Volume Converter
Convert volume units instantly—milliliters (ml), liters (L), cubic meters (m³), gallons, quarts, pints, cups, and more. Enter a value, choose units, and get accurate results in seconds. Perfect for cooking, fuel, lab work, and everyday conversions. Free and easy to use.
Volume Converter
The Volume Converter converts between 30 volume units spanning metric SI, US liquid measures, US dry measures, UK imperial measures, and industrial/engineering units. Select the From and To units, enter the value, and click Convert.
Volume units are the most confusing of all unit systems because the same name — 'gallon', 'pint', 'quart', 'fluid ounce', 'cup' — refers to different quantities depending on whether it is US or UK and whether it is liquid or dry. Understanding which definition you need before converting is essential for cooking, fuel, agriculture, and engineering applications.
How to use the Volume Converter
- Enter the volume value to convert.
- Select the From unit — the unit your value is currently in. Pay close attention to whether the unit is US or UK, and liquid or dry where multiple options appear.
- Select the To unit.
- Click Convert. The result is displayed immediately.
- To convert to additional units, change the To dropdown and click Convert again.
The most important distinction — US gallon vs UK gallon
The UK (Imperial) gallon and the US liquid gallon are not the same. 1 UK gallon = 4.546 liters. 1 US liquid gallon = 3.785 liters. The UK gallon is approximately 20% larger. This means: a car that gets 40 miles per UK gallon gets approximately 33 miles per US gallon; a 5-gallon bucket in the US holds 18.9 L, while a 5-gallon bucket in the UK holds 22.7 L. Always check which gallon definition applies when reading international specifications, recipe websites, or fuel economy figures.
US liquid vs US dry — pints, quarts, and gallons come in two versions
The United States has a parallel system of dry measures for grains, produce, and agricultural commodities, which is separate from the liquid measures used for beverages and cooking. The same name refers to different volumes:
- US liquid pint = 473.2 mL; US dry pint = 550.6 mL (approximately 16% larger)
- US liquid quart = 946.4 mL; US dry quart = 1,101.2 mL (approximately 16% larger)
- US liquid gallon = 3,785.4 mL; US dry gallon = 4,404.9 mL (approximately 16% larger)
US liquid measures are used for beverages, cooking, and everyday liquid quantities. US dry measures are used for grains (wheat, corn), fruits, and vegetables sold by volume. In modern US retail, dry goods are typically sold by weight (pounds), not by dry volume — but dry measures persist in agricultural commodity trade (bushels, pecks) and some historical recipes.
All 30 units — values in litres and contexts
| Unit | In liters (L) | Typical context |
| Metric / SI units | ||
| Cubic millimeter (mm³) | 0.000001 L | Tiny volumes in engineering, medical dosing, precision manufacturing. 1 mm³ = 0.001 mL = 0.001 cm³. |
| Milliliter (mL) / Cubic centimeter (cm³) | 0.001 L | Medical dosing, recipe ingredients, laboratory measurements. 1 mL = 1 cm³ exactly. Standard syringe volumes are 1–60 mL. Medicine doses are in mL. A teaspoon is approximately 5 mL. |
| Liter (new) — current SI | 1 L | The current internationally accepted liter: defined as exactly 1 cubic decimeter (1 dm³ = 1,000 cm³). Used for beverages, fuel, and everyday volume measurement worldwide. Note: liter (new) and liter (old) differ slightly — see below. |
| Liter (old) | 1.000028 L | The pre-1964 definition of the liter, based on the volume of 1 kg of water at maximum density (3.98°C). Differs from the current liter by approximately 28 parts per million — negligible for practical purposes but present in the converter for historical completeness. |
