Gallon

{{short description|Units of volume}} {{other uses}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox unit | name = gallon | image = GasCan.jpg | caption = A 1-US-gallon gasoline can showing "U.S. Gallon" marking (for American use), imperial gallons (for some Caribbean countries' and territories' use), and litres (for Canadian use) | standard = | quantity = Volume | symbol = gal | extralabel = | extradata = | units_imp1 = Non-SI units accepted for use with SI | inunits_imp1 = {{convert|1|impgal|L|sigfig=6|disp=out}} | units_imp2 = US customary units | inunits_imp2 = ≈{{thinsp}}{{convert|1|impgal|usgal|sigfig=7|disp=out}} | units_imp3 = US customary units | inunits_imp3 = ≈{{thinsp}}{{convert|1|impgal|in3|sigfig=8|disp=out}} | units_us1 = Non-SI units | inunits_us1 = {{thinsp}}{{convert|1|usgal|L|sigfig=10|disp=out}} | units_us2 = Imperial units | inunits_us2 = ≈{{thinsp}}{{convert|1|usgal|impgal|sigfig=7|disp=out}} | units_us3 = Imperial units | inunits_us3 = {{convert|1|usgal|in3|sigfig=3|disp=out}} }}

The '''gallon''' is a unit of volume in British imperial units and United States customary units.

The '''imperial gallon''' (imp gal) is defined as {{val|4.54609|fmt=none|u=litres}}, and is or was used in the United Kingdom and its former colonies, including Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Malaysia and some Caribbean countries, while the '''US gallon''' (US gal) is defined as {{convert|231|in3|L|sigfig=10}},<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=E Ambler |last2=Taylor |first2=Barry N |date=2008 |title=Guide for the use of the International System of Units (SI) |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |doi=10.6028/nist.sp.811e2008 |doi-access=free}}</ref> and is used in the United States and some Latin American and Caribbean countries.

There are four gills in a pint, two pints in a quart, and four quarts (''quarter'' gallons) in a gallon, with the imperial gill being divided into five imperial fluid ounces and the US gill being divided into four US fluid ounces: this, and a slight difference in the sizes of the imperial fluid ounce and the US fluid ounce, give different sizes for the imperial gallon and US gallon.

The IEEE standard symbol for both the imperial and US gallons is '''gal''',<ref>IEEE Std 260.1–2014</ref> not to be confused with the gal (symbol: Gal), a CGS unit of acceleration.

==Definitions== The gallon currently has two definitions, one in the imperial system and another in the US customary system.

Historically, there were many definitions and redefinitions: see {{section link|Gallon|Sizes of gallons|nopage=y}} for details.

===Imperial gallon=== thumb|A Shell petrol station selling 2* and 4* (leaded petrol) by the gallon in the UK, circa 1980 The British imperial gallon (frequently called simply "gallon") is defined as exactly 4.54609 litres.<ref name=W&M1985>{{cite web|title=Weights and Measures Act 1985, chapter 72, schedule 1|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/72/schedule/1|website=legislation.gov.uk|publisher=The National Archives on behalf of HM Government|access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref> It is not legal to sell items by the imperial gallon<ref>https://www.gov.uk/weights-measures-and-packaging-the-law</ref> but is still used by people in Britain (fuel consumption) and some other Commonwealth countries, and until 1976 was defined as the volume of water at {{cvt|62|F|1}}<ref name=BS350Foreword>{{cite book|title=BS 350:Part 1:1974 Conversion factors and tables Part 1. Basis of tables. Conversion factors|date=1983|publisher=British Standards Institution|page=Foreword|edition=AMD 4153|quote=Before that date (November 1976) the definition in the Weights and Measures Act 1963 was such that the gallon could be calculated to be 4.546 091 879 dm3 to ten significant figures... The return, in November 1976, by precise definition to what had earlier been used as an approximation for the value of the gallon (i.e. 4.546 09 dm3)...}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=BS 350:Part 1:1974 Conversion factors and tables Part 1. Basis of tables. Conversion factors|date=1974|publisher=British Standards Institution|page=10|edition=prior to Amendment No.1 1983|quote=the UK gallon (imp gal), defined in Schedule 1 of the Weights and Measures Act 1963, as the space occupied by 10 pounds of distilled water under certain conditions specified in the schedule.}}</ref> whose mass is {{convert|10|lb|sigfig=8}}.

