What this calculator does
Turn US quarts into liters, or liters back into quarts, exactly. The quart, a quarter of a gallon, is the size of a carton of milk or a bottle of motor oil in the US. Many recipes also use it to size a slow cooker or saucepan. The liter is the metric unit that replaces it nearly everywhere else. The two are close enough to confuse and different enough to matter.
A US liquid quart is ¼ of a US gallon (231 cubic inches), which is exactly 0.946352946 L. A liter is therefore about 5.7% bigger than a quart. This page converts both ways using that exact value.
Where it's used
Why this math matters outside the classroom:
- Motor oil. An engine taking 5 quarts of oil needs about 4.73 L.
- Slow cookers. A 6 quart slow cooker holds about 5.7 L.
- Milk. A quart of milk is about 0.95 L, a bit less than a liter carton.
- Coolant. A 2 L bottle of coolant is about 2.11 quarts.
- Stock pots. Cooks following a metric soup recipe know an 8 quart stock pot holds about 7.6 L.
Grade level and standards: Grades 5–6; Common Core State Standards for Mathematics 6.RP.A.3.d. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.
How to use it
- Enter a number of US quarts or a number of liters.
- Choose quarts to liters, or liters to quarts.
- Read the converted value, the working and the reference table.
What the inputs mean
- Value to convert
- US liquid quarts for qt → L, or liters for L → qt.
- Direction
- Which unit you entered. The table changes direction with it.
Formula and method
L = qt × 0.946352946 qt = L ÷ 0.946352946 ≈ L × 1.0566882
Here L is the amount in liters and qt the amount in US quarts. The US gallon is exactly 3.785411784 L, and a quart is a quarter of it. So 1 qt = 0.946352946 L with no rounding.
The reverse factor, 1.05668820943 quarts per liter, is a decimal that never ends. So the calculator does liters to quarts by dividing by the exact quart instead.
Worked example
A soup recipe makes 4 quarts. How many liters is that?
- Each US quart is exactly 0.946352946 L, so multiply by the 4 quarts you have: 4 × 0.946352946.
- 4 × 0.946352946 = 3.785411784 L.
Result: 4 quarts is about 3.79 L, exactly one US gallon.
Understanding the result
Mental shortcut: a quart is a liter minus 5%. Going from quarts to liters, take 5% off (4 qt → 3.8 L). Going from liters to quarts, add 6% (2 L → 2.12 qt, exact 2.11). Treating them as equal is 5.7% off. That is fine for soup, but not for canning or oil changes.
Equivalents: 1 qt = 2 pints = 4 cups = 32 US fl oz. A 1 L bottle holds about 33.8 fl oz, a little more than a quart.
Motor oil: engine capacities in owners' manuals are often given in both quarts and liters. A 5-quart capacity is 4.73 L, so a 5 L jug covers it with a little left over.
Assumptions and limitations
- “Quart” means the US liquid quart, ¼ of a US gallon.
- The US dry quart (about 1.1012 L), used for berries and produce, is a different unit and is not converted here.
- The imperial quart (1.1365225 L) used in older British recipes is also larger and not included.
Frequently asked questions
Is a liter bigger than a quart?
Yes. A liter is about 1.057 US liquid quarts, so it is roughly 5.7% bigger.
How many liters are in a quart?
0.946352946 L in a US liquid quart, exactly, or about 946 mL.
What is a dry quart?
A US dry quart is ¼ of a dry gallon (268.8025 in³) and holds about 1.1012 L. It is used for selling produce by volume, such as a quart of strawberries. It is about 16% larger than a liquid quart.
How many quarts are in 2 liters?
About 2.113 US quarts.
How this calculator is checked
Method: US liquid quart = ¼ US gal = 57.75 in³ = 0.946352946 L exactly. The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-18. Found a problem? Tell us.
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