Volume Converter
Convert between liters, milliliters, gallons, quarts, pints, cups and more volume units instantly.
What is a Volume Converter?
A volume converter is a tool that helps you convert measurements of three-dimensional space or liquid capacity from one unit to another. Volume measures how much space an object occupies or how much liquid a container can hold.
Volume conversion is essential for cooking, chemistry, medicine, construction, and everyday tasks like buying gasoline or measuring ingredients. Different systems and purposes use different units - metric (liters, milliliters), imperial (gallons, pints), and cubic units (cubic meters, cubic feet).
Our converter supports all common volume units and distinguishes between US and UK measurements, which can differ significantly (like US vs UK gallons).
Volume Conversion Formulas
Metric Conversions
- Liters to Milliliters: mL = L × 1,000
- Liters to Cubic Meters: m³ = L × 0.001
- Milliliters to Cubic Centimeters: 1 mL = 1 cm³ (equal)
Metric to Imperial
- Liters to US Gallons: gal = L × 0.264172
- Liters to UK Gallons: gal = L × 0.219969
- Liters to US Cups: cups = L × 4.22675
- Milliliters to Fluid Ounces: fl oz = mL × 0.033814
Imperial to Metric
- US Gallons to Liters: L = gal × 3.78541
- UK Gallons to Liters: L = gal × 4.54609
- US Cups to Milliliters: mL = cups × 236.588
- Fluid Ounces to Milliliters: mL = fl oz × 29.5735
Quick Reference Table
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| 1 liter | milliliters | 1,000 |
| 1 liter | US gallons | 0.264 |
| 1 US gallon | liters | 3.785 |
| 1 UK gallon | liters | 4.546 |
| 1 US cup | milliliters | 236.6 |
| 1 tablespoon | milliliters | 14.79 |
| 1 teaspoon | milliliters | 4.93 |
| 1 fluid ounce | milliliters | 29.57 |
Common Volume Conversions
Liters to Gallons
- 1 L = 0.264 US gal = 0.22 UK gal
- 2 L = 0.528 US gal (common bottle size)
- 3.785 L = 1 US gallon
- 4 L = 1.057 US gal
- 5 L = 1.32 US gal
- 10 L = 2.64 US gal
Milliliters to Cups
- 50 mL = 0.21 cups
- 100 mL = 0.42 cups
- 236.6 mL = 1 US cup
- 250 mL = 1.06 cups (metric cup)
- 500 mL = 2.11 cups
- 1000 mL (1 L) = 4.23 cups
Cooking Measurements
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 15 mL
- 1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons = 30 mL
- 1 US cup = 8 fluid ounces = 237 mL
- 1 US pint = 2 cups = 473 mL
- 1 US quart = 4 cups = 946 mL
- 1 US gallon = 16 cups = 3,785 mL
Frequently Asked Questions
How many liters are in a gallon?
A US gallon contains 3.785 liters, while a UK (imperial) gallon contains 4.546 liters. This is an important distinction - UK gallons are about 20% larger than US gallons. Always check which gallon type is being used.
How many cups are in a liter?
There are approximately 4.227 US cups in one liter. For metric cups (250 mL), there are exactly 4 cups in a liter. When following recipes, note whether US or metric cups are specified.
What's the difference between US and UK fluid ounces?
A US fluid ounce is 29.57 mL, while a UK fluid ounce is 28.41 mL. The US fluid ounce is slightly larger. However, US pints and gallons have fewer fluid ounces than UK ones, so US pints and gallons are smaller overall.
Is a cubic centimeter the same as a milliliter?
Yes, 1 cubic centimeter (cc or cm³) equals exactly 1 milliliter (mL). This equivalence is convenient for medical and scientific applications. The terms are often used interchangeably.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in a US cup. Similarly, 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons, and 1 cup = 48 teaspoons. These relationships are essential for cooking and baking.
Volume Conversion Tips
- US vs UK: Always specify whether using US or UK measurements - they differ significantly
- Quick liter to gallon: Divide liters by 4 for a rough US gallon estimate (actual: 3.785)
- Cup to mL: A US cup is about 240 mL, a metric cup is exactly 250 mL
- Medicine dosing: 1 teaspoon = 5 mL is the standard medical measurement
- Cooking precision: Use weight (grams) instead of volume for more accurate baking
📱 Get Our Free App
Convert offline, earn rewards, track your streak!
- ✓ 40+ Converters
- ✓ Daily Challenges & XP
- ✓ Works Offline
- ✓ Smart Tools
