How to Convert Litres to US gallons (L to gal)
Volume conversions help with baking from American recipes, comparing petrol prices quoted per gallon abroad with pump prices per litre here, and reading PUB water bills in cubic metres. This guide shows how to convert litres into us gallons by hand, with examples and a quick-reference table.
The conversion
To convert litres to us gallons, multiply the value by 0.2641721769. To go the other way, divide by the same number (or multiply by 3.78541). For a quick estimate, multiply by about 0.26.
US gallons = litres × 0.2641721769
Worked examples
- 3 L = 0.792517 gal
- 12.5 L = 3.3022 gal
- 75 L = 19.8129 gal
Litres to US gallons table
| Litres | 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 |
| 25 L | 6.6043 gal |
| 50 L | 13.2086 gal |
| 100 L | 26.4172 gal |
| 250 L | 66.043 gal |
| 500 L | 132.0861 gal |
| 1,000 L | 264.1722 gal |
Common questions
Is L to gal exact?
The factors used here are the internationally defined values where they exist; results are rounded for display only.
How do I convert back?
Use the US gallons to Litres converter.
Mistakes to avoid
Forgetting squared and cubed units
Area and volume factors are the length factor squared or cubed, so 1 m² is about 10.76 sq ft, not 3.28.
Multiplying when you should divide
Converting to a smaller unit gives a bigger number, and converting to a larger unit gives a smaller one. If your answer moves the wrong way, you have inverted the factor.
Dropping the units
A bare number without a unit is easy to misread later. Always write the unit with the result.
Background
Unit conversion is simply multiplication by a fixed ratio. The ratio between two units of the same quantity never changes, so once you know it you can convert any value in either direction.
A conversion table is handy for common values, but a calculator is faster and avoids interpolation errors for anything in between.
Writing the units next to every number while you work is the simplest way to avoid mistakes. If the units do not cancel to leave the one you want, the calculation is set up wrongly.
For any value, use the Litres to US gallons Converter or browse all volume converters.
Run your own numbers: Litres to US gallons Converter