Gallons to Pounds & Ounces Conversion Calculator

Enter the volume in gallons below to calculate the weight in pounds.

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Result in Pounds:

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1 gal = 8.345404452021 lb
1 gal = 8 lb 5.526471232336 oz

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How to Convert Gallons to Pounds

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Since gallons are a unit of volume and pounds 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 pounds 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 Pounds Formula

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

If the density is given in grams per milliliter (g/mL), then first multiply the density by 8.3454 to convert to lb/gal.

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

pounds = gallons × 8.3454 × density

Thus, the weight in pounds is equal to the volume in gallons multiplied by 8.3454 times the density (in g/mL) of the ingredient, substance, or material.

For example, here's how to convert 5 gallons to pounds for an ingredient with a density of 0.7 g/mL.
pounds = 5 gal × 8.3454 × 0.7 g/mL = 29.2089 lb

Trying to figure out how much a gallon of water weighs? It's 8.345 pounds. Learn more with our water weight calculator.

When to Convert Gallons to Pounds

Gallons and pounds 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 Pounds 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 pounds of various wet and dry ingredients are in a gallon.

Gallon measurements converted to pounds for commonly used cooking and baking ingredients.
Volume in Gallons: Weight in Pounds of:
Water Milk Cooking Oil All Purpose Flour Granulated Sugar
1/8 gal 1.0432 lb 1.0745 lb 0.917994 lb 0.55184 lb 0.881849 lb
1/4 gal 2.0864 lb 2.1489 lb 1.836 lb 1.1037 lb 1.7637 lb
1/3 gal 2.7818 lb 2.8653 lb 2.448 lb 1.4716 lb 2.3516 lb
1/2 gal 4.1727 lb 4.2979 lb 3.672 lb 2.2074 lb 3.5274 lb
2/3 gal 5.5636 lb 5.7305 lb 4.896 lb 2.9431 lb 4.7032 lb
3/4 gal 6.2591 lb 6.4468 lb 5.508 lb 3.311 lb 5.2911 lb
1 gal 8.3454 lb 8.5958 lb 7.344 lb 4.4147 lb 7.0548 lb

So, one gallon of water weighs about 8.345 pounds and one gallon of milk weighs about 8.6 pounds.

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 Pound?

Pounds are a widely used unit of weight in the United States. The National Bureau of Standards approved the international definition of the pound for use in the United States in 1959 after an agreement between six nations referred to as the International Yard and Pound Agreement.[4]

One pound is equal to 16 ounces, or 0.45359237 kilograms. In the avoirdupois or apothecaries' systems, one pound is equal to 7,000 grains.[5]

The pound is a US customary and imperial unit of mass. A pound is sometimes also referred to as a common ounce. Pounds can be abbreviated as lb (plural lbs), and are also sometimes abbreviated as lbm or #. For example, 1 pound can be written as 1 lb, 1 lbm, or 1 #, and 2 pounds can be written as 2 lbs.

A pound is also frequently referred to as a unit of weight. While technically, a pound 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 pound weighs 1 pound on Earth, but only weighs one-sixth of that on the moon, yet still has the same mass.

Learn more about pounds.

References

  1. National Institute of Standards & Technology, Culinary Measurement Tips, https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/culinary-measurement-tips
  2. CK-12 Foundation, Introductory Chemistry (CK-12) - 12.6: Mass-Volume Stoichiometry, https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_(CK-12)/12%3A_Stoichiometry/12.06%3A_Mass-Volume_Stoichiometry
  3. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices, Handbook 44 - 2019 Edition, https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/hb/2019/NIST.HB.44-2019.pdf
  4. National Bureau of Standards, Refinement of Values for the Yard and Pound, U.S. Department of Commerce, July 1, 1959, https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2017/05/09/frn-59-5442-1959.pdf
  5. Encyclopædia Britannica, Avoirdupois weight, https://www.britannica.com/science/avoirdupois-weight

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