| Cubic meter (m³) | 1,000 L | Large-scale volumes: concrete pours, water tanks, shipping containers, gas volumes. 1 m³ = 1,000 L = 35.315 cubic feet. A standard 20-foot shipping container has a volume of approximately 33 m³. |
| Stere | 1,000 L | A metric unit equal to exactly 1 cubic meter. Used specifically for stacked firewood volumes in European forestry and timber markets. 1 stere = 1 m³ of stacked wood (which contains roughly 0.6–0.7 m³ of actual wood, the rest being air between logs). |
| US liquid measures | ||
| Teaspoon (US) | 0.004929 L | US recipe measurement = 1/3 US tablespoon = 1/6 US fluid ounce. 1 US teaspoon = 4.929 mL. The UK teaspoon is conventionally 5 mL (which is also the medical 'teaspoon dose' used everywhere). |
| Tablespoon (US) | 0.014787 L | US recipe measurement = 3 US teaspoons = 1/2 US fluid ounce. 1 US tablespoon = 14.787 mL. The UK tablespoon is conventionally 15 mL (3 x 5 mL teaspoons). |
| Fluid ounce (US, fl oz) | 0.029574 L | US beverage and recipe measurement. 1 US fl oz = 29.574 mL. Different from the UK fluid ounce (28.413 mL). 16 US fl oz = 1 US liquid pint. 128 US fl oz = 1 US liquid gallon. |
| Cup (US) | 0.236588 L | US baking and recipe measurement = 8 US fluid ounces = 16 US tablespoons. 1 US cup = 236.588 mL. The metric cup (used in Australia and Canada) = 250 mL. These differ by approximately 5.5%. |
| Gill (US) | 0.118294 L | = 1/2 US cup = 4 US fl oz = 118.3 mL. Rarely used in modern US recipes. The UK gill is different (142.1 mL). Historically used for spirits measures. |
| Pint (US, liquid) | 0.473176 L | US liquid pint = 16 US fl oz = 473.2 mL. Different from the UK pint (568.3 mL) and the US dry pint (550.6 mL). Used for beverages in the US — a standard US beer pint is 16 fl oz. |
| Quart (US, liquid) | 0.946353 L | US liquid quart = 2 US liquid pints = 32 US fl oz = 946.4 mL. Commonly used for large liquid containers in the US (motor oil is sold in quart and gallon bottles). |
| Gallon (US, liquid) | 3.785412 L | The standard US gallon for liquids = 4 US liquid quarts = 128 US fl oz = 3.785 L. Used for fuel, beverages, and bulk liquids in the US. Different from the UK gallon (4.546 L) — a US gallon is approximately 20% smaller. |
| US dry measures | ||
| Pint (US, dry) | 0.550610 L | US dry pint = 1/2 US dry quart = 550.6 mL. Used for measuring dry goods like berries, cherries, and grains. Larger than the US liquid pint (473.2 mL). |
| Quart (US, dry) | 1.101221 L | US dry quart = 2 US dry pints = 1.101 L. Used for dry goods and produce. Larger than the US liquid quart (946.4 mL). |
| Gallon (US, dry) | 4.404843 L | US dry gallon = 4 US dry quarts = 4.405 L. Used in grain and produce trade. Less common than the US liquid gallon in everyday contexts. Larger than both the US liquid gallon (3.785 L) and close to the UK gallon (4.546 L). |
| Peck (US) | 8.809675 L | US dry measure = 2 US dry gallons = 8 US dry quarts = 8.810 L. Used for fruits, vegetables, and grains in US agricultural trade. 4 pecks = 1 US bushel. |
| Bushel (US) | 35.239070 L | US dry measure = 4 US dry pecks = 8 US dry gallons = 35.24 L. Used for grains, seeds, and produce in US and international agricultural commodity markets. Commodity prices (wheat, corn, soybeans) in the US are quoted per bushel. |
| UK imperial measures | ||
| Fluid ounce (UK) | 0.028413 L | UK fluid ounce = 28.413 mL. Different from the US fluid ounce (29.574 mL) by approximately 4%. 20 UK fl oz = 1 UK pint (568.3 mL). UK recipes state fluid ounces in UK measure; US recipes in US measure. |
| Gill (UK) | 0.142065 L | = 5 UK fl oz = 142.1 mL. Used historically for spirits measures in UK pubs (a 'quarter pint'). Different from the US gill (118.3 mL). The UK pub spirits measure for a single is now 25 mL or 35 mL depending on establishment, not the traditional gill. |