There are four imperial quarts in a gallon, two imperial pints in a quart, and 20 imperial fluid ounces in an imperial pint,<ref name=W&M1985/> making an imperial fluid ounce {{sfrac|160}} of an imperial gallon.

===US gallon=== {{See also|United States customary units#Fluid volume|l1=Fluid volume}} thumb|A fuel station in the United States displaying fuel prices per US gallon The US gallon (frequently called a "gallon") is legally defined as exactly 231 cubic inches, i.e. {{convert|231|in3|L|9|disp=out|abbr=off|comma=off}}.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/h44-12.cfm|title=NIST Handbook 44 – 2012 Edition Appendix C "General Tables of Units of Measurement"|journal=NIST |date=26 October 2012|page=C-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Uniform Laws and Regulations in the areas of legal metrology and engine fuel quality|year=2011|publisher=US Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology|pages=9–13, 69|url=https://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/pubs/upload/HB130-11-final.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927010401/http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/pubs/upload/HB130-11-final.pdf |archive-date=2012-09-27 |url-status=live}}</ref>

A US gallon contains {{cvt|3.785411784|kg|sigfig=5}} of water at {{cvt|3.983|C}}, making it {{#expr: 3.785411784/4.54609*100 round 5}}% of an imperial gallon. There are four quarts in a gallon, two pints in a quart and 16 US fluid ounces in a US pint, making the US fluid ounce {{sfrac|128}} of a US gallon.

In order to overcome the effects of expansion and contraction with temperature when using a gallon to specify a quantity of material for purposes of trade, it is common to define the temperature at which the material will occupy the specified volume. For example, the volume of petroleum products<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nh.gov/agric/news/documents/weights-fuel-temperature.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413013031/http://www.nh.gov/agric/news/documents/weights-fuel-temperature.pdf|url-status=dead|title=State of New Hampshire Dept of Weights and Measure|archivedate=13 April 2012}}</ref> and alcoholic beverages<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title27-vol1/pdf/CFR-2011-title27-vol1-sec5-21.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019135845/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title27-vol1/pdf/CFR-2011-title27-vol1-sec5-21.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-19 |url-status=live|title=27 CFR section 5.21|website=Gpo.gov|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref> are both referenced to {{cvt|60|F|1|lk=off}} in government regulations.

==Worldwide usage== [[File:Gasoline unit.svg|thumb|Gasoline units used in the world: {{legend|#ff0000|Litre}} {{legend|#00ff00|US gallon}}{{legend|#0000ff|Imperial gallon}}{{legend|#e0e0e0|No data}}]]

===Imperial gallon=== [[File:Imperial Gallon fuel station in the Caribbean.jpg|thumb|A fuel station in St Vincent and the Grenadines displaying prices in Eastern Caribbean dollars per imperial gallon]]

