PhysicsCalcs
Units & Conversions

Volume Converter

Convert liters, milliliters, cubic meters, US and UK gallons, cups, cubic feet, barrels, and bushels.

Interactive converter

Volume Converter

Convert liters, milliliters, cubic meters, US and UK gallons, cups, cubic feet, barrels, and more.

Volume is normally non-negative. US and UK gallons differ — check unit labels. Volume ≠ mass without density.

From
To

Result

Enter a value and click Convert to see the conversion.

Quick Guide

  • Check whether units are US or UK — gallons and fluid ounces differ.
  • Liquid and dry US measures use different gallon definitions.
  • Use presets for L↔gal, m³↔L, and bbl↔L.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • 1 m³ = 1,000 L exactly; 1 mL = 1 cm³.
  • 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 L exactly; 1 UK gallon = 4.54609 L.
  • US and UK gallons differ — always check the unit label.
  • Volume ≠ mass — converting liters to kilograms requires density.
  • US dry measures (bushel, peck) differ from US liquid measures.

What Is Volume?

Volume measures three-dimensional space. The SI derived unit is the cubic meter (m³). Liters (L) are widely used for everyday capacity. This converter handles SI, liter, US liquid, UK imperial, US dry, cubic imperial, industrial, and cooking units.

For linear dimensions, see the Length Converter. For surface measure, see the Area Converter.

Volume Conversion Formula

volumeB=volumeA×(factorA/factorB)volume_B = volume_A × (factor_A / factor_B)

All units convert through cubic meters. Example: 1 L = 0.001 m³, so 1000 L = 1 m³ exactly.

US vs UK Gallons

The US liquid gallon (3.785411784 L) and UK imperial gallon (4.54609 L) are both in common use but are not interchangeable. UK fluid ounces are also larger than US fluid ounces.

Liquid vs Dry Measures

US dry bushels, pecks, and dry gallons measure bulk commodities like grain. They use a different gallon definition than US liquid gallons. Units are clearly labeled in the converter.

Common Volumes

UseUnitLiters
Soda can≈ 355 mL0.355 L
US gallon1 gal (US)3.785 L
Bathtub≈ 150 L150 L
Swimming pool≈ 50 m³50,000 L

Examples

1 m³ to L

1 m³ = 1,000 L.

1 mL to cm³

1 mL = 1 cm³.

1 US gal to L

1 US gal = 3.785411784 L exactly.

1 UK gal to L

1 UK gal = 4.54609 L.

Common Mistakes

Assuming US and UK gallons are the same. Converting volume to mass without density. Using liquid cups for dry ingredients in baking. Confusing oil barrels with beer barrels.

Limitations

Biblical and historical volume units omitted. Volume-from-dimensions and volume-to-mass with density are planned as separate tools.

FAQ

How many liters in a cubic meter?›

1 m³ = 1,000 L exactly.

How many mL in a cm³?›

1 mL = 1 cm³ exactly.

US gallon vs UK gallon?›

1 US gal = 3.785411784 L. 1 UK (imperial) gal = 4.54609 L. The UK gallon is about 20% larger.

How many cups in a liter?›

1 L ≈ 4.227 US cups or 4 metric cups (250 mL each).

What is a barrel?›

An oil barrel (bbl) = 42 US gallons ≈ 158.987 L.

Can I convert liters to kilograms?›

Not without density. Water at 4°C has density ≈ 1 kg/L, but other substances differ.

What is an acre-foot?›

The volume of water covering 1 acre to a depth of 1 foot — used for large water resources.

How many cups in a gallon?›

1 US liquid gallon = 16 US cups. 1 US cup ≈ 236.588 mL.

How do I convert mL to fl oz?›

1 US fl oz ≈ 29.5735 mL. Divide mL by 29.5735 for US fluid ounces.

How do I convert cubic feet to liters?›

1 ft³ ≈ 28.3168 L. Multiply cubic feet by 28.3168.

Sources

  1. NIST: volume and capacity
  2. BIPM: SI Brochure
Manish Kumar

Author & technical reviewer

Manish Kumar

PhysicsCalcs tools are reviewed with an educational focus: clear formulas, transparent assumptions, and practical context for students and science learners.

Learn more about Manish