Volume & Capacity Converter

Quick Reference Table

From	To	Multiply By	Example
Liters	US Gallons	0.264172	10 L = 2.64 gal
US Gallons	Liters	3.78541	5 gal = 18.93 L
Milliliters	US Fluid Ounces	0.033814	100 ml = 3.38 fl oz
US Cups	Milliliters	236.588	2 cups = 473 ml
US Quarts	Liters	0.946353	1 qt = 0.95 L
US Pints	Milliliters	473.176	1 pt = 473 ml
Tablespoons	Milliliters	14.7868	2 tbsp = 30 ml
Teaspoons	Milliliters	4.92892	3 tsp = 15 ml

Common Volume Measurements

Item	Volume (US)	Volume (Metric)
Teaspoon	1 tsp	~5 ml
Tablespoon	1 tbsp (3 tsp)	~15 ml
Shot glass	1.5 fl oz	44 ml
Coffee cup	8 fl oz (1 cup)	237 ml
Soda can	12 fl oz	355 ml
Water bottle (standard)	16.9 fl oz	500 ml (0.5 L)
Wine bottle	25.4 fl oz	750 ml (0.75 L)
2-liter soda bottle	67.6 fl oz	2 liters (2000 ml)
Milk jug (US)	1 gallon (128 fl oz)	3.78 liters
Gas tank (small car)	12-15 gallons	45-57 liters
Bathtub	40-60 gallons	150-230 liters
Swimming pool (average)	20,000 gallons	75,700 liters

Understanding Volume Units

Milliliter (ml or mL)

Definition: One-thousandth of a liter. Equal to one cubic centimeter (1 cm³). Approximately 0.034 US fluid ounces or about 20 drops of water.

History: Part of the metric system developed in France in 1795. The liter was originally defined as the volume of one kilogram of water, making the milliliter equal to one gram of water.

Current Use: Standard volume unit worldwide for small liquid measurements. Used in cooking (especially international recipes), medicine (drug dosages, liquid medications), beverages, laboratory work, and automotive fluids. Medicine dosages almost universally measured in milliliters. Common on nutrition labels globally.

Liter (L)

Definition: The base metric unit of volume. Equal to 1,000 milliliters or one cubic decimeter (10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm). Approximately 33.814 US fluid ounces or 1.057 US quarts.

History: Introduced with the metric system in 1795. Originally defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water at 4°C at standard pressure. Redefined in 1964 as exactly one cubic decimeter.

Current Use: Universal standard for liquid volume in most countries. Used for beverages (soft drinks, bottled water, juice), fuel (gasoline/petrol), automotive fluids (engine oil), large containers, and scientific measurements. Soda sold in 1L, 1.5L, 2L bottles worldwide. Fuel economy measured in L/100km in metric countries.

US Fluid Ounce (fl oz)

Definition: US fluid ounce equals approximately 29.5735 milliliters. Not to be confused with ounce (weight). One-sixteenth of a US pint or one-eighth of a US cup.

History: Evolved from British imperial system. US and UK fluid ounces differ slightly (US: 29.57 ml, UK/Imperial: 28.41 ml). Standardized in 1959 international agreement.

Current Use: Primary unit for small liquid measurements in United States. Used for beverages (soda cans: 12 fl oz), cooking recipes, beverage serving sizes, medicine, cosmetics, and nutrition labels. Coffee shops use fl oz for drink sizes (8, 12, 16, 20 oz). "8 glasses of water a day" = 8 fl oz each = 64 fl oz total.

US Cup

Definition: US legal cup equals exactly 240 milliliters. US customary cup (cooking) equals 236.588 milliliters. Equal to 8 US fluid ounces or half a US pint.

History: Traditional cooking measurement in American cuisine. Standardized for consistency in recipes but slight variations exist (legal vs customary cup).

Current Use: Standard cooking measurement in United States. Used in recipes for both liquid and dry ingredients. Measuring cups are kitchen staples in US homes. "Cup of coffee" typically 8 fl oz. International recipes increasingly show both cups and milliliters.

US Pint (pt)

Definition: US liquid pint equals 473.176 milliliters or 16 US fluid ounces. Half a US quart or two US cups. Note: US dry pint (550 ml) differs from liquid pint.

History: From British imperial system. US and UK pints differ: US pint = 473 ml, Imperial pint = 568 ml (20% larger). This creates confusion in international contexts.

Current Use: Common in United States and UK for beer, cider, milk (historically), and ice cream. "A pint of beer" standard serving at bars. Craft beer often sold in pint glasses (16 oz US). Less common for general cooking than cups or fluid ounces.