The imperial gallon continues to be used as the standard petrol unit in four British Overseas Territories (Anguilla,<ref>{{cite web|date=19 October 2012|title=Anguilla Renewable Energy Integration Project Final Report|url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Anguilla-RE-Integration-Final-Report-121019.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014175039/http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Anguilla-RE-Integration-Final-Report-121019.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-14 |url-status=live|access-date=13 October 2013|work=Anguilla RE Integration Final Report|publisher=Government of Anguilla Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities, and Housing (MICUH)|page=104|quote=In 2008—the most recent year where WTI crude oil averaged US$100 per barrel—ANGLEC paid an average of about US$4 per imperial gallon (imp gal) for diesel.}}</ref> the British Virgin Islands,<ref>{{cite web |last=Walker |first=William |date=5 September 2012 |title=Biwater project draws scrutiny |url=http://www.bvibeacon.com/2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2487:biwater-project-draws-scrutiny&catid=491:commentary-sept-6-2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002140602/http://www.bvibeacon.com/2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2487:biwater-project-draws-scrutiny&catid=491:commentary-sept-6-2012 |archive-date=2013-10-02 |access-date=2013-09-30 |website=bvibeacon.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement By Premier Fahie In One-On-One Press Conference – Update On Current Matters {{!}} Government of the Virgin Islands |url=https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/statement-premier-fahie-one-one-one-press-conference-update-current-matters |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=bvi.gov.vg}}</ref> the Cayman Islands,<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Stuart|date=9 May 2013|title=Fuel costs driven by factors|work=Cayman Compass|url=http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2013/05/09/Fuel-costs-driven-by-factors/|access-date=30 September 2013|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222131450/http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2013/05/09/Fuel-costs-driven-by-factors/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Montserrat),<ref>{{cite news|date=30 November 2012|title=Petrol price increases, diesel decreases, cost of living goes up|work=The Montserrat Reporter|url=http://www.themontserratreporter.com/gasoline-price-increases-diesel-decreases-cost-of-living-goes-up/|access-date=30 September 2013|archive-date=3 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003154555/http://www.themontserratreporter.com/gasoline-price-increases-diesel-decreases-cost-of-living-goes-up/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Htin Lynn Aung|date=22 September 2017|title=Fuel prices on the rise|work=The Myanmar Times|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/news/fuel-prices-rise.html|access-date=18 January 2018|archive-date=18 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118064732/https://www.mmtimes.com/news/fuel-prices-rise.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and four countries (Antigua and Barbuda,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Government of Antigua and Barbuda|url=https://ab.gov.ag/media_page.php?page=17|access-date=2021-05-05|website=ab.gov.ag}}</ref> Grenada,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p1g4z5GpiBoC&pg=PA17|title=Grenada: Third Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, Requests for Modification of Quantitative Performance Criterion and Augmentation, and Financing Assurances Review|publisher=International Monetary Fund|year=2009|page=17|access-date=13 October 2013}}</ref> Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines).

All eight of these Caribbean territories use miles per hour for speed limits signage and drive on the left side of the road.

The United Arab Emirates ceased selling petrol by the imperial gallon in 2010 and switched to the litre, with Guyana following suit in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Petrol stations in UAE go the metric route|url=https://gulfnews.com/business/energy/petrol-stations-in-uae-go-the-metric-route-1.559595|access-date=2021-05-05|website=gulfnews.com|date=22 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-12-15|title=End of road for imperial gallon as UAE switches to buying fuel by litre|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/end-of-road-for-imperial-gallon-as-uae-switches-to-buying-fuel-by-litre-1.548176|access-date=2021-05-05|website=The National|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-06-28|title=Gas prices at Guyoil stations remain below $1,000 mark {{!}} Caribbean Mi…|url=http://www.caribmillers.com/content/gas-prices-guyoil-stations-remain-below-1000-mark|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Archive.is|archive-date=28 June 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628202944/http://www.caribmillers.com/content/gas-prices-guyoil-stations-remain-below-1000-mark|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority switched Dubai's water billing from imperial gallons to cubic metres in March 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dubai's Switch to Cubic Meters For water Bills: Why it Matters More This Summer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/dubais-switch-to-cubic-meters-for-water-bills-why-it-matters-more-this-summer/articleshow/122794842.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=23 July 2025 |date=20 July 2025}}</ref>

In 2014, Myanmar switched from the imperial gallon to the litre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oilseedcrops.org/2014/04/05/petrol-prices-march-2014-in-yangon-myanmar/|title=Petrol Prices March 2014 in Yangon, Myanmar|website=Oilseedcrops.org|date=5 April 2014}}</ref>

Antigua and Barbuda has proposed switching to selling petrol by litres since 2015.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{cite web|year=2013|title=The Re-Launch of Antigua And Barbuda's Metrication Programme|url=http://www.cbji.com/makingnews.aspx?id=692|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116182201/http://www.cbji.com/makingnews.aspx?id=692|archive-date=16 January 2012|access-date=20 May 2013|publisher=Diversity Global Magazine}}</ref>

