Volume Converter (mL, L, gal, fl oz, cup, tsp)
Type a volume and unit, see all common volume units at once. Distinguishes US and UK gallons (different sizes) and includes cooking units.
How it works
Why US and UK gallons aren't the same
1 US gallon = 3.7854 L (used for fuel and beverages in the US). 1 UK / imperial gallon = 4.5461 L — about 20% larger. The difference matters for fuel economy comparisons (a UK 'mpg' figure looks better than a US one for the same car) and for shipping recipes between regions.
Most other UK pints, quarts, and fluid ounces also differ from their US counterparts. This calculator uses the US system for the cooking units (tsp, tbsp, fl oz, cup, pint, quart) and includes UK gallon as a separate entry, since gallons are the most common cross-border confusion.
Cooking units
1 US cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 8 fluid ounces ≈ 237 mL. 1 US tablespoon = 3 teaspoons ≈ 14.79 mL. 1 US teaspoon ≈ 4.93 mL. The Australian metric tablespoon is 20 mL — different from the US 14.79 mL — which sometimes catches people copying recipes.
Liquid and dry cup measurements are identical in volume but use different physical cups for accuracy (dry cups are flush-fillable; liquid cups have a meniscus line). The volume is the same; this calculator handles the math regardless.
Reference points
1 L = 1000 mL = 33.81 fl oz (US) ≈ 4.227 cups (US) ≈ 0.264 gal (US). 1 m³ = 1000 L = 264.17 gal (US). 1 standard wine bottle = 750 mL = 25.4 fl oz. 1 typical car fuel tank = 50-70 L = 13-19 gal (US).
Frequently asked questions
›Is 1 gallon US or UK?
Depends on context. Fuel and groceries in the US use the US gallon (3.7854 L). UK formal contexts use the imperial gallon (4.5461 L). Always check which is meant.
›Why is a US tablespoon different from an Australian one?
The US tablespoon is 14.79 mL; the Australian metric tablespoon is 20 mL. The difference can ruin a recipe — measure by mL when in doubt.
›Are these conversions exact?
Yes — derived from exact length conversions. The international yard is 0.9144 m, fixing the inch and therefore the cubic-inch-based units.
›Can I weigh fluids with this?
Volume and mass are different. Multiply volume × density to get mass (water is exactly 1 g/mL). For other liquids, look up the density.
›What about milliliters vs cubic centimeters?
1 mL = 1 cm³ exactly. They're interchangeable — medical syringes use mL while engineering uses cm³, but the volume is identical.
›Why not include UK pints separately?
Most casual cooking uses US units. We include UK gallon since it's the most common cross-border issue. UK pint conversion: multiply UK pint × 568.26 to get mL.
›Does the calculator work offline?
Yes once the page is loaded.
›Is there a gallon-to-liter shortcut?
1 US gal ≈ 3.785 L. 1 UK gal ≈ 4.546 L. For mental math, US gal × 3.8 is close enough.
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