Liter (L) - Unit Information & Conversion

Quick Answer

What is a liter? A liter (L) is a metric unit of volume equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters or 1 cubic decimeter. It equals approximately 0.264 US gallons or 33.8 fluid ounces - about the size of a large water bottle. Use our volume converter to convert liters to gallons, fluid ounces, milliliters, and more instantly.

Quick Comparison Table

Liters	Gallons (US)	Fluid Ounces	Milliliters	Common Example	Convert Now
0.5 L	0.13 gal	16.9 fl oz	500 mL	Small water bottle	Convert →
1 L	0.26 gal	33.8 fl oz	1,000 mL	Large water bottle	Convert →
2 L	0.53 gal	67.6 fl oz	2,000 mL	Soda bottle	Convert →
5 L	1.32 gal	169 fl oz	5,000 mL	Large jug	Convert →
10 L	2.64 gal	338 fl oz	10,000 mL	Bucket	Convert →
20 L	5.28 gal	676 fl oz	20,000 mL	Large container	Convert →

Need a different conversion? Try our volume converter for all volume units.

Definition

The liter (US spelling) or litre (International spelling) (symbol: L or l) is a metric unit of volume commonly used for measuring liquids and some bulk solids.

Official Definition: One liter is defined as exactly one cubic decimeter (1 dm³), which equals:

• 1,000 cubic centimeters (cm³)
• 0.001 cubic meters (m³)
• 1,000 milliliters (mL)

Key relationships:

• 1 liter = 1,000 milliliters (mL)
• 1 liter = 100 centiliters (cL)
• 1 liter = 10 deciliters (dL)
• 1,000 liters = 1 cubic meter (m³)
• 1 liter = 1 cubic decimeter (dm³)

In terms of US customary units:

• 1 liter ≈ 0.264172 US gallons - Convert L to gallons
• 1 liter ≈ 33.814 US fluid ounces - Convert L to fl oz
• 1 liter ≈ 4.227 US cups - Convert L to cups
• 1 liter ≈ 2.113 US pints - Convert L to pints
• 1 liter ≈ 1.057 US quarts - Convert L to quarts

Visual perspective (how much is it?):

• 1 liter ≈ Large water bottle
• 1 liter ≈ Four standard drinking glasses (250mL each)
• 1 liter ≈ About 1/4 US gallon
• 2 liters ≈ Standard soda bottle
• 5 liters ≈ Large cooking pot
• 10 liters ≈ Standard bucket

Important note: The liter is not a base SI unit (the cubic meter is), but it is accepted for use with SI units and is the most common volume measurement globally for liquids.

Convert between volume units: liter converter

History

• French Revolution Origins (1795): The liter was introduced in France as part of the new metric system during the revolutionary period. It was defined as the volume of one cubic decimeter (a cube 10 cm on each side), making it directly related to the meter.

• Original Name: Initially called the "cadil," the name was quickly changed to "litron" and then simplified to "litre" (liter in US English). The name derives from an old French measurement unit.

• Water-Based Definition (1795-1901): For a time, the liter was defined as the volume occupied by one kilogram of pure water at maximum density (approximately 4°C) and standard atmospheric pressure. This created a slight discrepancy with the cubic decimeter definition.

• Redefinition to Cubic Decimeter (1901): The 3rd CGPM redefined the liter to be exactly equal to one cubic decimeter (1 dm³), eliminating the water-based definition and any slight variations.

• Symbol Confusion (pre-1979): For many years, the lowercase "l" was the standard symbol for liter. However, this caused confusion with the number "1" in many fonts, especially in printed materials and handwriting.

• Uppercase "L" Adoption (1979): At the 16th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), the uppercase "L" was officially approved as an alternative symbol to reduce confusion. Today, both "L" and "l" are acceptable, though "L" is strongly preferred in North America and becoming more common worldwide.

• SI Status: The liter is not technically an SI base unit or derived unit. The official SI unit for volume is the cubic meter (m³). However, the liter is specifically accepted for use with the SI system due to its widespread use and convenience for everyday measurements.

• Global Adoption: The liter became the standard unit for liquids in metric countries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Today it's used for:

  • Beverage containers worldwide
  • Fuel sales in most countries
  • Cooking measurements in metric recipes
  • Engine displacement (car engines)
  • Medical fluid measurements
  • Laboratory work

• United States Usage: While the US primarily uses gallons for fuel and many beverages, liter bottles (1L, 2L, etc.) are standard for soft drinks, and liters are increasingly used in scientific, medical, and automotive contexts.

