20 liters (l) is equal to approximately 5.2834 gallons (gal).
To convert 20 liters to gallons, multiply the liter value by the conversion factor of 0.264172. This factor converts the volume from the metric system (liters) to the US customary system (gallons).
Conversion Tool
Result in gal:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert liters (l) to gallons (gal) is:
gallons = liters × 0.264172
This works because one liter equals 0.264172 gallons in US measurement. So when you multiply the number of liters by this factor, you get equivalent gallons. The factor comes from the relationship between metric and US customary units for volume.
For example, converting 20 liters:
- Start with 20 liters
- Multiply by 0.264172: 20 × 0.264172 = 5.28344
- Result is 5.28344 gallons
Conversion Example
- Convert 10 liters to gallons:
- Multiply 10 by 0.264172
- 10 × 0.264172 = 2.64172 gallons
- Answer is 2.6417 gallons (rounded)
- Convert 35 liters to gallons:
- 35 × 0.264172 = 9.2459 gallons
- Rounded to 4 decimal places
- Convert 7.5 liters to gallons:
- 7.5 × 0.264172 = 1.98129 gallons
- Result is 1.9813 gallons
- Convert 0 liters to gallons:
- 0 × 0.264172 = 0 gallons
- No volume corresponds to zero gallons
Conversion Chart
| Liters (l) | Gallons (gal) |
|---|---|
| -5.0 | -1.3209 |
| -2.5 | -0.6604 |
| 0.0 | 0.0000 |
| 2.5 | 0.6604 |
| 5.0 | 1.3209 |
| 10.0 | 2.6417 |
| 15.0 | 3.9626 |
| 20.0 | 5.2834 |
| 25.0 | 6.6043 |
| 30.0 | 7.9252 |
| 35.0 | 9.2460 |
| 40.0 | 10.5669 |
| 45.0 | 11.8878 |
You can use the chart by finding the liters value in the first column, then reading across to see the equivalent gallons in the second column. Negative values indicate volumes below zero, which may be theoretical or used in calculations involving differences.
Related Conversion Questions
- How many gallons are in 20 liters exactly?
- Is 20 liters more or less than 5 gallons?
- What is the formula to convert 20 l to gal?
- Can I convert 20 liters to gallons using a calculator?
- How do I convert 20 liters to US gallons versus UK gallons?
- Why does 20 liters equal roughly 5.28 gallons?
- What’s the quickest way to change 20 liters into gallons?
Conversion Definitions
l (liter): A liter is a metric unit of volume equal to one cubic decimeter (dm³). It measures liquid and gas capacity, commonly used worldwide for everyday quantities like water, fuel, and beverages. It’s standardized and accepted internationally, part of the metric system.
gal (gallon): A gallon is a unit of volume in the US customary and British imperial systems, but they differ. The US liquid gallon equals 3.785 liters, while the UK gallon is about 4.546 liters. Gallons measure larger volumes of liquids like fuel, milk, and water.
Conversion FAQs
Why does 1 liter equal 0.264172 gallons?
The number 0.264172 comes from converting cubic decimeters to cubic inches, then to gallons. Since 1 US gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches, and 1 liter equals 61.0237 cubic inches, dividing 61.0237 by 231 gives approximately 0.264172 gallons per liter.
Can I use the conversion factor for both US and UK gallons?
No, the conversion factor 0.264172 applies only to US liquid gallons. UK gallons are larger (about 1.2 times US gallons), so a different factor (around 0.219969) should be used when converting to imperial gallons. Mixing these can cause errors in volume measurements.
Is converting liters to gallons exact or approximate?
The conversion factor is exact based on definitions of units, but when doing calculations, rounding can introduce small errors. For practical uses like cooking or fuel, rounding to 4 decimal places is usually sufficient, but precise scientific work may need more exact figures.
Does temperature affect the conversion from liters to gallons?
The conversion itself, being a ratio of volume units, isn’t temperature-dependent. But since liquids expand or contract with temperature, the actual volume of a liquid in liters or gallons can change slightly in real conditions, affecting measurements in practice.
Why might negative liter values appear in charts?
Negative liters represent hypothetical or comparative volumes, used in calculations or graphs showing volume changes or differences. In physical reality, volume can’t be negative, but mathematically it helps in understanding changes or deficits in fluid amounts.
