Gallons to Grams Converter - (gal to g)

How to Convert Gallons to Grams

Reviewed by

Since gallons are a unit of volume and grams are a unit of mass, which are different physical quantities, we need to know one more physical quantity of the ingredient or substance to convert between them. In this case, we need to account for the density of the substance whenever we do a conversion.

Therefore, to convert between gallons and grams of an ingredient or substance, we must either multiply or divide by its density, depending on which direction we are performing the conversion.

Gallons to Grams Formula

To convert a measurement in gallons to grams, multiply the volume by the density of the ingredient or material. Note that in order for this to work, the density must be in grams per gallon (g/gal).

If the density is given in grams per milliliter (g/mL), then first multiply the density by 3,785.412 to convert to g/gal.

For a density given in g/mL, you can use this simple formula to convert:

grams = gallons × 3,785.412 × density

Thus, the weight in grams is equal to the volume in gallons multiplied by 3,785.412 times the density (in g/mL) of the ingredient, substance, or material.

For example, here's how to convert 5 gallons to grams for an ingredient with a density of 0.7 g/mL.

grams = 5 gal × 3,785.412 × 0.7 g/mL = 13,248.941 g

When to Convert Gallons to Grams

Gallons and grams are both commonly used to measure cooking ingredients.

For cooking applications, most chefs suggest measuring dry ingredients by weight rather than volume to improve accuracy in the measurements.^[1] The density of dry ingredients can vary for a variety of reasons, such as compaction and clumping.

The best way to ensure an accurate conversion is to use a scale. When a scale is not available, a calculator like the one above is a good way to estimate the volume to weight conversion.

Another useful application of weight and volume conversions is chemistry. When performing chemical reactions by combining separate chemicals to produce a new chemical, one must know the exact amount of each chemical to add in order to maximize the yield of the reaction.

It is common to mix powdered chemicals with liquid, or aqueous, chemicals, and this is where it becomes very useful to convert between weights and volumes.^[2]

A third application of weight and volume conversions is when shipping freight when calculating the volumetric weight for cargo and packages. Trucks, ships, and airplanes are limited in the amount of weight or volume they can transport, so if one of those quantities is known, but the limitation is on the other, then it becomes necessary to convert between the two so as not to overload the shipping vehicle.

Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.

How Many Grams Are in a Gallon?

The actual weight of a gallon will vary depending on the density of the material. The table below shows how many grams of various wet and dry ingredients are in a gallon.

Gallon measurements converted to grams for commonly used cooking and baking ingredients.
Volume in Gallons:	Weight in Grams of:
Volume in Gallons:	Water	Milk	Cooking Oil	All Purpose Flour	Granulated Sugar
1/8 gal	473.18 g	487.37 g	416.4 g	250.31 g	400 g
1/4 gal	946.35 g	974.74 g	832.79 g	500.62 g	800 g
1/3 gal	1,262 g	1,300 g	1,110 g	667.49 g	1,067 g
1/2 gal	1,893 g	1,949 g	1,666 g	1,001 g	1,600 g
2/3 gal	2,524 g	2,599 g	2,221 g	1,335 g	2,133 g
3/4 gal	2,839 g	2,924 g	2,498 g	1,502 g	2,400 g
1 gal	3,785 g	3,899 g	3,331 g	2,002 g	3,200 g

What Is a Gallon?

The US liquid gallon is a unit of fluid volume equal to four quarts, eight pints, or sixteen cups.^[3] The US liquid gallon should not be confused with the US dry gallon or the imperial gallon, which are different units of measure.

The gallon is a US customary unit of volume. Gallons can be abbreviated as gal; for example, 1 gallon can be written as 1 gal.

Learn more about gallons.

What Is a Gram?

A gram is a unit of mass equal to 1/1,000 of a kilogram or 0.035274 ounces, and is equivalent to the mass of one cubic centimeter, or one milliliter, of water.

The gram, or gramme, is an SI unit of mass in the metric system. Grams can be abbreviated as g; for example, 1 gram can be written as 1 g.

A gram is also frequently referred to as a unit of weight. While technically, a gram is a measure of mass, and weight is actually a measure of force, the two are equivalent as long as we are performing our calculations on Earth.

For example, an object with a mass of 1 gram weighs 1 gram on Earth, but only weighs one-sixth of that on the moon, yet still has the same mass.

Learn more about grams.

Gallons to Grams Conversion Calculator