In the European Union, the gallon was removed from the list of legally defined primary units of measure catalogue in the EU directive 80/181/EEC for trading and official purposes, effective from 31 December 1994. Under the directive the gallon could still be used, but only as a supplementary or secondary unit.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Council of the European Communities|date=9 February 2000|title=Council Directive 80/181/EEC of 20 December 1979 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to Unit of measurement and on the repeal of Directive 71/354/EEC|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1980L0181:20000209:EN:PDF|access-date=7 February 2009|quote=The legal units of measurement ... for economic, public health, public safety or administrative purposes ... litre}}</ref>

As a result of the EU directive, Ireland and the United Kingdom passed legislation to replace the gallon with the litre as a primary unit of measure in trade and in the conduct of public business, effective from 31 December 1993 and 30 September 1995, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 July 1995|title=The Units of Measurement Regulations 1995 (Article 4)|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19951804_en_1.htm|access-date=1 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|year=1995|title=Units of Measurement Directive|url=http://www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/ContentDetails.aspx?id=2515|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424231200/http://www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/ContentDetails.aspx?id=2515|archive-date=24 April 2012|access-date=26 November 2011|publisher=LACORS|df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|year=1995|title=Guidance Note on the use of Metric Units of Measurement by the Public Sector|url=http://www.nmo.bis.gov.uk/Docs/Legislation/Units%20of%20Measurement/Gnotes%20for%20public%20sector%20on%20use%20of%20metric.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110207120946/http://www.nmo.bis.gov.uk/Docs/Legislation/Units%20of%20Measurement/Gnotes%20for%20public%20sector%20on%20use%20of%20metric.pdf|archive-date=7 February 2011|access-date=20 March 2017|publisher=Department of Trade and Industry|df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=9 September 1992|title=S.I. No. 255/1992 — European Communities (Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1992.|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/si/0255.html|access-date=1 December 2011|work=Irish Statute Book|publisher=Office of the Attorney General}}</ref> Though the gallon has ceased to be a primary unit of trade, it can still be legally used in both the UK and Ireland as a supplementary unit.

Miles per imperial gallon is used as the primary fuel economy unit in the United Kingdom and as a supplementary unit in Canada on official documentation.<ref>{{cite web|date=5 November 2008|title=FAQs – Fuel Consumption Program|url=http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/programs/environment-fcp-faq-139.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520103922/http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/programs/environment-fcp-faq-139.htm|archive-date=20 May 2010|access-date=31 July 2018|publisher=Transport Canada|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3523/pdfs/uksi_20013523_en.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218054954/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3523/pdfs/uksi_20013523_en.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-18 |url-status=live|title=Statutory Instrument 2001/3523 Environmental Protection – The Passenger Car (Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions Information) Regulations 2001|date=30 October 2001|publisher=The Stationery Office|isbn=0-11-038743-0|access-date=1 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-30 |title=energuide-vehicles |url=https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/energuide-canada/energuide-vehicles/21010 |access-date=2021-02-21 |website=Nrcan.gc.ca}}</ref>

