide by 3.785411784 to reach US gallons, since one US gallon is that many litres.
- Dividing by 3.785411784 is the same as multiplying by roughly 0.264172.
- To turn US gallons back into litres, multiply by 3.785411784.
- For a fast estimate, a litre is just over a quarter of a US gallon, so divide the litres by about four.
US gallons = litres / 3.785411784
The US gallon is fixed at exactly 3.785411784 litres, which derives from 231 cubic inches. Dividing a litre figure by this constant gives US gallons; multiplying US gallons by it returns litres. The litre value is exact, though the reciprocal 0.264172 is a rounded decimal.
- l
- the volume in litres you start with
- 3.785411784
- litres in one US gallon, by definition
Worked example
A 40 litre car fuel tank is 40 divided by 3.785411784, which is about 10.57 US gallons. A 2 litre bottle is roughly 0.528 US gallons, a little over half a gallon.
Key facts
- One US gallon is exactly 3.785411784 litres; one litre is about 0.264172 US gallons.
- A US gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches.
- Four litres come to roughly 1.057 US gallons.
- The US gallon is noticeably smaller than the imperial gallon used in the UK.
Tips
- For a rough read, treat four litres as a fraction over one US gallon.
- When following a US recipe, convert the whole gallon quantity once rather than scaling litre by litre.
Frequently asked questions
How many US gallons in 1 litre?+
About 0.264172 US gallons, just over a quarter.
How many litres are in a US gallon?+
Exactly 3.785411784 litres, by definition.
Is a US gallon the same as a UK gallon?+
No. The imperial (UK) gallon is larger at 4.54609 litres, so a US gallon is about 83 percent of an imperial one. Use the matching tool for UK gallons.
Why is US fuel economy hard to compare?+
American miles per gallon uses the smaller US gallon, so a US mpg figure looks lower than the same car rated in imperial mpg even before the mile-versus-kilometre difference.
Things to watch
- Never mix US and imperial gallons; the 0.76 litre gap between them throws off fuel and tank figures.
- Rounding the factor to 3.79 introduces a small error that grows on large volumes, so keep full precision until the end.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-01-01
Conversions use internationally defined factors. Provided for general use; verify critical measurements independently.