About Volume Units

Volume measures three-dimensional space. The SI unit is the litre (L), defined as 1 dm³ (one cubic decimetre). A US gallon (3.785 L) differs from a UK/Imperial gallon (4.546 L) — important when comparing fuel prices or recipes. Cooking uses cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons, which also differ slightly between US and metric standards.

Common Conversions

  • 1 US gallon = 3.785 L (4 quarts)
  • 1 UK gallon = 4.546 L
  • 1 litre = 33.814 fl oz (US)
  • 1 cup (US) = 236.6 mL
  • 1 tablespoon = 14.79 mL
  • 1 teaspoon = 4.93 mL

Cooking Tips

  • 3 tsp = 1 tbsp = ~15 mL
  • 16 tbsp = 1 cup = ~237 mL
  • 2 cups = 1 pint; 2 pints = 1 quart
  • 1 mL of water ≈ 1 gram (at 4 °C)