===US gallon=== Gasoline is sold by the US gallon in four US territories (American Samoa,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.samoanews.com/?q=node/76479 |title=Gasoline goes up eleven cents per gallon tomorrow |work=Samoa News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201034/http://www.samoanews.com/?q=node%2F76479 |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> the Northern Mariana Islands,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID%3D57572%26cat%3D1 |title=Shell pump prices up 8 cents |work=Saipan Tribune |first=Liberty |last=Dones |date= 17 May 2006 |access-date=30 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030231121/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=57572&cat=1 |archive-date=30 October 2006 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Guam,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guampdn.com/article/20130808/NEWS01/130808005/UPDATE-Gas-prices-down-10-cents-4-73-gallon-unleaded |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130930053836/http://www.guampdn.com/article/20130808/NEWS01/130808005/UPDATE-Gas-prices-down-10-cents-4-73-gallon-unleaded |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-09-30 |title=UPDATE: Gas prices down 10 cents to $4.73 for a gallon of unleaded |work=Pacific Daily News }}</ref> and the US Virgin Islands<ref>{{cite news|url=http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/7-cent-per-gallon-wapa-tax-goes-into-effect-1.1344082 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130930053844/http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/7-cent-per-gallon-wapa-tax-goes-into-effect-1.1344082 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 September 2013 |title=7-cent-per-gallon WAPA tax goes into effect |first=Joy |last=Blackburn |date=16 July 2012 |newspaper=Virgin Islands Daily News |df=dmy }}</ref>) and in six countries: * the United States; * The Central American country of Guatemala; * The South American countries of Columbia, Ecuador & Peru; * the Caribbean country of Haiti; * the Pacific Ocean countries of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau, which are associated countries of the United States; * the African country of Liberia, which is a former protectorate of the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2020 |title=Liberia: Senate Imposes US$0.30 Tax on Each Gallon of Petroleum Product. |url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-senate-imposes-us0-30-tax-on-each-gallon-of-petroleum-product-approves-fy2019-2020-recast-budget-at-us518m/}}</ref>

===Both imperial and US gallon=== Both the imperial gallon and the US gallon are used in the Turks and Caicos Islands, due to an increase in tax duties which was disguised by levying the same duty on the US gallon (3.79 L) as was previously levied on the imperial gallon (4.55 L),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/TCI/New_Measures_To_Improve_Tci_Finances_And_Prioritise_Spending_printer.shtml|website=TheBahamasWeekly.com|title=New Measures to Improve TCI Finances And Prioritise Spending}}</ref> and the Bahamas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBORDINATE/2014/2014-0005/ProtectionofRevenueImpostsVariationAmendmentOrder2014_1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214208/http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBORDINATE/2014/2014-0005/ProtectionofRevenueImpostsVariationAmendmentOrder2014_1.pdf |archive-date=2021-06-02 |url-status=live|title=OFFICIAL GAZETTE THE BAHAMAS PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY : NASSAU |date=12 February 2014 |website=Laws.bahamas.gov.bs|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Weights and Measures |work=Statute Law of the Bahamas |url=https://www.bbsq.bs/en/files/acts-and-regulations/1-weights-and-measures-act/file |access-date=1 June 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215910/https://www.bbsq.bs/en/files/acts-and-regulations/1-weights-and-measures-act/file |archive-date=2 June 2021}}</ref>

===Legacy=== In some parts of the Middle East, such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, 18.9-litre water cooler bottles are marketed as five-gallon bottles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AL MANHAL DRINKING WATER 5 GALLON ( 18.9 LITERS ) BOTTLE |url=https://www.buyonline.nestlewaters.bh/al-manhal-drinking-water#}}</ref>

==Relationship to other units== Both the US gallon and imperial gallon are divided into four quarts (''quarter'' gallons), which in turn are divided into two pints, which in turn are divided into two cups (not in customary use outside the US), which in turn are further divided into two gills. Thus, both gallons are equal to four quarts, eight pints, or thirty-two gills.

There is a difference in that the imperial gill is divided into five fluid ounces, whereas the US gill is divided into four fluid ounces: this means that an imperial fluid ounce is {{sfrac|20}} of an imperial pint or {{sfrac|160}} of an imperial gallon, while a US fluid ounce is {{sfrac|16}} of a US pint or {{sfrac|128}} of a US gallon.

As an imperial fluid ounce is {{#expr: 28.4130625/29.5735295625*100 round 3}}% of a US fluid ounce, this means that one imperial gallon, quart, pint, cup and gill are all equal to {{#expr: 28.4130625/29.5735295625*5/4 round 5}} of their US counterparts.

