Volume Converter
Convert between liters, gallons, cups, milliliters, and other volume units
Volume Conversion Formulas
Understanding Volume Measurements
Volume measures the three-dimensional space occupied by a substance, crucial for cooking, chemistry, medicine, and fuel. The US uses cups, fluid ounces, and gallons, while most countries use liters and milliliters. Knowing how to convert between these systems is essential for following international recipes, understanding product labels, or comparing fuel efficiency.
The metric system uses liters (L) and milliliters (mL) as primary volume units—logical and decimal-based. The US customary system uses a hierarchy of cups, pints, quarts, and gallons that can be confusing but is deeply embedded in American cooking and commerce.
This converter handles all common volume units including cooking measurements (cups, tablespoons, teaspoons), beverage sizes (fluid ounces, liters), and larger volumes (gallons, cubic meters), making it invaluable for the kitchen, laboratory, or gas station.
Volume Unit Types
Cups & Spoons
US cooking standards. 1 cup = 8 fl oz = 236.6 mL. 1 tbsp = 3 tsp = 15 mL.
Liters & Milliliters
Metric standard. 1 L = 1000 mL. Water bottles, soda, and medicine use mL/L.
Gallons
US fuel standard. 1 gal = 3.785 L = 4 quarts = 128 fl oz. Note: UK gallon is larger.
Scientific Units
Cubic meters (m³) for large volumes. 1 m³ = 1000 L. Used in engineering and industry.
Common Volume Conversions
| From | To | Multiply By | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cups | Milliliters | 236.6 | Cooking |
| Liters | Gallons (US) | 0.2642 | Fuel |
| Fluid Ounces | Milliliters | 29.57 | Beverages |
| Tablespoons | Milliliters | 14.79 | Cooking |
| Gallons | Liters | 3.785 | Large volumes |
| Teaspoons | Milliliters | 4.93 | Medicine/Cooking |
Practical Applications
International Recipes
European recipes use mL/L. 250 mL ≈ 1 cup, 500 mL ≈ 2 cups, 1 L ≈ 4 cups.
Fuel Economy
Convert MPG to L/100km: divide 235.21 by MPG. 30 MPG ≈ 7.8 L/100km.
Medicine Dosing
Medicine uses mL. 1 teaspoon = 5 mL, 1 tablespoon = 15 mL. Use proper measuring devices.
Beverage Sizes
US can (12 fl oz) = 355 mL. European bottle (500 mL) ≈ 17 fl oz. Liter bottle = ~34 fl oz.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a UK cup the same as a US cup?
No. A US cup is 236.6 mL, while a UK (imperial) cup is 284 mL—about 20% larger. Always check which system a recipe uses. Australian/Canadian cups are 250 mL (metric cup).
How many cups are in a liter?
Approximately 4.23 US cups per liter. For cooking, 1 liter ≈ 4 cups is close enough. 250 mL = 1.06 cups, often rounded to 1 cup in metric recipes.
Why do US and UK gallons differ?
Historical divergence. The US gallon (3.785 L) is based on the Queen Anne wine gallon. The UK imperial gallon (4.546 L) was standardized later and is larger. Always specify which when converting.
What's the difference between fluid ounces and ounces?
Fluid ounces measure volume; regular ounces measure weight. They're only equivalent for water (1 fl oz of water weighs about 1 oz). For other substances, they differ based on density.
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