Volume Converter
Convert volume measurements between different units quickly and accurately
Volume Conversion Calculator
Popular Volume Conversions
Quickly convert between the most commonly used volume units.
Understanding Volume Measurements
Volume measurement is essential for cooking, chemistry, engineering, and everyday liquid measurements. The liter (L) is the base unit for volume in the metric system, while the US and UK systems use different units like gallons, quarts, and cups. Understanding volume conversions is crucial because US and UK units often have the same names but different values.
Common Volume Units
Metric Units
- Milliliter (mL) - 1/1000 of a liter
- Liter (L) - Base unit for liquids
- Cubic centimeter (cm³) - Equal to 1 mL
- Cubic meter (m³) - 1000 liters
US Customary Units
- US Fluid ounce (fl oz) - 1/128 of a US gallon
- US Cup (c) - 8 US fluid ounces
- US Pint (pt) - 2 US cups
- US Gallon (gal) - 4 US quarts
Common Applications
| Field | Common Units | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking | Milliliters, cups | Recipe measurements, liquid ingredients |
| Chemistry | Milliliters, liters | Solution preparation, lab work |
| Construction | Cubic meters | Concrete, material volumes |
| Beverages | Liters, gallons | Drink containers, production |
Conversion Tips
- 1 liter equals approximately 33.814 US fluid ounces or 35.195 UK fluid ounces
- 1 US gallon = 3.785 liters, 1 UK gallon = 4.546 liters (20% larger)
- For cooking: 1 US cup = 237mL, 1 metric cup = 250mL, 1 UK cup varies by recipe
- US vs UK differences: US tablespoon = 14.8mL, UK tablespoon = 17.8mL
- Cubic measurements: 1 cubic foot = 28.3 liters, useful for construction volumes
- Always specify which system (US, UK/Imperial, or metric) when sharing measurements
Volume Conversions
| Conversion | Formula | Quick Answer |
|---|---|---|
| liter to gallon | 1 liter = 0.264172 gallons (US) | Multiply liters by 0.264172 |
| gallon to liter | 1 gallon (US) = 3.785412 liters | Multiply gallons by 3.785412 |
| cup to milliliter | 1 cup (US) = 236.588 milliliters | Multiply cups by 236.588 |
| milliliter to cup | 1 milliliter = 0.00422675 cups (US) | Multiply milliliters by 0.00422675 |
| fluid ounce to mL | 1 fl oz (US) = 29.5735 mL | Multiply fl oz by 29.5735 |
| mL to fluid ounce | 1 mL = 0.033814 fl oz (US) | Multiply mL by 0.033814 |
| pint to liter | 1 pint (US) = 0.473176 liters | Multiply pints by 0.473176 |
| liter to pint | 1 liter = 2.11338 pints (US) | Multiply liters by 2.11338 |
| cubic foot to liter | 1 ft³ = 28.3168 liters | Multiply cubic feet by 28.3168 |
| liter to cubic foot | 1 liter = 0.0353147 ft³ | Multiply liters by 0.0353147 |
Our volume conversion tool provides accurate conversions between all common units of volume, including metric, US customary, and UK imperial measurements. Whether you're cooking, working in a lab, or managing construction materials, our converter handles the complexities of different measurement systems with precision.
Volume Conversion Questions
Everything you need to know about volume measurements and conversions
What's the difference between US and Imperial gallons?
A US gallon equals 3.785 liters, while an Imperial (UK) gallon equals 4.546 liters. The Imperial gallon is about 20% larger. This difference stems from different historical definitions and affects all related units like quarts, pints, and fluid ounces.
Why do US and UK cups have different volumes?
A US cup equals 236.588 mL, while UK recipes may use different cup sizes (usually 250 mL metric cups). There's no standard UK cup - British recipes typically use weight (grams) or imperial fluid ounces instead of cups.
How do I convert cooking measurements accurately?
For best results, use a kitchen scale for dry ingredients and measuring cups for liquids. When converting recipes: 1 US cup = 237 mL, 1 US tablespoon = 14.8 mL, 1 US teaspoon = 4.9 mL. Always specify which measurement system when sharing recipes.
What's the difference between fluid ounces and weight ounces?
Fluid ounces measure volume, while weight ounces measure mass. 1 US fluid ounce = 29.57 mL of volume, but the weight depends on density. For water, 1 fluid ounce weighs about 1.043 weight ounces, but this varies for other liquids.
Why do chemistry labs use milliliters instead of cups?
Milliliters provide precise, standardized measurements essential for chemical reactions. Unlike cups, which vary by country, milliliters are part of the International System of Units (SI) and ensure reproducible results in scientific work worldwide.
How do I measure irregular container volumes?
Fill the container with water, then pour into a measuring cup or graduated cylinder. For large containers, use the displacement method: submerge in a larger container and measure the overflow. This gives you the exact internal volume.
What's the relationship between cubic measurements and liquid volume?
1 cubic centimeter (cm³) = 1 milliliter (mL). For larger volumes: 1 cubic meter = 1000 liters. This relationship makes it easy to convert between spatial measurements and liquid volumes in the metric system.
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