Volume Converter
Convert between metric and US/UK volume units for cooking, science, and everyday use. Includes milliliters, liters, teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, pints, quarts, and gallons.
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| Milliliter (mL) | 1000 |
| Liter (L) | 1 |
| Cubic Meter (m³) | 0.001 |
| Teaspoon US (tsp) | 202.884202 |
| Tablespoon US (tbsp) | 67.627884 |
| Fluid Ounce US (fl oz) | 33.814057 |
| Cup US (cup) | 4.226757 |
| Pint US (pt) | 2.113379 |
| Quart US (qt) | 1.056688 |
| Gallon US (gal) | 0.264172 |
| Fluid Ounce UK (fl oz) | 35.195033 |
| Gallon UK (gal UK) | 0.219969 |
How to Convert Volume Units
Volume conversion uses the same base-unit approach as other unit types. This converter uses milliliters (mL) as the base unit, since every volume unit can be expressed as an exact or near-exact number of milliliters. To convert from any unit to any other, the value is first converted to mL, then from mL to the target unit.
Result = Input × (From factor in mL / To factor in mL)
Volume Unit Reference
| Unit | mL equivalent | System |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Milliliter (mL) | 1 mL | Metric (SI) |
| 1 Liter (L) | 1,000 mL | Metric |
| 1 Cubic Meter (m³) | 1,000,000 mL | Metric (SI) |
| 1 Teaspoon US (tsp) | 4.929 mL | US customary |
| 1 Tablespoon US (tbsp) | 14.787 mL | US customary (3 tsp) |
| 1 Fluid Ounce US (fl oz) | 29.574 mL | US customary (2 tbsp) |
| 1 Cup US | 236.588 mL | US customary (8 fl oz) |
| 1 Pint US (pt) | 473.176 mL | US customary (2 cups) |
| 1 Quart US (qt) | 946.353 mL | US customary (2 pints) |
| 1 Gallon US (gal) | 3,785.41 mL | US customary (4 quarts) |
| 1 Fluid Ounce UK | 28.413 mL | Imperial (slightly smaller than US fl oz) |
| 1 Gallon UK | 4,546.09 mL | Imperial (20% larger than US gallon) |
US Customary Volume Hierarchy
US cooking measurements follow a consistent doubling pattern that is useful to memorize:
| Relationship | Value |
|---|---|
| 3 teaspoons | = 1 tablespoon |
| 2 tablespoons | = 1 fluid ounce |
| 8 fluid ounces | = 1 cup |
| 2 cups | = 1 pint |
| 2 pints | = 1 quart |
| 4 quarts | = 1 gallon |
| 16 cups | = 1 gallon |
Cooking Conversions
In cooking, volume measurements are most common for liquids. Note that dry ingredients (flour, sugar, rice) should ideally be measured by weight for accuracy, since their volume varies with packing density. However, for liquids and for rough estimates of dry goods, volume measures work well.
| Common measure | mL | fl oz (US) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | ~5 mL | ~0.17 fl oz |
| 1 tablespoon | ~15 mL | ~0.5 fl oz |
| 1/4 cup | ~60 mL | 2 fl oz |
| 1/2 cup | ~118 mL | 4 fl oz |
| 1 cup | ~237 mL | 8 fl oz |
| 500 mL | 500 mL | ~16.9 fl oz |
| 1 liter | 1,000 mL | ~33.8 fl oz |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cups are in a liter?
There are approximately 4.227 US cups in a liter. One US cup = 236.588 mL, so 1,000 mL ÷ 236.588 mL/cup ≈ 4.227 cups. For cooking purposes, this is often rounded to 4 cups ≈ 1 liter.
What is the difference between a US gallon and a UK gallon?
A US gallon = 3,785.41 mL (about 3.785 liters). A UK (imperial) gallon = 4,546.09 mL (about 4.546 liters). The UK gallon is about 20% larger. A UK pint is 568 mL vs. the US pint of 473 mL.
How many milliliters are in a tablespoon?
1 US tablespoon = 14.7868 mL ≈ 15 mL. 1 teaspoon = 4.929 mL ≈ 5 mL. 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.
How do I convert liters to gallons?
For US gallons: multiply liters by 0.264172. For UK gallons: multiply by 0.219969. Example: 5 liters = 5 × 0.264172 = 1.321 US gallons.
How many fluid ounces are in a cup?
One US cup = 8 US fluid ounces = 236.588 mL. Note that a fluid ounce (volume) is different from a weight ounce — they only happen to be nearly equal for water.
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