• Cultural Note: The spelling "litre" is used in most English-speaking countries (UK, Canada, Australia), while "liter" is the American spelling. Both refer to the same unit.

Real-World Examples

Beverages and Drinks

Water Bottles:

• Small bottle: 0.5 L (500 mL) - 16.9 fl oz
• Standard bottle: 1 L - 33.8 fl oz
• Large bottle: 1.5 L - 50.7 fl oz
• Extra large: 2 L - 67.6 fl oz
• Sports bottle: 0.75 L (750 mL) - 25.4 fl oz
• Office water cooler: 18-20 L - 4.75-5.3 gallons

Soft Drinks:

• Can: 0.355 L (355 mL) - 12 fl oz
• Small bottle: 0.5 L (500 mL)
• Standard bottle: 1 L
• Large bottle: 2 L - most common soda size
• Party size: 3 L

Milk and Dairy:

• Small carton: 0.5 L (500 mL)
• Standard carton: 1 L
• Large carton: 2 L
• Family size: 4 L
• Gallon jug: 3.78 L (US) or 4.54 L (UK)

Juices:

• Individual serving: 0.25 L (250 mL) - 8.5 fl oz
• Small bottle: 0.5 L
• Standard carton: 1 L
• Large carton: 2 L

Alcoholic Beverages:

• Beer bottle: 0.33 L or 0.5 L
• Wine bottle: 0.75 L (standard)
• Magnum wine: 1.5 L
• Spirit bottle: 0.7 L or 1 L
• Beer stein: 1 L (traditional German)

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Cooking and Kitchen

Recipe Measurements:

• 1 cup: ~0.24 L (240 mL)
• 1 pint: ~0.47 L (473 mL)
• 1 quart: ~0.95 L (946 mL)
• Stock or broth: Often 1 L cartons
• Cooking oil: 1 L, 2 L, 5 L bottles

Kitchen Containers:

• Measuring cup: 0.25 L, 0.5 L, 1 L
• Mixing bowl (small): 1-2 L capacity
• Mixing bowl (medium): 3-4 L capacity
• Mixing bowl (large): 5-7 L capacity
• Cooking pot (small): 2-3 L
• Cooking pot (medium): 4-6 L
• Cooking pot (large): 8-12 L
• Stock pot: 10-20 L
• Kettle: 1-2 L
• Blender: 1-2 L capacity
• Food processor: 2-4 L capacity

Bulk Cooking:

• Restaurant soup pot: 20-40 L
• Commercial stockpot: 40-80 L
• Brewing vessel: 20-100 L

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Automotive and Fuel

Engine Displacement:

• Small car engine: 1.0-1.6 L (4-cylinder)
• Compact car: 1.4-2.0 L
• Mid-size sedan: 2.0-2.5 L
• V6 engine: 2.5-4.0 L
• V8 engine: 4.0-7.0 L
• Performance/muscle car: 5.0-8.0+ L
• Motorcycle: 0.25-2.0 L

Fuel Tanks:

• Motorcycle: 10-20 L
• Small car: 35-45 L
• Mid-size car: 50-70 L
• SUV/Truck: 70-100 L
• Semi-truck: 300-600 L
• Aircraft (small): 100-400 L

Fuel Consumption:

• Efficient car: 5-6 L/100km
• Average car: 7-9 L/100km
• SUV: 10-14 L/100km
• Truck: 12-20 L/100km

Automotive Fluids:

• Motor oil: 1 L, 4 L, 5 L bottles
• Coolant: 1 L, 4 L containers
• Windshield washer fluid: 4 L, 5 L jugs
• Transmission fluid: 1 L bottles

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Household and Cleaning

Cleaning Products:

• Dish soap: 0.5 L, 1 L bottles
• Laundry detergent: 1 L, 2 L, 3 L, 5 L
• Bleach: 1 L, 2 L, 4 L bottles
• All-purpose cleaner: 0.5 L, 1 L spray bottles
• Floor cleaner: 1 L, 2 L bottles

Household Containers:

• Watering can: 5-10 L
• Bucket: 10-20 L
• Trash bin (small): 10-20 L
• Trash bin (large): 30-50 L
• Storage container: 1-30 L
• Cooler (small): 10-20 L
• Cooler (large): 40-80 L

Aquarium/Fish Tank:

• Small tank: 10-40 L
• Medium tank: 80-200 L
• Large tank: 200-500 L
• Extra large: 500-2,000+ L

