Gallons to Liters Conversion Formula — How to Convert gal to L
liters = gallons × 3.78541
Quick mental estimate: liters ≈ gallons × 3.8
Step-by-Step gal to L Conversion Examples:
- •A 5-gallon fuel can:5 × 3.78541 =18.93 L
- •A 15-gallon car tank:15 × 3.78541 =56.78 L
- •Exactly one US gallon:1 × 3.78541 =3.785 L
Why the Gallons to Liters Conversion Works & Common gal to L Converter Mistakes to Avoid
The US gallon is defined as exactly 3.78541 liters. Note that a UK (imperial) gallon is 4.546 L — about 20% larger.
The Common gal to L Converter Mistake: Confusing US and UK gallons. If you use 3.785 to convert a UK gallon to liters, you'll be about 20% short.
Gallons to Liters Real-World Size Comparison Table
If you're comparing fuel prices between the US and the rest of the world, or buying a US-spec container to use in a metric country, these are the numbers you'll meet most often.
| Gallons (gal) | Liters (L) | Real-World Size Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| 1 gal | 3.785 L | One US gallon |
| 5 gal | 18.93 L | A jerry can |
| 10 gal | 37.85 L | A fuel container |
| 15 gal | 56.78 L | A typical car fuel tank |
| 50 gal | 189.27 L | A residential water heater |
Where gallons-to-liters matters
Three situations: comparing fuel prices across countries, buying US-spec containers for use in metric countries, and converting US recipe volumes.
- • Use gal For: US fuel prices ($/gal), US recipe volumes, US gallon containers, US marine and RV fuel tanks
- • Use L For: EU fuel prices (€/L), Metric recipe volumes, Metric jerry cans, International fuel planning
Rule of Thumb: For fuel pricing: divide the price per gallon by 3.785 to get the price per liter.
gal to L Converter in Spreadsheets — Spreadsheet Shortcut (Excel & Google Sheets)
=A1*3.78541 for gal → L. =A1/3.78541 for the reverse.
Gallons to Liters Conversion — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert gallons to liters?
Multiply by 3.78541. For example, 5 gallons × 3.78541 = 18.93 L.
Is 1 gallon the same as 4 liters?
Nearly — but not quite. 1 US gallon = 3.785 L.
What's the difference between US and UK gallons?
The US gallon is 3.785 L. The UK (imperial) gallon is 4.546 L.
How many liters are in a 5-gallon bucket?
18.93 L.
gal to L Quick-Reference Conversion Table
The conversions you'll use most when comparing fuel prices or converting US container sizes.
| To convert | Operation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| gal → L | × 3.785 | 5 gal → 18.93 L |
| L → gal | × 0.264 | 10 L → 2.64 gal |
| gal → fl oz | × 128 | 1 gal → 128 fl oz |
| fl oz → L | × 0.0296 | 32 fl oz → 0.946 L |