Litres to Gallons Converter UK
Convert between litres and UK imperial gallons instantly. Essential for British drivers calculating fuel costs, comparing tank sizes, and understanding fuel economy figures. 1 UK gallon = 4.546 litres (20% larger than US gallon).
Quick Convert (Litres to UK Gallons)
Litres to UK Gallons
UK Gallons to Litres
UK vs US Gallon - Critical Difference for British Drivers
UK Imperial Gallon
1 UK gallon = 4.54609 litres
Used in: United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada (some contexts)
Contains: 8 UK pints (568ml each)
Weight of water: 10 pounds (4.536 kg)
Standard for UK MPG figures
US Gallon
1 US gallon = 3.78541 litres
Used in: United States, Latin America
Contains: 8 US pints (473ml each)
Weight of water: 8.34 pounds (3.785 kg)
US MPG will be lower!
Batch Conversion - Multiple Values
Enter multiple values separated by commas or spaces to convert them all at once.
Common UK Car Fuel Tank Sizes
Reference for British drivers - typical tank capacities for popular UK vehicles:
Small Cars
Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, VW Polo, Toyota Yaris
Medium Cars
VW Golf, Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, Honda Civic
Large Saloons
BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class
SUVs & 4x4s
Nissan Qashqai, VW Tiguan, Range Rover
UK Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate how much it costs to fill your tank at current UK fuel prices:
Current UK Fuel Prices (December 2025)
Where to Find Cheapest Fuel in the UK
| Type | Typical Price | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Supermarkets (Cheapest) | 138-142p/L | Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Morrisons |
| Independent Stations | 140-148p/L | Jet, Texaco, Gulf |
| Major Brands | 145-152p/L | BP, Shell, Esso |
| Motorway Services (Most Expensive) | 155-170p/L | Welcome Break, Moto, Roadchef |
Journey Fuel Cost Estimator
MPG to L/100km Converter
Convert between UK miles per gallon (MPG) and European litres per 100 kilometres:
Fuel Economy Comparison: UK MPG vs L/100km vs US MPG
| UK MPG | L/100km | US MPG | Efficiency Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 mpg | 11.3 L/100km | 21 mpg | Poor (large SUVs, older vehicles) |
| 30 mpg | 9.4 L/100km | 25 mpg | Below average (SUVs, performance cars) |
| 35 mpg | 8.1 L/100km | 29 mpg | Average (larger petrol cars) |
| 40 mpg | 7.1 L/100km | 33 mpg | Good (modern petrol cars) |
| 45 mpg | 6.3 L/100km | 38 mpg | Very good (efficient petrol) |
| 50 mpg | 5.6 L/100km | 42 mpg | Excellent (diesel, mild hybrid) |
| 55 mpg | 5.1 L/100km | 46 mpg | Outstanding (efficient diesel) |
| 60 mpg | 4.7 L/100km | 50 mpg | Exceptional (full hybrid) |
| 70 mpg | 4.0 L/100km | 58 mpg | Best-in-class (hybrids) |
| 100+ mpg | 2.8 L/100km | 83 mpg | PHEV (plug-in hybrid) |
MPG Conversion Formulas
UK MPG to L/100km
Example: Convert 45 UK MPG to L/100km
282.481 ÷ 45 = 6.28 L/100km
L/100km to UK MPG
Example: Convert 7.0 L/100km to UK MPG
282.481 ÷ 7.0 = 40.35 UK MPG
UK MPG to US MPG
Example: Convert 45 UK MPG to US MPG
45 × 0.8327 = 37.47 US MPG
Litres to UK Gallons Conversion Chart
| Litres | UK Gallons | US Gallons | UK Pints | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 litre | 0.22 UK gal | 0.26 US gal | 1.76 pints | Milk carton |
| 2 litres | 0.44 UK gal | 0.53 US gal | 3.52 pints | Large drink bottle |
| 4.546 litres | 1 UK gal | 1.20 US gal | 8 pints | 1 UK gallon (exact) |
| 5 litres | 1.10 UK gal | 1.32 US gal | 8.80 pints | Jerry can, engine oil |
| 10 litres | 2.20 UK gal | 2.64 US gal | 17.60 pints | Small fuel top-up |
| 20 litres | 4.40 UK gal | 5.28 US gal | 35.20 pints | Fuel can |
| 25 litres | 5.50 UK gal | 6.60 US gal | 44.00 pints | Half tank (small car) |
| 30 litres | 6.60 UK gal | 7.93 US gal | 52.80 pints | Partial fill |
| 40 litres | 8.80 UK gal | 10.57 US gal | 70.40 pints | Small car full tank |
| 45 litres | 9.90 UK gal | 11.89 US gal | 79.20 pints | Fiesta/Corsa tank |
| 50 litres | 11.00 UK gal | 13.21 US gal | 88.00 pints | Golf/Focus tank |
| 55 litres | 12.10 UK gal | 14.53 US gal | 96.80 pints | Medium car tank |
| 60 litres | 13.20 UK gal | 15.85 US gal | 105.60 pints | Large saloon tank |
| 70 litres | 15.40 UK gal | 18.49 US gal | 123.20 pints | SUV tank |
| 80 litres | 17.60 UK gal | 21.13 US gal | 140.80 pints | Large SUV/4x4 |
| 100 litres | 22.00 UK gal | 26.42 US gal | 176.00 pints | Van/small lorry |
UK Pints, Gallons and Litres
The UK pint is still widely used in British pubs and for milk. Understanding the relationship:
1 UK pint = 568.26 ml = 0.568 litres
1 litre = 1.76 UK pints = 0.22 UK gallons
UK Pints to Litres Quick Reference
| UK Pints | Litres | ml | Common Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ½ pint | 0.28 L | 284 ml | Half pint of beer/lager |
| 1 pint | 0.57 L | 568 ml | Pint of beer, milk bottle |
| 2 pints | 1.14 L | 1,137 ml | 2-pint milk carton |
| 4 pints | 2.27 L | 2,273 ml | 4-pint milk container |
| 6 pints | 3.41 L | 3,410 ml | 6-pint milk container |
