How Many Cups in a Gallon? Cups to Pints, Quarts, and More in Complete Measurement Conversion Guide
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Aug 4, 2021 • 3 min read
Volume conversions can be difficult to remember. Keep this handy cheat sheet nearby when you’re baking or cooking.
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What Is the Difference Between the Metric System and the Imperial System?
Before Great Britain officially switched to the metric system in 1965, they had what was called the British Imperial System. The U.S. system of weights and measures is based upon it. The unit conversions between the two are notoriously difficult, mostly because fluid ounces are a measure of volume, not weight.
- Depending on where you are, either 20 or 16 fluid ounces equals one pint.
- Milk, for example, is about 2-3% denser than water, which weighs about 1 pound per 16 fl. oz., so a little bit over a pound.
- Even the Canadians got wise: the U.S., along with Liberia and Myanmar, are the only ones left clinging to things like imperial cups—which are just shy of a full metric cup.
When it comes to cooking, converting from pints can be tricky because stores commonly sell fresh produce by weight, not volume.
Volume Conversion for US Ounces to Cups
8 fluid ounces = 1 cup
Volume Conversions for US Cups to Pints
2 cups = 1 pint
How Many US Cups in a Gallon?
| Gallons | Cups |
|---|---|
| 1 US fluid gallon | 16 US cups |
| 1 US dry gallon | 18.6 US cups |
| 1 Imperial gallon | 18.18 metric cups |
| 1 gallon of water | 16 cups |
| 1 gallon of milk | 16 cups |
| 1 gallon of coffee | 20 cups of coffee beans |
| ½ gallon of water | 8 cups |
| ½ gallon of milk | 8 cups |
| ½ gallon of coffee | 8 cups |
How Many Cups in a Quart?
1 Quart = 4 cups
How Many Cups in a Pint?
If we remember, 8 ounces = 1 cup, 2 cups = 1 pint (or 16 ounces = 1 pint).
There are generally 2 cups in 1 pint, however depending on the ingredient, this may change. For example, 1 pint of Blueberries = 2 cups = 12 ounces (dry), whereas 1 pint of sour cream or 1 pint of ice cream = 2 cups.
Say a recipe calls for cups of sliced strawberries, but the grocery store sells whole strawberries in plastic clamshells measured by weight. Here’s what to remember:
1 Pint = ¾ pound (12 oz.) = 12 large, 24 medium, or 36 small strawberries = 1 ½ to 2 cups sliced strawberries
1 lb whole strawberries = 2 ¾ cups sliced strawberries
How Many Cups in a Half-Pint?
½ Pint = 1 cup
Measurement Conversion Table:
1 US Gallon = 4 Quarts = 8 Pints = 128 ounces = 16 US cups
1 Quart = 2 Pints = 32 ounces = 4 US cups
1 Pint = 16 ounces = 2 US cups
Three-fourths of a cup = 12 tablespoons
Half of a cup = 8 tablespoons 4 ounces
Third of a cup = 5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon
Fourth of a cup = 4 tablespoons 2 ounces
Eighth of a cup = 2 tablespoons
1 tablespoon = .90 cubic inches
1 Quart = 2 Pints
1 Pint = 2 cups, 32 Ounces
1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
Measurement conversions are necessary to home cooks and professional chefs alike. Understanding how to convert cups to gallons, quarts, and pints allows freedom for culinary experimentation and expression. While some chefs cook with standard US measurements, others, like Chef Thomas Keller, prefer the more exacting standard of grams. In Chef Keller’s MasterClass, learn how to properly measure, weigh, and work with ingredients to achieve perfectly plated results.
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