Where L-to-gallons matters
Three situations: comparing vehicle fuel economy between metric and imperial systems, dosing an aquarium, and converting container sizes for shipping or storage.
- • Use L For: EU fuel economy (L/100km), Metric jerry cans and containers, EU liquid products, Metric recipe volumes
- • Use gal For: US fuel economy (mpg), US gallon containers, US aquarium dosing, US recipe volumes
Rule of Thumb: For fuel economy: mpg = 235.215 ÷ (L/100km).
Liters to Gallons Conversion Formula — How to Convert L to gal
gallons = liters × 0.264172
Quick mental estimate: gallons ≈ liters × 0.264
Step-by-Step L to gal Conversion Examples:
- •A 10 L jerry can:10 × 0.264172 =2.64 gal
- •A 40 L aquarium:40 × 0.264172 =10.57 gal
- •One US gallon (by definition):3.785 × 0.264172 =1 gal
Why the Liters to Gallons Conversion Works & Common L to gal Converter Mistakes to Avoid
One US gallon is defined as exactly 3.78541 liters. The inverse (1 L = 0.264172 gallons) is what you multiply by. Note that a UK gallon is different — 4.546 L.
The Common L to gal Converter Mistake: Confusing US and UK gallons. A UK gallon is 4.546 L, about 20% larger than a US gallon.
Liters to Gallons Real-World Size Comparison Table
If you're comparing fuel economy, dosing an aquarium, or converting container sizes, these are the numbers you'll meet most often.
| Liters (L) | Gallons (gal) | Real-World Size Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| 1 L | 0.264 gal | Just over a quarter gallon |
| 3.785 L | 1 gal | Exactly one US gallon |
| 5 L | 1.32 gal | A 5 L bottle |
| 10 L | 2.64 gal | A jerry can |
| 20 L | 5.28 gal | A water cooler bottle |
| 40 L | 10.57 gal | A small aquarium |
L to gal Converter in Spreadsheets — Spreadsheet Shortcut (Excel & Google Sheets)
=A1*0.264172 for L → gal. =A1/0.264172 for the reverse. And =235.215/A1 for converting L/100km directly to mpg.
Liters to Gallons Conversion — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert liters to gallons?
Multiply by 0.264172. For example, 10 L × 0.264172 = 2.64 US gallons.
Is 1 L the same as 1 gallon?
No — quite the opposite. 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 do I convert L/100 km to mpg?
Divide 235.215 by the L/100 km figure.
L to gal Quick-Reference Conversion Table
The conversions you'll use most when comparing fuel economy or converting container sizes.
| To convert | Operation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| L → gal | × 0.264 | 10 L → 2.64 gal |
| gal → L | × 3.785 | 1 gal → 3.785 L |
| L/100km → mpg | 235.215 ÷ L/100km | 8 L/100km → 29.4 mpg |
| mpg → L/100km | 235.215 ÷ mpg | 30 mpg → 7.84 L/100km |