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Medical and Healthcare

IV Fluids:

• Small bag: 0.25 L (250 mL)
• Standard bag: 0.5 L (500 mL)
• Large bag: 1 L

Medical Measurements:

• Blood volume (adult): 4-6 L
• Blood donation: 0.5 L (500 mL)
• Urine output (daily): 1-2 L
• Dialysis fluid: Several liters per session
• Oxygen tank: 2-10 L capacity
• Nebulizer solution: 2.5-5 mL (0.0025-0.005 L)

Laboratory:

• Beaker sizes: 0.1 L, 0.25 L, 0.5 L, 1 L, 2 L
• Flask sizes: 0.1 L, 0.25 L, 0.5 L, 1 L
• Sample containers: 0.01-1 L

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Agriculture and Gardening

Irrigation:

• Drip irrigation per hour: 2-4 L per emitter
• Sprinkler output: 10-50 L per minute
• Garden hose flow: 10-20 L per minute

Plant Watering:

• Houseplant (small): 0.1-0.3 L per watering
• Houseplant (large): 0.5-2 L per watering
• Potted plant (outdoor): 2-5 L
• Young tree: 10-20 L per watering
• Mature tree: 40-100+ L per watering

Containers:

• Plant pot (small): 1-5 L capacity
• Plant pot (medium): 10-20 L
• Plant pot (large): 30-50 L
• Raised garden bed: 200-1,000+ L

Agricultural Chemicals:

• Pesticide concentrate: 1 L, 5 L, 10 L
• Fertilizer (liquid): 1 L, 5 L, 20 L

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Industrial and Commercial

Paint and Coatings:

• Paint can (small): 1 L
• Paint can (medium): 4 L
• Paint can (large): 10 L, 20 L
• Industrial drum: 200 L

Chemicals:

• Laboratory grade: 0.5 L, 1 L, 2.5 L bottles
• Industrial chemicals: 25 L, 200 L drums
• Bulk storage: 1,000 L (1 cubic meter) IBC totes

Compressed Gas Cylinders:

• Small cylinder: 10-50 L water capacity
• Standard cylinder: 50-200 L
• Large cylinder: 200-500 L

Common Uses

The liter is the standard volume measurement for liquids and some solids globally:

Beverage Industry

Universal standard for bottling, labeling, and selling drinks worldwide. Essential for consistent product sizing and international trade.

Beverage applications:

• Bottled water (0.5 L, 1 L, 1.5 L standard sizes)
• Soft drinks (2 L bottles most common)
• Milk and dairy products (1 L, 2 L cartons)
• Juices and nectars (1 L tetrapacks)
• Beer and alcoholic beverages (0.33 L, 0.5 L, 0.75 L)
• Sports drinks (0.5 L, 1 L bottles)

Why liters in beverages:

• International standard for labeling
• Easy conversion between sizes (500 mL = 0.5 L)
• Consumer-friendly measurements
• Manufacturing efficiency

Convert for beverage measurements: liters to fl oz

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Cooking and Recipes

Standard measurement in metric recipes and professional cooking for both liquids and volume-based ingredients.

Cooking uses:

• Recipe measurements (water, stock, milk)
• Mixing bowl and pot capacities
• Kitchen appliance sizes (blenders, food processors)
• Baking (less common, but sometimes used)
• Restaurant portion control
• Commercial food preparation

Common recipe amounts:

• 250 mL (0.25 L) = 1 cup
• 500 mL (0.5 L) = 2 cups
• 1 L = 4 cups
• Stock/broth often sold in 1 L cartons

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Fuel and Automotive

Standard for fuel sales and engine displacement in most countries worldwide.

Automotive applications:

• Fuel sales: Priced per liter (except US, which uses gallons)
• Engine displacement: 2.0 L engine, 3.5 L V6, etc.
• Fuel efficiency: L/100km or km/L
• Fuel tank capacity: Measured in liters
• Motor oil: Sold in 1 L, 4 L, 5 L containers
• Coolant and fluids: Measured in liters

Example fuel efficiency:

• Small car: 6 L/100km
• SUV: 12 L/100km
• Truck: 15 L/100km

Why liters in automotive:

• Global standard for fuel (except US)
• Easy calculations for trip planning
• Engine displacement universally understood
• International vehicle specifications

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Medical and Healthcare

Critical for IV fluids, medication preparation, and fluid balance monitoring in hospitals and clinics.

