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Gas Price Converter
U.S. prices are quoted per gallon; most of the world quotes per liter. This converter translates between them, including cents per liter for direct international comparison.
Equivalent price
$0.0000
per liter
- Cents per liter
- 0.0
- Per U.S. gallon
- $0.000
- Volume in liters
- 0.00 L
- Total cost
- $0.00
The conversion factors
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| $ per U.S. gallon | $ per liter | 0.264172 |
| $ per liter | $ per U.S. gallon | 3.785412 |
| U.S. gallons | Liters | 3.785412 |
| Liters | U.S. gallons | 0.264172 |
| Imperial gallons | Liters | 4.54609 |
Why the per-liter number looks so low
A U.S. gallon is almost four liters, so a price of $4.27 per gallon is only about $1.13 per liter. European drivers often pay €1.70 to €2.00 per liter, which equals roughly $7 to $8.50 per U.S. gallon at recent exchange rates — most of the gap is tax.
Comparing U.S. prices internationally
To compare fairly, convert both prices to the same currency and the same unit. A price quoted in euros per liter needs two conversions: multiply by the exchange rate to get dollars per liter, then by 3.785 to get dollars per U.S. gallon. Do the conversion before comparing, not after; the ranking of countries changes when you switch units.
Practical uses
- Checking a rental car fuel policy in a country that quotes per liter.
- Converting a European fuel receipt for expense reports.
- Comparing U.S. state prices against Canadian provinces, which quote cents per liter.
- Sizing a fuel purchase when a vehicle's tank is rated in liters but the pump is in gallons.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert dollars per gallon to dollars per liter?
Divide the price per gallon by 3.78541, because one U.S. gallon equals 3.78541 liters. At $4.27 per gallon, the price is $1.128 per liter, or 112.8 cents per liter.
Is a U.S. gallon the same as an imperial gallon?
No. A U.S. gallon is 3.78541 liters; an imperial gallon used in the UK and Canada historically is 4.54609 liters, about 20 percent larger. When comparing U.S. and European fuel prices, make sure which gallon is being used.
Why do most countries quote fuel price per liter?
The liter is the standard unit for retail fuel almost everywhere except the United States, and per-liter prices are easier to compare across countries. Converting to cents per liter makes U.S. prices directly comparable to Europe, Canada, and Mexico.
How many liters is a 12-gallon fill-up?
12 U.S. gallons is 45.42 liters. At $1.128 per liter, that fill-up costs about $51.24 — the same as 12 gallons at $4.27 per gallon.