Gallons to Cups
Type a value in either box to convert between gallons and cups. The factor is 16.
| Gallons | Cups |
|---|---|
| 1 gal | 16 cup |
| 2 gal | 32 cup |
| 3 gal | 48 cup |
| 5 gal | 80 cup |
| 10 gal | 160 cup |
| 25 gal | 400 cup |
| 50 gal | 800 cup |
| 100 gal | 1600 cup |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Gallons field.
- The Cups figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Cups field converts back to Gallons the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Gallons to Cups formula
To convert gallons to cups, multiply by 16.
cup = gal × 16
Put another way, one gallon is exactly 16 cups.
Why this factor: the gallon and the cup are both defined against the liter, so dividing one definition by the other gives 16 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 16 — or use the Cups to Gallons converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Start with 8 gal. Multiply by 16 to get 128 cup.
8 gal × 16 = 128 cup
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a gallon?
A US liquid gallon is the standard large-volume unit in the United States.
Definition: Defined as exactly 231 cubic inches, which works out to exactly 3.785411784 liters.
Where it is used: Fuel sales, milk and beverage containers, and paint in the US.
Worth knowing: The imperial gallon used in the UK and Canada is about 20% larger, at 4.54609 L — so 'miles per gallon' figures are not comparable between the two.
What is a cup?
A US customary cup is the standard cooking volume measure in American recipes.
Definition: Exactly one sixteenth of a US liquid gallon, so exactly 236.5882365 milliliters.
Where it is used: American recipes and baking, where dry and liquid ingredients alike are measured by cup.
Worth knowing: Nutrition labels use the US *legal* cup of exactly 240 mL, and a metric cup is 250 mL — three slightly different cups are in circulation.
Gallons vs Cups
The gallon and the cup belong to the same family of units, so converting between them is usually a matter of shifting a decimal point or applying a small whole-number factor.
Frequently asked questions
How many cups are in a gallon?
One gallon equals 16 cups.
What is the formula to convert gallons to cups?
Multiply the number of gallons by 16. To reverse it, divide by 16 instead.
How do I convert cups back to gallons?
Divide by 16, which is the same as multiplying by 0.0625.
How many cups are in 10 gallons?
10 gal works out to 160 cup.
Is there anything to watch out for with gallons?
The imperial gallon used in the UK and Canada is about 20% larger, at 4.54609 L — so 'miles per gallon' figures are not comparable between the two.
How is the gallon defined?
Defined as exactly 231 cubic inches, which works out to exactly 3.785411784 liters.