| 8 pints | 4.55 L | 4,546 ml | 1 UK gallon |
Water Storage: Litres and UK Gallons
For water butts, tanks, and gardening calculations:
| Container | Litres | UK Gallons | Weight (Water) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small water butt | 100 L | 22 gal | 100 kg |
| Standard water butt | 200 L | 44 gal | 200 kg |
| Large water butt | 350 L | 77 gal | 350 kg |
| IBC tank | 1000 L | 220 gal | 1000 kg |
| Hot tub (typical) | 1500 L | 330 gal | 1500 kg |
| Small pool | 5000 L | 1100 gal | 5000 kg |
Conversion Formulas
Litres to UK Gallons
Example: Convert 50 litres to UK gallons
50 ÷ 4.54609 = 11.00 UK gallons
UK Gallons to Litres
Example: Convert 10 UK gallons to litres
10 × 4.54609 = 45.46 litres
Litres to US Gallons
Example: Convert 50 litres to US gallons
50 ÷ 3.78541 = 13.21 US gallons
Litres to UK Pints
Example: Convert 5 litres to UK pints
5 × 1.75975 = 8.80 UK pints
Quick Mental Maths Tips
- Litres to UK gallons: Divide by 4.5 (or multiply by 0.22)
- UK gallons to litres: Multiply by 4.5
- Litres to UK pints: Multiply by 1.75 (or divide by 0.57)
- Remember: 1 UK gallon ≈ 4.5 litres ≈ 8 pints
History: Why Are UK and US Gallons Different?
The difference between UK and US gallons dates back to 1824 when Britain redefined its system of weights and measures.
The British Imperial System (1824)
In 1824, the British Weights and Measures Act established the imperial gallon as the volume of 10 pounds of distilled water at 62°F (17°C). This gave us the UK imperial gallon of 4.54609 litres that we still use today for certain purposes. The system was designed for simplicity: a gallon of water weighs exactly 10 pounds.
The American System
When America declared independence in 1776, it kept using the older English measurements. The US gallon was based on the English wine gallon (also called the Queen Anne gallon), which was defined as 231 cubic inches - equivalent to 3.785 litres. This was already the standard for wine and spirits trade in the American colonies.
Modern UK Usage
Today, the UK officially uses litres for most commercial purposes (including fuel sales since 1995), but imperial gallons and pints are still used for:
- Draught beer and cider - legally sold in pints
- Milk - often sold in pints (2-pint, 4-pint cartons)
- Fuel economy - MPG figures are UK imperial gallons
- Road distances - miles, not kilometres
- Speed limits - miles per hour (mph)
Frequently Asked Questions
1 UK (imperial) gallon equals exactly 4.54609 litres. This is different from a US gallon which equals only 3.78541 litres. The UK gallon is approximately 20% larger than the US gallon. For quick mental maths, you can use 4.5 litres per UK gallon as a close approximation. This relationship was established by the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824, which defined the gallon as the volume of 10 pounds of water.
A UK imperial gallon is 4.54609 litres, while a US gallon is only 3.78541 litres - making the UK gallon about 20% larger. This difference originated when Britain redefined the gallon in 1824, while America kept the older English wine gallon. This affects fuel economy comparisons significantly: a car rated at 40 UK MPG achieves only about 33 US MPG. Always check which gallon is being referenced when reading American car reviews or fuel economy figures.
To convert litres to UK gallons, divide by 4.54609. For example: 50 litres ÷ 4.54609 = 11 UK gallons. For quick mental maths without a calculator, divide by 4.5 (gives approximately the same result) or multiply by 0.22. Common conversions to remember: 10L = 2.2 gal, 20L = 4.4 gal, 45L = 9.9 gal, 50L = 11 gal.
UK car fuel tank sizes vary by vehicle type: Small cars (Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, VW Polo) typically have 40-45 litre tanks (8.8-9.9 UK gallons). Medium cars (VW Golf, Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra) have 50-55 litres (11-12.1 gallons). Large saloons (BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class) have 59-66 litres (13-14.5 gallons). SUVs can have 60-85 litres (13-18.7 gallons). At current 2025 UK prices of around 140-150p per litre, filling a 50L tank costs approximately £70-75.
Related Calculators
Pro Tips for Accurate Results
- Double-check your input values before calculating
- Use the correct unit format (metric or imperial)
- For complex calculations, break them into smaller steps
- Bookmark this page for quick future access
Understanding Your Results
Our Litres To Gallons provides:
- Instant calculations - Results appear immediately
- Accurate formulas - Based on official UK standards
- Clear explanations - Understand how results are derived
- 2025/26 updated - Using current rates and regulations
Common Questions
Is this calculator free?
Yes, all our calculators are 100% free to use with no registration required.
Are the results accurate?
Our calculators use verified formulas and are regularly updated for accuracy.
Can I use this on mobile?
Yes, all calculators are fully responsive and work on any device.