Liters to Gallons
Convert liters to gallons (us) instantly. Free, fast, no signup.
How to use this tool
- Enter liters in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your gallons (us) and the full breakdown beneath it.
Convert liters to gallons (us) instantly. Free, fast, no signup.
Formula
Gallons (US) = Liters × 0.26417205235814845
Equivalently: 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 liters, so dividing by 3.785411784 gives the same result.
How it works
Multiply the liter value by approximately 0.264172 to convert to US liquid gallons. The factor comes from the exact definition of the US gallon as 231 cubic inches, which equals 3.785411784 liters.
Common mistake: Assuming all "gallons" are the same. The US liquid gallon (≈ 3.785 L), the US dry gallon (≈ 4.405 L), and the UK imperial gallon (≈ 4.546 L) are three different units. This converter uses the US liquid gallon, which is the most common meaning in American everyday usage.
Worked example
Convert 1 liter to US gallons
- Start with 1 liter.
- Multiply by 0.26417205235814845: 1 × 0.26417205235814845.
- Round to four decimal places: 0.2642.
1 liter = 0.2642 US gallons
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing US gallons (3.7854 L) with Imperial (UK) gallons (4.5461 L) -- using the US factor for a UK fuel fill-up understates the gallon count by about 20%.
- Multiplying by 3.7854 instead of dividing (or multiplying by 0.2642) -- that converts gallons to liters.
- Using 4 L per gallon as a rough mental estimate, which overstates the liter-per-gallon ratio by about 5.7%.
Key terms
- Liter
- An SI unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimeter (0.001 cubic meters). Commonly used for liquids worldwide.
- US liquid gallon
- A unit of volume defined as exactly 231 cubic inches, equal to approximately 3.785 liters. The standard gallon in American commerce.
- Imperial gallon
- The UK gallon, defined as exactly 4.54609 liters — about 20% larger than the US liquid gallon.
- Cubic decimeter
- A volume equal to a cube measuring 10 cm on each side; exactly equivalent to 1 liter.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert liters to gallons (us)?
- Multiply the number of liters by 0.264172 to get gallons (us).