Gallon (US) (gal) - Unit Information & Conversion

Symbol:gal
Plural:US gallons
Category:Volume

What is a Gallon (US)?

Definition

The US liquid gallon (symbol gal US) is a unit of volume in the United States customary units system. It is legally defined as 231 cubic inches, which is exactly equal to 3.785411784 liters. It is commonly used for measuring larger quantities of liquids, such as gasoline, milk, and paint.

History

The gallon has ancient roots, evolving from various Roman and medieval units. The US liquid gallon is based on the wine gallon, which was standardized in England during the reign of Queen Anne in 1707 as 231 cubic inches. This definition was adopted by the United States. It differs from the Imperial gallon used in the UK and Canada.

Common Uses

  • US Fuel: Measuring fuel (gasoline, diesel) in the United States.
  • US Beverages: Selling milk and other beverages in large containers in the US.
  • Household Liquids: Measuring paint and other household liquids.
  • Pools & Water: Pool capacity and water usage measurements in the US.
  • Industry: Some industrial applications.

Unit FAQs

Is a US gallon the same as an Imperial gallon?

No. The US gallon (≈ 3.785 L) is smaller than the Imperial gallon (≈ 4.546 L). Always specify which gallon is being used if there's ambiguity.

How many quarts are in a US gallon?

There are exactly 4 US liquid quarts in 1 US liquid gallon.

How many liters are in a US gallon?

1 US liquid gallon is exactly 3.785411784 liters.

Gallon (US) Conversion Formulas

To Liter:

1 gal = 3.785412 L
Example: 5 US gallons = 18.927059 liters

To Milliliter:

1 gal = 3785.41178 mL
Example: 5 US gallons = 18927.0589 milliliters

To Cubic meter:

1 gal = 0.003785 m³
Example: 5 US gallons = 0.018927 cubic meters

To Gallon (UK):

1 gal = 0.832674 gal
Example: 5 US gallons = 4.163371 UK gallons

To Quart:

1 gal = 4 qt
Example: 5 US gallons = 20 quarts

To Cup:

1 gal = 16 cup
Example: 5 US gallons = 80 cups

To Fluid ounce:

1 gal = 127.999999 fl oz
Example: 5 US gallons = 639.999997 fluid ounces

To Cup (US):

1 gal = 16 cup
Example: 5 US gallons = 80 US cups

To Pint (US):

1 gal = 8 pt
Example: 5 US gallons = 40 US pints

Convert Gallon (US)

Need to convert Gallon (US) to other volume units? Use our conversion tool.