Convert Volume Units
Volume Converter
Volume Conversion Chart
Key relationships between volume units. The SI unit is the cubic meter (m³). The liter (L) is a special name for the cubic decimeter (dm³).
SI / Metric
| 1 m³ | = | 1,000 L | exact |
| 1 L | = | 1 dm³ | exact |
| 1 mL | = | 1 cm³ | exact |
| 1 L | = | 1,000 mL | exact |
| 1 m³ | = | 1,000,000 cm³ | exact |
US Customary
| 1 US gallon | = | 3.785411784 L | exact |
| 1 US gallon | = | 4 quarts | exact |
| 1 US quart | = | 2 pints | exact |
| 1 US pint | = | 2 cups | exact |
| 1 US cup | = | 8 fl oz | exact |
| 1 US fl oz | = | 29.5735295625 mL | exact |
Imperial (UK)
| 1 imp gallon | = | 4.54609 L | exact |
| 1 imp gallon | = | 4 imp quarts | exact |
| 1 imp pint | = | 20 imp fl oz | exact |
| 1 imp fl oz | = | 28.4130625 mL | exact |
1 mL = 1 cm³ = 1 cc — these are identical by definition. The US gallon (3.785 L) and Imperial gallon (4.546 L) differ by ~20%. A US pint has 16 fl oz; an Imperial pint has 20 fl oz. Always verify which system a recipe or specification uses.
About Volume Units
Cooking & Kitchen
Recipes use cups, tablespoons, teaspoons and fluid ounces (US) or milliliters and liters (metric). Key: 1 US cup = 236.6 mL, 1 Tablespoon = 15 mL, 1 teaspoon = 5 mL. UK recipes may use Imperial measures — check which system.
Science & Medicine
Laboratories use milliliters (mL) and liters (L). Medical dosing uses mL. The cubic centimeter (cm³ or cc) is identical to 1 mL — syringes marked in "cc" measure the same volume as "mL".
Engineering & Construction
Cubic meters (m³), cubic feet (ft³) and cubic inches (in³) measure solid and container volumes. Concrete, excavation and HVAC airflow use these units. 1 ft³ = 28.3168 L ≈ 7.48 US gallons.
Fuel & Bulk Liquids
Fuel is sold in liters (most countries) or US gallons (US). Oil is measured in barrels (1 barrel = 42 US gallons = 158.987 L). Large storage uses cubic meters or acre-feet (1 acre-foot = 1,233,482 L).
The key distinction is US vs Imperial: a US pint (473 mL) is smaller than an Imperial pint (568 mL). The saying "a pint's a pound the world around" only works approximately for US measures.
Popular Volume Conversions
Cooking & Liquid
Gallons & Liters
Cubic & Technical
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cups are in a gallon?
One US gallon contains exactly 16 US cups. This breaks down as: 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 fluid ounces. This relationship makes it easy to scale recipes up or down using standard kitchen measuring cups.
What is the difference between US and UK fluid ounces?
A US fluid ounce equals approximately 29.574 mL, while a UK (imperial) fluid ounce equals approximately 28.413 mL. The difference is about 4%. This means UK pints (20 fl oz = 568 mL) are larger than US pints (16 fl oz = 473 mL). Always check which system a recipe uses.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
One US cup contains exactly 16 tablespoons. Other useful relationships: 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons, 1 cup = 48 teaspoons, and 1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons. These conversions are essential for adjusting recipe quantities and measuring small amounts accurately.
Why do some countries use liters while others use gallons?
Most countries adopted the metric system (liters) for standardization and scientific consistency. The United States retains gallons, cups, and fluid ounces from the English measurement system established before the metric system was created. The UK officially uses liters for fuel and beverages but still uses pints for beer and milk by tradition.
Conversion Charts & Tables
Printable charts and reference tables for common volume conversions:
Cups & Ounces
Spoons
Related Converter Categories
- Length Converter — Volume factors = length factors cubed
- Area Converter — Volume = area × height
- Weight Converter — Mass-to-volume via density
- Pressure Converter — Gas law: PV = nRT
