Quarts to Gallons Converter
Enter a volume in quarts and this converter gives you the equivalent in gallons. It supports all three quart and gallon standards: US liquid, US dry, and Imperial. You can also flip the conversion and enter gallons to get quarts. The step-by-step panel shows the formula and arithmetic so you can check the work at a glance.
How to convert quarts to gallons
The conversion between quarts and gallons is straightforward because the gallon is defined as exactly four quarts in all three measurement standards (US liquid, US dry, and Imperial). To convert quarts to gallons, divide the number of quarts by 4. To go the other way and convert gallons to quarts, multiply by 4. For example, 8 quarts divided by 4 equals 2 gallons, and 3 gallons multiplied by 4 equals 12 quarts. The decimal shortcut is to multiply by 0.25 when going from quarts to gallons.
US liquid, US dry, and Imperial: which type should you use?
There are three distinct quart and gallon measurements in common use, and they are not interchangeable. The US liquid quart (approximately 0.946 litres) is by far the most common in the United States and is used for beverages, paint, motor oil, and most cooking measurements. The US dry quart (approximately 1.101 litres) is used for dry goods such as grains, berries, and produce sold by volume. The Imperial quart (approximately 1.137 litres), still in use in the United Kingdom, is about 20 percent larger than the US liquid quart. When a recipe or product label does not specify, US liquid is almost always the intended standard in North America, while Imperial applies in the UK. All three share the same 4:1 quart-to-gallon ratio, so the conversion formula is the same regardless of which standard you are using.
Common practical uses
Knowing how many quarts are in a gallon is useful in a wide range of everyday situations. A standard US gallon milk jug holds 4 quarts, so buying four individual quart containers gives you the same total volume. Recipes that scale for large batches (soups, sauces, beverages for a crowd) often cross the quart-gallon boundary, and switching units keeps the numbers manageable. Paint and stain are sold in both quart and gallon cans, so contractors and DIY painters regularly convert between the two to estimate coverage and purchase the right quantity. Fuel economy in some countries is expressed in litres per 100 kilometres, but US drivers working with classic or farm equipment may still encounter quarts and gallons for fluid capacities.
Other unit equivalences
Within the US liquid system, the hierarchy runs: 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 fluid ounces. A quart therefore contains 2 pints, 4 cups, and 32 fluid ounces. In metric terms, 1 US liquid quart is exactly 0.946352946 litres, and 1 US liquid gallon is exactly 3.785411784 litres. The Imperial gallon is exactly 4.54609 litres, making it about 20 percent larger than the US gallon. These precise definitions, set by international standards, ensure that every quart-to-gallon conversion is exact, not an approximation.
Quarts to gallons conversion table (US liquid)
| Quarts (qt) | Gallons (gal) | Litres (L) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.25 | 0.9464 |
| 2 | 0.5 | 1.8927 |
| 4 | 1 | 3.7854 |
| 6 | 1.5 | 5.6781 |
| 8 | 2 | 7.5708 |
| 10 | 2.5 | 9.4635 |
| 12 | 3 | 11.3562 |
| 16 | 4 | 15.1416 |
| 20 | 5 | 18.9271 |
| 24 | 6 | 22.7124 |
| 32 | 8 | 30.2833 |
| 40 | 10 | 37.8541 |
1 US liquid gallon = 4 US liquid quarts. All values are exact.
Frequently asked questions
How many quarts are in a gallon?
There are exactly 4 quarts in 1 gallon. This is true for all three standards: US liquid, US dry, and Imperial. The word 'quart' comes from the Latin 'quartus,' meaning one-fourth, reflecting this relationship.
How do I convert quarts to gallons?
Divide the number of quarts by 4. For example, 12 quarts divided by 4 equals 3 gallons. Equivalently, you can multiply by 0.25, since 1/4 = 0.25.
How do I convert gallons to quarts?
Multiply the number of gallons by 4. For example, 2.5 gallons multiplied by 4 equals 10 quarts. Use the 'Gallons to quarts' direction on this converter to do it automatically.
What is the difference between a US liquid quart and an Imperial quart?
A US liquid quart is approximately 0.946 litres, while an Imperial quart (used in the UK) is approximately 1.137 litres. The Imperial quart is about 20 percent larger. Despite the difference in absolute size, both equal one-fourth of their respective gallon.
Is a US dry quart the same as a US liquid quart?
No. A US dry quart is approximately 1.101 litres, which is about 16 percent larger than a US liquid quart (approximately 0.946 litres). Dry quarts are used for dry goods such as produce and grains, not for liquids.
How many quarts are in a half-gallon?
A half-gallon contains exactly 2 quarts. This is why standard half-gallon cartons of milk, juice, or ice cream hold 2 quarts.
How many cups are in a quart?
In the US liquid system, 1 quart equals 4 cups. Combined with the quart-to-gallon ratio, this means 1 gallon equals 16 cups.