How Many Cups Are in a Gallon?
16
US cups
18.18
UK / imperial
The US and imperial systems give different answers to this question. Go by where the recipe is from: American recipes mean 16, British and older Commonwealth recipes mean 18.18.
Sixteen cups to a US gallon. It is the top of the doubling ladder that runs cup → pint → quart → gallon, and it turns up mostly in batch cooking, brining, stock-making and drinks for a crowd.
1 gallon in cups, by region
| United States | 16 cups |
| UK / imperial (250 ml cup) | 18.18 cups |
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Frequently asked questions
How many cups are in a gallon?
There are 16 cups in a US gallon, and 18.18 in the UK/imperial equivalent. American recipes mean the US figure.
How many quarts in a gallon?
Four, in both the US and imperial systems. The systems differ in the size of the units, not the ratios between them.
How much bigger is an imperial gallon?
About 20% — 4,546 ml against the US gallon's 3,785 ml. This is why a "gallon" of petrol costs differently either side of the Atlantic, and why old British preserving recipes yield more than expected.
How many cups in half a gallon?
Eight US cups — the size of a standard American milk carton.