Convert US quarts to liters in seconds.

Ever tried making a British pudding recipe only to find it calls for liters instead of quarts? Or maybe you’re maintaining an American car that specifies oil capacity in quarts, but your measuring jug uses liters. These situations make unit conversion skills essential – not just for professionals, but for anyone in our interconnected world. Let’s explore how quarts and liters coexist, and how to bridge them seamlessly.

Unit definitions

What is a US quart (qt)?

The US liquid quart, symbolized as "qt," is a volume unit primarily used in the United States. It’s part of the larger US customary system that evolved from older English units. One quart equals a quarter of a gallon – hence the name, derived from the Latin "quartus" meaning fourth. You’ll find quarts used for liquids like milk, automotive fluids, and some canned goods. Officially, 1 US liquid quart = 57.75 cubic inches or exactly 0.946352946 liters.

What is a liter (L)?

The liter (symbol "L" or "l") is the metric system’s base unit for volume. Defined as a cubic decimeter (10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm), it’s used globally except in a few holdout nations. A liter of water weighs almost exactly 1 kilogram at standard temperature, making it practical for both scientific and everyday use. Since 1964, the liter has been defined against the cubic meter: 1 L = 0.001 m³.

Conversion formula

The magic number for quarts-to-liters conversion is 0.946353. Here’s how it works:

Quarts to liters:
Liters = Quarts × 0.946353

Liters to quarts:
Quarts = Liters ÷ 0.946353

Example calculations

1. Converting 2 quarts to liters:
   2 qt × 0.946353 = 1.8927 L
   So, that big 2-quart soda bottle? It holds nearly 1.9 liters.
2. Converting 5 liters to quarts:
   5 L ÷ 0.946353 ≈ 5.2834 qt
   A 5-liter European wine box equals about 5.28 US quarts.

Conversion tables

US quarts to liters

Liters to US quarts

Historical background

The quart has roots in medieval England, where it was used for both dry and liquid goods. When the US adopted its version of the English system in the 19th century, it standardized the wine gallon (231 cubic inches) as the basis for liquid measurements. This made the US quart smaller than its British counterpart – a fact that still trips up international cooks today.

The liter’s story begins with the French Revolution. In 1793, the new Republic sought to unify measurements, leading to the original liter definition as the volume of 1 kg of water. Though later redefined for precision, this water connection makes liters intuitive for everyday use. The 1964 redefinition tied it firmly to the meter, cementing its role in the International System of Units.

Interesting facts

1. Not All Quarts Are Equal
   The US liquid quart is about 20% smaller than the UK’s imperial quart. That difference could ruin a recipe if ignored.
2. Wine Bottle Wisdom
   A standard US wine bottle is 750 mL – roughly 0.793 quarts. European labels often list both units.
3. Automotive Oddity
   Many car manuals specify oil capacity in quarts in the US version and liters elsewhere. 5 quarts ≈ 4.73 liters.
4. Milk Jug Math
   US milk gallons contain 4 quarts (3.785 L), while UK milk comes in 4.546-liter jugs – close to an imperial gallon.
5. Liter vs. Liter
   Until 1979, the liter’s symbol was lowercase "l". The uppercase "L" was adopted to avoid confusion with the number 1.

FAQ