Medical uses:

• IV fluid bags (0.25 L, 0.5 L, 1 L)
• Blood volume measurements
• Urine output tracking
• Dialysis fluid volumes
• Medication dilution
• Oxygen delivery systems
• Laboratory solutions

Fluid balance:

• Intake: Track all fluids consumed (L per day)
• Output: Monitor urine, drainage (L per day)
• Critical for ICU patients and kidney disease

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Laboratory and Science

Standard for solution preparation, chemical storage, and volume measurements in research and industrial labs.

Laboratory applications:

• Solution preparation (1 L volumetric flasks)
• Chemical storage (reagent bottles)
• Buffer solutions (often made in 1 L batches)
• Culture media (bacterial/cell cultures)
• Analytical chemistry measurements
• Solvent storage

Why liters in labs:

• Directly related to molarity (moles per liter)
• Standard glassware sizes (250 mL, 500 mL, 1 L, 2 L)
• Easy calculations for dilutions
• International scientific standard

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Agriculture and Irrigation

Essential for irrigation planning, fertilizer mixing, and crop water management.

Agricultural uses:

• Irrigation system output (L per hour/minute)
• Plant watering requirements (L per plant)
• Pesticide and fertilizer dilution (per 100 L of water)
• Greenhouse watering systems
• Livestock water consumption
• Aquaculture (fish tank volumes)

Example water needs:

• Tomato plant: 2-4 L per day (peak season)
• Young tree: 15-20 L per watering
• Mature tree: 40-100 L per watering

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Industrial and Manufacturing

Used for measuring bulk liquids, chemicals, and production capacities in factories and plants.

Industrial applications:

• Chemical processing (batch sizes in liters)
• Paint and coatings (sold in L)
• Lubricants and oils (drums of 200 L)
• Water treatment (flow rates in L/min)
• Beverage production (thousands of L per batch)
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

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Everyday Life (Metric Countries)

Daily measurements for drinks, cooking, fuel, and household products in 95% of the world.

Personal use:

• Drinking water intake (2-3 L per day recommended)
• Grocery shopping (milk, juice, cleaning products)
• Cooking and baking
• Fuel purchases (filling car tank)
• Garden watering
• Aquariums and pet care

Use our liter converter for everyday conversions.

Common Conversion Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake #1: Confusing liters with gallons

• Wrong: 1 liter = 1 gallon
• Correct: 1 liter = 0.264 US gallons (about 1/4 gallon)
• Or: 1 US gallon = 3.785 liters (almost 4 L)
• Example: A 2 L soda bottle = 0.53 gallons, NOT 2 gallons
• Fix: Use our liter to gallon converter

❌ Mistake #2: Wrong milliliter conversion

• Wrong: 1 liter = 100 milliliters
• Correct: 1 liter = 1,000 milliliters
• Remember: "milli" means 1/1,000
• Example: 1.5 L = 1,500 mL, NOT 150 mL
• Mnemonic: 1 L bottle = 1,000 mL

❌ Mistake #3: Assuming liters = kilograms

• Wrong: 1 liter always equals 1 kilogram
• Correct: Only true for water; density varies by substance
• Water: 1 L ≈ 1 kg
• Milk: 1 L ≈ 1.03 kg
• Olive oil: 1 L ≈ 0.92 kg
• Gasoline: 1 L ≈ 0.74 kg
• Remember: Liters measure volume, kilograms measure mass

❌ Mistake #4: Cubic meter confusion

• Wrong: 1 liter = 100 cubic meters
• Correct: 1,000 liters = 1 cubic meter (1 L = 0.001 m³)
• Remember: Cubic meter is MUCH larger
• Example: Swimming pool might be 50 m³ = 50,000 L
• Tool: liter to cubic meter converter

❌ Mistake #5: Fluid ounce errors

• Wrong: 1 liter = 32 fluid ounces (confusing with quart)
• Correct: 1 liter = 33.814 US fluid ounces
• Note: UK fluid ounce is different (1 L = 35.195 UK fl oz)
• Example: 2 L = 67.6 fl oz, NOT 64 fl oz
• Tool: liter to fl oz converter

❌ Mistake #6: Cup conversion confusion

• Wrong: 1 liter = 4 cups exactly
• Correct: 1 liter ≈ 4.227 US cups (or about 4.2 cups)
• Why: 1 cup = 236.588 mL, not exactly 250 mL
• Close enough: 250 mL is often called "1 cup" in metric recipes
• Example: 1 L = slightly more than 4 US cups