Litres to Gallons Converter
Quick answer
1 litre (L) = 0.264172 US gallons (US gal) = 0.219969 imperial gallons (imp gal), so divide litres by 3.785412 for US gallons and by 4.54609 for imperial gallons. 10 L = 2.64 US gal = 2.20 imp gal, and 1 US gal = 3.785412 L.
How to measure volume before converting litres to gallons
The Litres to Gallons Converter turns metric litres into US liquid gallons, imperial (UK) gallons, millilitres (mL), cubic metres (m³), cubic feet (cu ft), US quarts (qt), and US fluid ounces (fl oz) through fixed factors set by the International System of Units (SI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Fuel tanks, paint cans, aquariums, water drums, rainwater barrels, and IBC totes all convert through the same two constants: 3.785412 L per US gallon and 4.54609 L per imperial gallon.
Read the litre figure directly from a label, flow meter, or measuring jug for a single value, or measure a rectangular tank for capacity. Record length across the longest horizontal side, width through the front-to-back depth, and height from bottom to top, then set the fill level percentage for freeboard — a 36 × 18 × 16 inch tank holds 169.9 L (44.88 US gal, 37.38 imp gal) when filled to 100%.
- 1Enter the volumeType the litre value and pick the source unit, or switch to tank mode and fill Length, Width, Height, and fill level.
- 2Select the target gallonChoose US gallons for North American products or imperial gallons for UK, Irish, and Caribbean measurements.
- 3Read every unitCollect litres, US gallons, imperial gallons, millilitres, cubic feet, and quarts, plus an optional cost estimate in dollars ($).
Litres to Gallons Converter
Length = longest horizontal side (left → right). Width = depth (front → back). Height = vertical side (bottom → top). Fill level trims the usable volume for freeboard.
Estimated cost (optional)
Enter a liquid price to estimate a budget, plus coverage pricing per square foot, square yard, and square metre.
Reference only: price × volume × quantity, plus waste. Market rates run about $15–$50 per US gallon for interior paint, $20–$80 per US gallon for concrete sealer, and $20 per US gallon for standard primer, with 1 US gallon covering 350–400 sq ft (32.5–37.2 sq m) in one coat.
Which side is which
Quick reference
| Litres | US gallons | Imperial gallons |
|---|
1 L = 0.264172 US gal = 0.219969 imp gal · 1 US gal = 3.785412 L · 1 imp gal = 4.54609 L
How the Litres to Gallons Converter works
The Litres to Gallons Converter divides every litre value by 3.785412 for US gallons or by 4.54609 for imperial gallons and prints all results instantly, because the calculation runs in the browser as each keystroke, unit selection, or preset click fires. Single-volume mode converts between 8 units including millilitres, cubic metres, cubic feet, quarts, and fluid ounces, while tank mode multiplies Length × Width × Height, applies the fill level percentage, and returns capacity in litres and both gallon standards. The optional cost estimator multiplies the converted volume by your liquid price, quantity, and waste percentage, then divides the total by the coverage rate to return cost per square foot (sq ft), square metre (sq m), and square yard (sq yd).
Litres to gallons formula
Litres to Gallons Converter examples
Single-volume conversions
10 litres equal 2.64 US gallons, 2.20 imperial gallons, 10,000 millilitres, and 0.353 cubic feet. Four everyday container sizes convert as shown.
Full unit breakdown for 50 litres
50 litres equal 13.209 US gallons, 11.998 imperial gallons, 52.834 US quarts, 1,690.70 US fluid ounces, 1.766 cubic feet, and 0.05 cubic metres. Every unit inside the converter appears below.
| Unit | Symbol | Value for 50 L | Factor per litre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Litres | L | 50.000 | 1 |
| Millilitres | mL | 50,000 | 1,000 |
| Cubic metres | m³ | 0.050 | 0.001 |
| Cubic feet | cu ft | 1.766 | 0.0353147 |
| US gallons | US gal | 13.209 | 0.264172 |
| Imperial gallons | imp gal | 10.998 | 0.219969 |
| US quarts | qt | 52.834 | 1.056688 |
| US fluid ounces | fl oz | 1,690.70 | 33.814023 |
Tank capacity example with L × W × H
A 36 × 18 × 16 inch tank holds 169.9 litres (44.88 US gallons, 37.38 imperial gallons) at 100% fill and 152.9 litres (40.39 US gallons) at 90% fill. Length runs 36 in left to right, width runs 18 in front to back, and height rises 16 in from bottom to top.