| Pint (UK) | 0.568261 L | UK pint = 20 UK fl oz = 568.3 mL. Approximately 20% larger than the US liquid pint (473.2 mL). Beer in UK pubs is sold in pints. UK milk and dairy products are sometimes labelled in pints. A UK pint glass holds 568 mL. |
| Gallon (UK) | 4.546092 L | UK/Imperial gallon = 8 UK pints = 160 UK fl oz = 4.546 L. Approximately 20% larger than the US liquid gallon (3.785 L). Fuel economy in the UK was historically stated in miles per (UK) gallon; now commonly mpg (UK). Canadian fuel was historically in Imperial gallons. |
| Imperial cubic and industrial units | ||
| Cubic inch (in³) | 0.016387 L | Engine displacement in US/UK (a 350 cubic inch V8 = 5.7 L). Small component volumes in US engineering. 1 in³ = 16.387 mL. 61.024 in³ = 1 L. |
| Cubic foot (ft³) | 28.316847 L | Room volume, building materials, natural gas billing in US/UK, lumber volumes, HVAC airflow (cfm = cubic feet per minute). 1 ft³ = 28.317 L = 7.481 US liquid gallons. |
| Cubic yard (yd³) | 764.554858 L | Concrete, landscaping fill, topsoil, sand, and gravel in the US and UK. Ready-mix concrete is ordered in cubic yards in the US. 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ = 764.6 L. |
| Board foot | 2.359737 L | Lumber volume unit = 144 cubic inches = a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long = 2.360 L. Used in the US and Canada for buying and selling sawn timber. Not a liquid volume unit — used exclusively for wood. |
| Barrel (oil) | 158.987295 L | The international standard oil barrel = 42 US liquid gallons = 158.987 L. Global crude oil production and pricing (dollars per barrel) uses this definition. Different from a UK barrel (163.66 L) and a US beer barrel (117.35 L). |
| Acre-foot | 1,233,481.84 L | Water resource management in the US and Australia: the volume of water needed to cover 1 acre to a depth of 1 foot = 1,233.48 m³ = 325,851 US liquid gallons. Used for reservoir capacity, irrigation water rights, and groundwater management. A typical US household uses approximately 1/2 acre-foot of water per year. |
| Ton (register) | 2,831.685 L | A maritime unit for vessel cargo capacity = 100 cubic feet = 2.832 m³. Not a weight unit — the 'register ton' is a volume. Gross Register Tonnage (GRT) and Net Register Tonnage (NRT) use this unit to describe the volume of a ship's enclosed spaces. |
Cooking quick reference — common measurements in four units
The table below covers the most common cooking and baking measurements across mL, US fluid ounces, US tablespoons, and US cups. Use it to convert recipe quantities quickly without performing a full conversion:
| Measurement | mL | US fl oz | US tbsp | US cups |
| 1 US teaspoon | 4.93 | 1/6 | 1/3 | 1/48 |
| 1 US tablespoon | 14.79 | 1/2 | 1 | 1/16 |
| 1 US fluid ounce | 29.57 | 1 | 2 | 1/8 |
| 1/4 US cup | 59.15 | 2 | 4 | 1/4 |
| 1/3 US cup | 78.86 | 2.67 | 5.33 | 1/3 |
| 1/2 US cup | 118.29 | 4 | 8 | 1/2 |
| 1 US cup | 236.59 | 8 | 16 | 1 |
| 1 UK pint | 568.26 | 19.2 | 38.4 | 2.4 |
| 1 US liquid pint | 473.18 | 16 | 32 | 2 |
| 1 US liquid quart | 946.35 | 32 | 64 | 4 |
| 1 US liquid gallon | 3,785.41 | 128 | 256 | 16 |
| 1 liter | 1,000 | 33.81 | 67.63 | 4.23 |
When converting recipes between US and metric (Australian, UK, European) measurements, note that the metric cup = 250 mL, while the US cup = 236.6 mL — a 5.7% difference. For most cooking purposes this is negligible, but for precise baking (where ratios matter), use the exact mL values rather than assuming cups are interchangeable. Also note that the UK/Australian tablespoon = 20 mL, while the US tablespoon = 14.8 mL — a 35% difference that is significant in baking.
