Litres to Gallons
Common values
| From (L) | To (gal) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0.000 |
| 0.2 | 0.053 |
| 0.4 | 0.106 |
| 0.6 | 0.159 |
| 0.8 | 0.211 |
| 1 | 0.264 |
| 1.2 | 0.317 |
| 1.4 | 0.370 |
| 1.6 | 0.423 |
| 1.8 | 0.476 |
| 2 | 0.528 |
Canada uses litres for fuel, beverages, and bulk liquids. The US gallon is used across the border. One US gallon equals 3.78541 litres:
Gallons = litres ÷ 3.78541
Note: there are two types of gallon — the US gallon (3.785 L) and the Imperial gallon (4.546 L) used in the UK. Canada now uses the US gallon for most purposes, having phased out the Imperial gallon in the 1970s.
- 1 L ÷ 3.785 = 0.264 gal
- 40 L ÷ 3.785 = 10.57 gal (typical car tank)
- 4 L ÷ 3.785 = 1.057 gal
- 100 L ÷ 3.785 = 26.42 gal
Canadian gas stations sell fuel in litres, but many classic car specs, American vehicles, and US travel guides list fuel economy in miles per gallon (mpg). Converting litres per 100 km (Canada's standard fuel efficiency measure) to mpg requires both unit conversions. Cross-border travellers also need to compare Canadian litre prices to US gallon prices at the pump.
Canada measures fuel efficiency as litres per 100 km (L/100 km), while the US uses miles per gallon (mpg). To compare: divide 235.215 by the L/100 km value to get US mpg. For example, 9 L/100 km ≈ 26.1 US mpg. Milk, juice, and cooking oil in Canada are sold in litres or millilitres — gallon containers are rare.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a Canadian gallon the same as a US gallon? Canada no longer officially uses the gallon. The old Imperial gallon (4.546 L) was used pre-1970s; today, when Canadians refer to gallons they usually mean the US gallon (3.785 L).
- How many litres is a full tank of gas in Canada? A typical compact car has a 45–55 L tank; an SUV may hold 70–90 L.
- How do I compare gas prices between Canada and the US? Canadian prices are in cents/litre. To compare to US cents/gallon: Canadian price (c/L) × 3.785 × exchange rate = equivalent US cents/gallon.
Related converters: Unit Converter