Estimated cost example
Five US gallons (18.93 L) of wall paint at $35 per US gallon with 10% waste costs $192.50 and covers 1,750 sq ft (162.6 sq m, 194.4 sq yd) at $0.11 per sq ft. Four coverage presets change the area and the per-area cost.
| Coverage preset | Rate | Area from 5 US gal | Cost per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall paint | 350 sq ft/gal | 1,750 sq ft (162.6 sq m) | $0.11 |
| Smooth walls | 400 sq ft/gal | 2,000 sq ft (185.8 sq m) | $0.10 |
| Primer | 250 sq ft/gal | 1,250 sq ft (116.1 sq m) | $0.15 |
| Driveway sealcoat | 90 sq ft/gal | 450 sq ft (41.8 sq m) | $0.43 |
Helpful information before you convert litres to gallons
Identify the gallon standard first, because the US liquid gallon holds 3.785412 L while the imperial gallon holds 4.54609 L. Volume conversion accuracy depends on the chosen standard and the measured fill level rather than the arithmetic.
5 checks to run before entering a volume
- Confirm the gallon type: US gallons apply to United States fuel, paint, and milk; imperial gallons apply to United Kingdom, Ireland, and Caribbean specifications.
- Check the container label: a 5 L jug states net contents, while a 20 L jerrycan often carries 22 L of physical space.
- Measure inside dimensions: internal length, width, and height exclude wall thickness, which changes a 16 in tank height by 0.5 in (1.27 cm).
- Set a realistic fill level: aquariums run at 90–95% and fuel tanks at 95% for expansion headspace.
- Select the rounding last: keep 2 decimal places for retail volumes and 3 decimal places for laboratory or dosing work.
Where litre and gallon precision matters
- Fuel purchases: a 50 L fill equals 13.21 US gal, and a 60 L tank equals 13.20 imp gal.
- Paint and coatings: a 3.785 L can equals 1 US gal and covers 350–400 sq ft (32.5–37.2 sq m) per coat.
- Aquarium stocking: a 200 L aquarium equals 52.83 US gal, sized for 20–25 small fish.
- Water storage: a 1,000 L intermediate bulk container (IBC) equals 264.17 US gal, and a 55 US gal drum equals 208.2 L.
- Recipe scaling: 1 L equals 33.81 fl oz, 4.23 US cups, and 1.06 qt.
Cost estimate accuracy
Interior paint sells for $15–$50 per US gallon, primer averages $20 per US gallon, concrete sealer runs $20–$80 per US gallon, and driveway sealcoat covers only 80–100 sq ft per gallon. Add 10% waste for rollers and trays, 15% for spray application, and divide the total by coverage for a reliable $ per sq ft figure.
Rounding rules that protect an order
Round purchase volumes up to the next container size, never down: 18.93 L of required paint equals 5 US gal exactly, while 19.5 L requires 6 US gal cans. A 2% shortfall across a 1,750 sq ft job leaves 35 sq ft unpainted.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1How many gallons are in 1 litre?
1 litre contains 0.264172 US gallons or 0.219969 imperial gallons. 4 L equal 1.06 US gal, and 10 L equal 2.64 US gal.
2How do I convert litres to gallons manually?
Divide the litre value by 3.785412 for US gallons or by 4.54609 for imperial gallons. 25 L becomes 25 ÷ 3.785412 = 6.60 US gal and 25 ÷ 4.54609 = 5.50 imp gal.
3Is a US gallon the same as an imperial gallon?
No, the imperial gallon holds 4.54609 L while the US liquid gallon holds 3.785412 L, a 20.95% difference. 40 L equal 10.57 US gal but 8.80 imp gal.
4Which side is length, width, and height in tank mode?
Length runs side to side along the longest horizontal edge, width runs front to back as depth, and height runs bottom to top as fill depth. A 36 × 18 × 16 in tank follows that L × W × H order and holds 169.9 L (44.88 US gal).
5How many litres are in 5 gallons?
5 US gallons equal 18.927 litres, and 5 imperial gallons equal 22.730 litres. A 5 US gal paint pail therefore holds 18.93 L, 640 fl oz, and 20 qt.
6Does the Litres to Gallons Converter handle cubic feet and cubic metres?
Yes, cubic feet and cubic metres convert in both directions. 1 cu ft equals 28.317 L (7.481 US gal), and 1 m³ equals 1,000 L (264.17 US gal).
7How does the cost estimate work?
The cost estimate multiplies your liquid price by the converted volume, quantity, and waste percentage, then divides the total by the coverage rate for area pricing. Prices accept $ per US gallon, imperial gallon, litre, or millilitre, and 5 US gal at $35 with 10% waste returns $192.50 across 1,750 sq ft.
8Why does the fill level percentage matter?
The fill level percentage converts total capacity into usable volume. A 169.9 L tank holds 152.9 L (40.39 US gal) at 90% fill and 161.4 L (42.64 US gal) at 95% fill, leaving headspace for expansion.
9What are the most searched litre to gallon values?
1 L = 0.26 US gal, 2 L = 0.53 US gal, 5 L = 1.32 US gal, 10 L = 2.64 US gal, 20 L = 5.28 US gal, and 50 L = 13.21 US gal rank as the 6 most requested conversions. Container favourites include 200 L drums = 52.83 US gal and 1,000 L IBC totes = 264.17 US gal.