US Quart (qt)

Definition: US liquid quart equals 946.353 milliliters (approximately 0.946 liters). Equal to 32 US fluid ounces, 2 US pints, or 4 US cups. Quarter of a US gallon.

History: Name from "quarter" (of a gallon). Part of imperial measurement system. US and Imperial quarts differ slightly.

Current Use: Used in United States for larger liquid quantities. Motor oil sold in quarts. Milk formerly sold in quart bottles (now gallons or half-gallons more common). Cooking for large quantities. Still appears on US product packaging and recipes.

US Gallon (gal)

Definition: US gallon equals exactly 3.785411784 liters or 128 US fluid ounces. Equal to 4 US quarts or 8 US pints. Different from Imperial gallon (4.546 L).

History: Derived from wine gallon used in England. US gallon standardized in 1836. Smaller than Imperial gallon by about 20%, causing international confusion.

Current Use: Primary large volume unit in United States. Used for gasoline/fuel pricing and efficiency (MPG), milk and juice containers, paint and chemicals, aquarium sizes, and water usage. Gas stations price per gallon. Fuel economy measured in miles per gallon (MPG) in US vs L/100km elsewhere.

Tablespoon (tbsp) & Teaspoon (tsp)

Definition: US tablespoon = 14.7868 ml (approximately 15 ml). US teaspoon = 4.92892 ml (approximately 5 ml). One tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons.

History: Traditional cooking measurements based on actual spoons. Standardized for consistency in recipes. Metric countries use ml directly instead.

Current Use: Ubiquitous in US cooking recipes. Used for both liquid and dry ingredient measurements. Essential measuring spoons in every US kitchen. Medicine sometimes dosed in teaspoons (though ml more precise). International recipes increasingly show ml equivalents.

Cubic Meter (m³)

Definition: One cubic meter equals 1,000 liters. A cube one meter on each side. Very large volume unit.

History: SI derived unit for volume, based on the meter.

Current Use: Used for very large volumes: water consumption (utility billing), shipping container capacity, concrete volume, natural gas measurements, swimming pool volumes, and room sizes. Water bills often measured in cubic meters. Not used for everyday measurements.

Imperial Gallon (UK)

Definition: Imperial gallon equals exactly 4.54609 liters. About 20% larger than US gallon. Equal to 160 Imperial fluid ounces.

History: Defined in 1824 in Britain as volume of 10 pounds of water at 62°F. Remains official in UK alongside metric units.

Current Use: Still used in United Kingdom alongside liters, though liters increasingly dominant. Important for comparing UK and US measurements. Fuel efficiency in UK sometimes given in "miles per gallon" but using Imperial gallon (different from US MPG).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many liters in a gallon?

US gallon = 3.785 liters (approximately 3.8 L). Imperial gallon = 4.546 liters. To convert gallons to liters, multiply by 3.785 (US) or 4.546 (Imperial). Example: 5 US gallons × 3.785 = 18.93 liters. Always specify US or Imperial gallon to avoid confusion.

How many ml in a cup?

US legal cup = 240 ml. US customary cup (cooking) = 236.588 ml (often rounded to 237 ml). Metric cup (Australia, etc.) = 250 ml. Most US recipes use the customary cup (~237 ml). For accuracy in international recipes, check which cup measurement is intended.

How many ounces in a liter?

One liter equals 33.814 US fluid ounces. To convert liters to fl oz, multiply by 33.814. Example: 2 liters × 33.814 = 67.6 fl oz. Note: This is fluid ounces (volume), not weight ounces. A 2-liter bottle contains about 68 fl oz of soda.

What is 8 glasses of water in liters?

Standard recommendation is eight 8-ounce glasses = 64 fl oz total = approximately 1.9 liters (about 2 liters). This is the "8×8 rule." However, actual water needs vary by person, activity, climate, and diet. About 2-3 liters daily is typical recommendation for adults.

How do I convert recipe measurements?

Use standard conversions: 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 tbsp = 15 ml, 1 tsp = 5 ml, 1 fl oz = 30 ml (approximately). For precision, use exact conversions. Digital kitchen scales (weighing in grams) often more accurate than volume measurements for baking. Many modern recipes provide both volume and weight measurements.

Why are US and UK gallons different?

Historical reasons. UK standardized the Imperial gallon in 1824 based on 10 pounds of water. US kept the older wine gallon from colonial times. US gallon defined later in 1836. The systems diverged before international standardization. Result: UK gallon 20% larger than US gallon.

How many cups in a liter?

One liter equals approximately 4.227 US cups (using 236.588 ml per cup). Often rounded to 4.2 cups. Example: 2 liters = about 8.5 cups. For cooking, 1 liter ≈ 4 cups is close enough for most recipes.