Historically, a common bottle size for liquor in the US was the "fifth", i.e. one-fifth of a US gallon (or 0.08% more than a "reputed quart", one-sixth of an imperial gallon). While spirit sales in the US were switched to metric measures in 1976, a 750 mL bottle is still sometimes known as a "fifth".<ref>E. Frank Henriques, ''The Signet Encyclopedia of Wine'', p. 298</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/10/11/archives/liquor-industry-converts-to-metric-system-liquor-industry-is.html|date=11 October 1976|title=Liquor Industry Converts to Metric System|first=Rona|last=Cherry|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

===US dry gallon=== The US dry gallon was defined as one-eighth of a US ''Winchester'' bushel of exactly {{val|2150.42|fmt=commas}} cubic inches, i.e. 268.8025 cubic inches or {{val|4.40488377086|fmt=none|u=L}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://keisan.casio.com/exec/system/1344320515|title=US Dry Conversion Calculator|website=High accuracy calculation for life or science.|language=en|access-date=2019-10-24|archive-date=24 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024225749/https://keisan.casio.com/exec/system/1344320515|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The US dry gallon is no longer used, and is no longer included in the relevant statute, which goes from the dry quart to the peck.<ref name="15USC205">[https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/search/display.html?terms=unit%20measure&url=/uscode/html/uscode15/usc_sec_15_00000205----000-notes.html ''Authorized tables'']'', US Code'', Title 15, ch. 6, subchapter I, sec. 205, accessed 19 July 2008.</ref>

==History== [[File:Bottle of milk.jpg|thumb|An American milk bottle with a volume of one US gallon]] The term derives most immediately from ''galun'', ''galon'' in Old Norman French,<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Gallon |volume=11 |page=421}}</ref> but the usage was common in several languages, for example {{lang|fro|jale}} in Old French and {{lang|ang|gęllet}} (bowl) in Old English. This suggests a common origin in Romance Latin, but the ultimate source of the word is unknown.<ref>{{cite book|title=Oxford English Dictionary|edition=2|year=1989|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford, England|chapter=gallon, n.}}</ref> '''''Gallon'''age'' is the term used for a capacity or amount measured in gallons.

The gallon originated as the basis of systems for measuring wine and beer in England. The sizes of gallon used in these two systems were different from each other: the first was based on the wine gallon (equal in size to the US gallon), and the second was based on the ale gallon (1.65% larger than the imperial gallon).

By the end of the 18th century, there were three definitions of the gallon in common use: * The ''corn gallon'' (or ''Winchester gallon'') of about {{nowrap|268.8025 cubic inches}} (≈{{val|4.404884|fmt=none|u=L}}), * The ''wine gallon'' (or ''Queen Anne's gallon'') of {{nowrap|231 cubic inches}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.sizes.com/units/gallon_english_wine.htm|title=English wine gallon|encyclopedia=Sizes.com|access-date=2010-06-17}}</ref> ({{val|3.785411784|fmt=none|u=L}}), and * The ''ale gallon'' of {{nowrap|282 cubic inches}} ({{val|4.621152048|fmt=none|u=L}}).

The ''corn'' or ''dry gallon'' was used in the United States for grain and other dry commodities until the 1990s. It was one-eighth of the (Winchester) bushel, originally defined as a cylindrical measure of {{sfrac|18|1|2}} inches in diameter and 8 inches in depth, which made the bushel {{nowrap|8 in × ({{sfrac|9|1|4}} in)2 × {{pi}} ≈ 2,150.42017 cubic inches}}. The bushel was later redefined to be 2,150.42 cubic inches exactly, thus making its gallon exactly {{val|268.8025|u=in3}} ({{val|4.40488377086|fmt=none|u=L}}); in previous centuries, there had been a corn gallon of between 271 and 272 cubic inches.

The ''wine gallon'' was legally adopted as the standard US gallon in 1836. Some sources relate this to the volume occupied by eight medieval merchants' pounds of wine: this was at one time defined as the volume of a cylinder 6 inches deep and 7 inches in diameter, i.e. {{nowrap|6 in × ({{sfrac|3|1|2}} in)2 × {{pi}} ≈ 230.90706 cubic inches}}. It was redefined in 1706 during the reign of Queen Anne as being exactly {{val|231|u=in3}}, the earlier definition with {{pi}} being approximated as {{sfrac|22|7}}.

