Volume Converter

Convert between different volume units including liters, milliliters, gallons, cups, and more.

Volume Converter

Common Volume Converter Formulas

  • 1 liter = 1000 milliliters
  • 1 cubic meter = 1000 liters
  • 1 gallon (US) ≈ 3.785 liters
  • 1 gallon (UK) ≈ 4.546 liters
  • 1 cubic foot ≈ 28.317 liters

Common Volume Converter References

  • Standard Water Bottle: 500ml
  • Milk Carton: 1L
  • Car Gas Tank: 50-70L
  • Olympic Swimming Pool: 2,500,000L
  • World Ocean Volume: 1.335×10⁹ km³

What is Volume Conversion?

Volume conversion is the process of converting measurements of three-dimensional space from one unit to another. Volume represents the amount of space an object occupies or the capacity of a container. Understanding volume conversions is crucial for cooking, chemistry, fuel management, shipping, and many industrial applications. The metric system uses liters and cubic meters, while the imperial system uses gallons, quarts, and fluid ounces. Our volume converter handles both liquid and dry volume measurements with precision.

Common Volume Units Explained

Liter (L)

The most common metric unit for liquid volume, equal to 1,000 milliliters or 1 cubic decimeter. Used worldwide for beverages, fuel, and liquid products. One liter equals approximately 0.264 US gallons.

Milliliter (mL)

Equal to 1/1000 of a liter. Commonly used for medications, cooking measurements, and small liquid quantities. One milliliter equals 1 cubic centimeter.

Gallon (gal)

An imperial unit with two versions: US gallon (3.785 liters) and UK gallon (4.546 liters). Used for fuel, beverages, and large liquid quantities in respective countries.

Cubic Meter (m³)

The SI unit of volume, equal to 1,000 liters. Used for large volumes in shipping, construction, water usage, and industrial applications.

Fluid Ounce (fl oz)

A small unit of liquid volume. US fluid ounce (29.57 mL) differs from UK fluid ounce (28.41 mL). Common in cooking and beverage serving sizes.

Cup

A cooking measurement equal to 8 US fluid ounces (237 mL) or 250 mL in metric countries. Essential for following recipes from different regions.

When to Use This Converter

Our volume converter is essential for home cooks adapting international recipes, bartenders measuring drink ingredients, healthcare workers calculating medication dosages, motorists comparing fuel efficiency, scientists working with liquid measurements, aquarium owners calculating tank capacity, and anyone working with liquid or container volumes across different measurement systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between US and UK gallons?

A US gallon equals 3.785 liters, while a UK (imperial) gallon equals 4.546 liters. The UK gallon is about 20% larger. This affects fuel economy comparisons between countries.

How do I convert cooking measurements between metric and US cups?

A US cup equals 237 mL, while a metric cup equals 250 mL. For most recipes, the difference is small enough not to matter, but for precise baking, use exact conversions.

What is the difference between fluid ounces and weight ounces?

Fluid ounces measure volume (liquid capacity), while weight ounces measure mass. They are different measurements with the same name, which can cause confusion. Water happens to weigh about 1 oz per fluid oz, but this does not apply to other liquids.