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Standard Units

You are probably familiar with a lot of these measurements. Volume is about how much space a fluid takes up. Even though they have different weights, a gallon of water weighs a different amount than a gallon of motor oil. Notice that fluid ounces are different than the ounces used in weights.

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons = 6 teaspoons
1 cup = 8 fluid ounces = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons
1 pint = 2 cups = 16 fluid ounces = 32 tablespoons
1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups = 32 fluid ounces = 64 tablespoons
1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 fluid ounces

Metric Units

The basis of fluid volume units for the metric system is the liter. A liter is about the same as one quart. You already read that the metric system is based on units of ten so here's a starter list, but they go on forever.

1 liter = 1,000 milliliters

That's about it for the main units of fluid volume. There are deciliters and other metric volumes, but in class you'll use milliliters and liters most often.

Conversion

You're going to have to go back and forth with units. Converting fluid ounces into milliliters and gallons into liters is a regular thing in math and science classes. Here are a few conversions. Technically you only need one conversion, but sometimes it's easier to use one closer to the values you want.

1 fluid ounce = 29.57 milliliters
1 pint = 0.47 liters = 470 milliliters
1 quart = 0.95 liters = 950 milliliters
1 gallon = 3.78 liters = 3,780 milliliters

1 milliliter = 0.03 fluid ounces
1 liter = 1,000 milliliters = 2.11 pints
1 liter = 1.06 quarts
1 liter = 0.26 gallons

Example

If you were sent to the store to buy 5 2-liter bottles of soda for a party, how many gallons of soda is that?
5 * 2 liters = 10 liters = 10 * 0.26 gallons = 2.6 gallons of soda

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