<math display=block> \pi r^2h \approx \frac{22}{7}\times\left ( \frac{7 ~ \mathrm{in}}{2} \right )^2\times6 ~ \mathrm{in} = 231 ~ \mathrm{in}^3.</math>

Although the wine gallon had been used for centuries for import duty purposes, there was no legal standard of it in the Exchequer, and a smaller gallon of {{val|224|u=in3}} ({{val|3.670702336|fmt=none|u=L}}) was actually in use, which required this statute to resolve these issues: {{val|231|u=in3}} remains the definition of a gallon in the US today.

In 1824, Britain adopted the ''imperial gallon'', and abolished all other gallons in favour of it. The imperial gallon was defined as the volume of 10 pounds of distilled water weighed in air with brass weights with the barometer standing at {{convert|30|inHg|kPa psi|abbr=off|lk=on}} and at a temperature of {{cvt|62|F|1}}, which was calculated as {{val|277.274|u=in3}} (or {{val|4.543706784|fmt=none|u=L}} to ten significant figures).

This value lasted until 1889, when an Order in Council of November 28 of that year redefined the imperial gallon as {{val|277.463|u=in3}} (or {{val|4.546803939|fmt=none|u=L}} to ten significant figures).

In 1963, the definition was again refined as the space occupied by 10 pounds of distilled water of density {{val|0.998859|fmt=none|u=g/mL}} weighed in air of density {{val|0.001217|fmt=none|u=g/mL}} against weights of density {{nowrap|8.136 g/mL}} (the original "brass" was refined as the densities of brass alloys vary depending on metallurgical composition), which was calculated as {{val|4.546091879|fmt=none|u=L}} (≈ {{val|277.41955|u=in3}}) to ten significant figures.<ref name=BS350Foreword/>

The definition of exactly {{val|4.54609|fmt=none}} cubic decimetres (also {{val|4.54609|fmt=none|u=L}} or ≈ {{val|277.41943|u=in3}}) came after the litre was redefined in 1964: this value was adopted shortly afterwards in Canada, and was adopted in 1976 in the United Kingdom.<ref name=BS350Foreword/>

===Sizes of gallons=== Historically, gallons of various sizes were used in many parts of Western Europe. In these localities, it has been replaced as the unit of capacity by the litre.