Usage limits
| Account type | Daily conversions |
| Guest | 25 per day |
| Registered | 100 per day |
Related tools
- Weight Converter — convert kilograms, pounds, grams, and more. Use alongside the Volume Converter when a recipe requires weight-to-volume conversion — remember that volume-to-weight conversion requires knowing the density of the ingredient.
- Length Converter — convert millimeters, meters, feet, and more. Use to calculate volume from length measurements (volume = length x width x height in consistent units).
- Area Converter — convert square meters, square feet, and more. Relevant for acre-feet calculations (area in acres x depth in feet = volume in acre-feet).
Frequently asked questions
How many milliliters are in a cup?
It depends on which cup. The US cup = 236.588 mL (= 8 US fluid ounces). The metric cup (used in Australia and Canada) = 250 mL exactly. The UK cup is not a standard unit — UK recipes typically use mL, fluid ounces, or tablespoons rather than cups. For US recipes converted to metric: 1 cup ≈ 240 mL (rounding 236.6 mL to a practical measurement); for precise baking, use the exact 236.588 mL figure.
What is the difference between a US gallon and a UK gallon?
The US liquid gallon = 3.785 liters = 128 US fluid ounces = 8 US liquid pints. The UK (Imperial) gallon = 4.546 liters = 160 UK fluid ounces = 8 UK pints. The UK gallon is approximately 20% larger than the US gallon. This affects fuel economy comparisons: a car achieving 30 mpg (UK) achieves approximately 25 mpg (US). When comparing fuel economy between American and British cars, always check whether the mpg figure uses UK or US gallons.
How many liters in a US gallon?
1 US liquid gallon = 3.785412 liters. To convert US gallons to liters: multiply by 3.785. To convert liters to US gallons: divide by 3.785 (or multiply by 0.2642). Examples: 10 US gallons = 37.85 liters; 50 liters = 13.21 US gallons; a standard 5-gallon US bucket = 18.93 liters. For UK gallons: 1 UK gallon = 4.546 liters; 10 UK gallons = 45.46 liters.
What is a fluid ounce and how does the US version differ from UK?
A fluid ounce is a volume unit (not to be confused with the weight ounce — avoirdupois or troy). The US fluid ounce = 29.574 mL. The UK fluid ounce = 28.413 mL. The difference is approximately 4%. US and UK recipes both use 'fl oz' but mean different volumes. 8 US fl oz = 1 US cup = 236.6 mL; 20 UK fl oz = 1 UK pint = 568.3 mL. A US 16 fl oz bottle contains 473 mL; a UK pint glass contains 568 mL.
What is the difference between US liquid pint and US dry pint?
The US liquid pint = 473.2 mL and is used for liquids (beverages, recipes). The US dry pint = 550.6 mL and is used for dry goods sold by volume (strawberries, blueberries, and other produce at US farmers' markets and grocery stores). The dry pint is approximately 16% larger than the liquid pint. In modern US grocery retail, dry goods are usually sold by weight (ounces, pounds) rather than dry volume, so the dry pint is less commonly encountered — but it still appears in some produce and agricultural contexts.
What is a barrel of oil in liters?
1 oil barrel (bbl) = 42 US liquid gallons = 158.987 liters. This is the standard unit for crude oil production and pricing used in global commodity markets — when oil prices are quoted as '$X per barrel', this 42-US-gallon (159-litre) definition applies. Note that other barrel definitions exist: a US beer barrel = 31 US gallons (117.3 L); a UK barrel = 36 UK gallons (163.7 L). For oil and petroleum, always use the 42-US-gallon oil barrel.
What is an acre-foot?
An acre-foot is a unit of water volume equal to the volume of water needed to cover 1 acre of land to a depth of 1 foot: approximately 1,233.48 cubic meters = 1,233,481 liters = 325,851 US gallons. It is used in the United States and Australia for water resource management, reservoir capacity, and irrigation water rights. A typical US household uses approximately 1/2 acre-foot of water per year (approximately 164,000 US gallons or 620,000 liters). California's Lake Mead (when full) holds approximately 26.1 million acre-feet.
Is the Volume Converter free?
Yes. The converter is free within the daily usage limits shown above. Guest users can perform 25 conversions per day without creating an account. Registering a free ToolsPiNG account increases the daily limit to 100 conversions per day.