Fluid ounce (fl oz) - Unit Information & Conversion

Symbol:fl oz
Plural:fluid ounces
Category:Volume

What is a Fluid ounce?

Definition, origin, usage, and conversion formulas for the fluid ounce.

Definition

The fluid ounce is a unit of volume. The US fluid ounce is defined as 1/128 of a US gallon (approx. 29.57 ml). The Imperial fluid ounce is 1/160 of an Imperial gallon (approx. 28.41 ml).

History

Derived from the ounce unit of weight/mass, adapted to measure the volume of liquids like wine or water.

Common Uses

  • Beverages: Measuring alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, and coffee servings.
  • Cooking: Recipe measurements for smaller liquid ingredients.
  • Medicine: Liquid medication dosages on prescription labels.
  • Personal Care: Volumes of cosmetics, perfumes, and essential oils.
  • Nutrition Labels: Serving sizes on food and beverage packaging.

Unit FAQs

Is a US fluid ounce the same as a UK fluid ounce?

No, the Imperial (UK) fluid ounce is slightly smaller than the US fluid ounce (approximately 28.41 ml vs 29.57 ml).

Is a fluid ounce the same as a weight ounce?

No, a fluid ounce measures volume (the space something occupies), while a weight ounce (specifically an avoirdupois ounce) measures mass (how much matter it contains). The relationship between the two depends entirely on the density of the substance being measured. For water, 1 US fluid ounce weighs approximately 1.04 avoirdupois ounces.

Fluid ounce Conversion Formulas

To Liter:

1 fl oz = 0.029574 L
Example: 5 fluid ounces = 0.147868 liters

To Milliliter:

1 fl oz = 29.57353 mL
Example: 5 fluid ounces = 147.867648 milliliters

To Cubic meter:

1 fl oz = 0.00003 m³
Example: 5 fluid ounces = 0.000148 cubic meters

To Gallon (US):

1 fl oz = 0.007813 gal
Example: 5 fluid ounces = 0.039063 US gallons

To Gallon (UK):

1 fl oz = 0.006505 gal
Example: 5 fluid ounces = 0.032526 UK gallons

To Quart:

1 fl oz = 0.03125 qt
Example: 5 fluid ounces = 0.15625 quarts

To Cup:

1 fl oz = 0.125 cup
Example: 5 fluid ounces = 0.625 cups

To Cup (US):

1 fl oz = 0.125 cup
Example: 5 fluid ounces = 0.625 US cups

To Pint (US):

1 fl oz = 0.0625 pt
Example: 5 fluid ounces = 0.3125 US pints

Convert Fluid ounce

Need to convert Fluid ounce to other volume units? Use our conversion tool.