{|class="wikitable" style=text-align:center; |+ Comparison of gallons |- !colspan="2"| Volume !rowspan="2"| Definition !rowspan="2"| Inverted volume (gal/cu ft) !rowspan="2"| Weight as water at {{cvt|62|F}} (pounds/gal) !colspan="3"| Cylindrical approximation |- ! (cu in) ! (dm3) ! Diameter (in) ! Height (in) ! Volume rel. error (%) |- !colspan=8 |Current gallons |- | 231 || {{val|3.785411784}} | Statute of 5 Queen Anne (1706) UK wine gallon '''US gallon''' (legally adopted 1836 US) | {{sfrac|7|37|77}} || 8.3454 | 7 || 6 || 0.04 |- | ≈ 277.41943 || {{val|4.54609}} | '''Imperial gallon''' (adopted 1964 Canada, adopted 1976 UK) | 6.2288 || 10.0224 | {{sfrac|5|2|3}} || 11 || {{val|0.0002}} |- !colspan=8|Historic gallons |- | 216 (Roman unciae)|| {{val|3.539605824}} | Roman congius | 8 || 7.8035 | 5 || 11 || 0.01 |- | 217 || {{val|3.555992888}} | Irish gallon (1495, re-confirmed 1736) | 7{{sfrac|209|217}} || 7.8396 | 5.25 || 10 || 0.24 |- | 224 || {{val|3.670702336}} | Preserved at the Guildhall, London (old UK wine gallon) | 7{{sfrac|5|7}} || 8.0925 | 9 || 3.5 || 0.6 |- | ≈ 241.3549 || {{val|3.955093289}} | Jersey gallon (1562) | 7.1596 || 8.7195 | 6.5 || 7.25 || 0.32 |- | ≈ 260.3235 || {{val|4.265931799}} | Guernsey gallon (17th-century origins until 1917) | 6.6379 || 9.4048 | 5 || 13.25 || 0.06 |- | 264.8 || {{val|4.3392945472}} | Ancient Rumford quart (1228) | 6{{sfrac|174|331}} || 9.5665 | 7.5 || 6 || 0.1 |- | 265.5 || {{val|4.350765492}} | Exchequer (Henry VII, 1497, with rim) | 6{{sfrac|30|59}} || 9.5918 | 13 || 2 || 0.01 |- | 266.25 || {{val|4.36305579}} | Ancient Rumford (1228) | 6{{sfrac|174|355}} || 9.6189 | 5.5 || 11.25 || 0.39 |- | 268.4 || {{val|4.398342075}} | Henry VII (Winchester) corn gallon (1497) | 6{{sfrac|294|671}} || 9.6966 | 6 || 9.5 || 0.08 |- | 268.8025 || {{val|4.40488377086}} | Winchester, statute of 13 & 14 William III Corn gallon US dry gallon (no longer used, no longer listed in the relevant statute) | 6{{sfrac|46074|107521}} || 9.7111 | 18.5 || 1 || {{val|0.00001}} |- | 270 || {{val|4.42450728}} | Elizabeth I corn gallon (1601) | 6.4 || 9.7544 | 5 || 13.75 || 0.0072 |- | 271 || {{val|4.440894344}} | Exchequer (1601, ''E.'') (old ''corn'' gallon) | 6{{sfrac|102|271}} || 9.7905 | 4.5 || 17 || 0.23 |- | 272 || {{val|4.457281408}} | William III corn gallon (1688) | 6{{sfrac|6|17}} || 9.8266 | 6 || 9.625 || 0.05 |- | {{val|277.202578125}} || {{val|4.542536388699375}} | Statute of 12 Anne (coal gallon), also equal to {{sfrac|1|1|32}} corn gallons | 6.2337 || 10.0146 | {{sfrac|5|2|3}} || 11 || 0.08 |- | 277.274 || {{val|4.543706784}} || Imperial gallon, as originally determined in 1824 | 6.2321 || 10.0172 | {{sfrac|5|2|3}} || 11 || 0.05 |- | ≈ 277.41955 || {{val|4.546091879}} | Imperial gallon as re-determined in 1895 and defined in 1963 | 6.2288 || 10.0224 | {{sfrac|5|2|3}} || 11 || {{val|0.0001}} |- | 277.463 || {{val|4.54680939}} | Imperial gallon as defined by Order in Council of 28 November 1889 | 6.2279 || 10.024 | {{sfrac|5|2|3}} || 11 || 0.015 |- | 278 || {{val|4.555603792}} | Exchequer (Henry VII, with copper rim) | 6{{sfrac|30|139}} || 10.0434 | 4.5 || 17.5 || 0.12 |- | 278.4 || {{val|4.562158618}} | Exchequer (1601 and 1602 pints) | 6{{sfrac|6|29}} || 10.0578 | 7 || 7.25 || 0.22 |- | 280 || {{val|4.58837792}} | Exchequer (1601 quart) | 6{{sfrac|6|35}} || 10.1156 | 5 || 14.25 || 0.07 |- | 282 || {{val|4.621152048}} | Treasury (beer and ale gallon pre-1824) | 6{{sfrac|6|47}} || 10.1879 | 6.5 || 8.5 || 0.02 |}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{sisterlinks|d=Q178413|c=Category:Gallon|wikt=gallon|s=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|n=no|q=no|b=no|v=no|voy=Metric and Imperial equivalents}}

Category:Customary units of measurement in the United States Category:Imperial units Category:Units of volume Category:Alcohol measurement Category:Cooking weights and measures