What's the difference between fl oz and oz?

Fluid ounce (fl oz) measures volume/capacity of liquids. Ounce (oz) measures weight/mass. They're completely different: 8 fl oz of water weighs about 8 oz, but 8 fl oz of honey weighs more than 8 oz (denser). Never confuse them—use fluid ounces for liquids, ounces for weight.

Common Uses for Volume Conversion

• Cooking & Baking: Converting recipes between metric and imperial measurements
• International Travel: Understanding fuel volumes and beverage sizes
• Health & Hydration: Tracking daily water intake
• Medicine: Converting dosage measurements
• Home Improvement: Calculating paint, stain, or chemical quantities
• Automotive: Understanding fuel tank capacity and oil volumes
• Aquariums: Calculating tank volumes and treatment dosages
• Gardening: Mixing fertilizers and pesticides correctly

Volume Conversion Tips

1. Remember key conversions: 1 gallon ≈ 3.8 L, 1 cup ≈ 240 ml, 1 fl oz ≈ 30 ml
2. US vs Imperial: Always specify which system (US gallon ≠ Imperial gallon)
3. Kitchen shortcuts: 1 tbsp ≈ 15 ml, 1 tsp ≈ 5 ml, 1 cup ≈ 250 ml (close enough)
4. Volume vs weight: Don't confuse fl oz (volume) with oz (weight)
5. Water rule: 1 ml of water weighs 1 gram (at 4°C)
6. For accuracy: Use digital scales (grams) rather than volume for baking
7. Label units clearly: ml, L, fl oz, cups, gal to avoid confusion

Interesting Volume Facts

• Olympic swimming pool: 2.5 million liters (660,000 US gallons)
• Human stomach capacity: ~1 liter (can stretch to 4 liters)
• Average bathtub: 300 liters (80 gallons) when full
• Wine bottle standard: 750 ml (about 25 fl oz, 5 glasses)
• Beer keg (half barrel): 58.7 liters (15.5 US gallons, 165 12-oz beers)
• Car gas tank: 45-70 liters (12-18 gallons) typical
• Human bladder: 400-600 ml capacity
• Champagne bottle sizes: Magnum (1.5 L), Jeroboam (3 L), Methuselah (6 L)
• Daily water usage (US average): 300 liters (80 gallons) per person
• Teardrop: about 0.05 ml
• Raindrop: 0.5-5 ml depending on size
• Fire hydrant flow: 3,800 liters (1,000 gallons) per minute

Kitchen Measurement Conversions

US Cooking Measurements

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon. 2 tablespoons = 1 fl oz. 4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup. 8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup. 16 tablespoons = 1 cup. 2 cups = 1 pint. 2 pints = 1 quart. 4 quarts = 1 gallon.

Metric Kitchen Conversions

5 ml = 1 tsp. 15 ml = 1 tbsp. 250 ml = 1 metric cup. 500 ml = 2 metric cups. 1000 ml (1 L) = 4 metric cups.

Common Baking Conversions

1 stick butter = 1/2 cup = 8 tbsp = 113g. 1 cup flour = ~120g. 1 cup sugar = ~200g. 1 cup milk = 240 ml = 245g. Always weigh for precision in baking.

Beverage Standards

Coffee cup: 6-8 fl oz. Mug: 10-16 fl oz. Wine glass: 5 fl oz (150 ml) standard serving. Beer pint: 16 fl oz US, 20 fl oz UK. Shot: 1.5 fl oz (44 ml) standard.

Volume by Application

Automotive

Engine oil change: 4-6 quarts (3.8-5.7 L). Coolant system: 10-15 quarts (9.5-14 L). Fuel tank: 12-18 gallons (45-68 L) typical car. Windshield washer: 1 gallon (3.8 L) reservoir.

Household

Washing machine: 40-60 liters (10-15 gallons) per load. Dishwasher: 10-25 liters (2.6-6.6 gallons) per cycle. Toilet flush: 6 liters (1.6 gallons) modern low-flow. Shower: 10 liters (2.5 gallons) per minute average.

Aquariums

10-gallon tank = 38 liters. 20-gallon = 76 L. 55-gallon = 208 L. Remember: "gallon" in aquariums always means US gallons. Calculate water changes as percentage of total volume.

Pool & Spa

Above-ground pool (24 ft round, 4 ft deep): ~13,000 gallons (49,000 L). In-ground pool (16×32 ft, 6 ft avg): ~23,000 gallons (87,000 L). Hot tub: 300-500 gallons (1,100-1,900 L).