Gallons per Hour
0
Equivalent flow rate
Accurate conversion between L/hr and gal/hr for fuel, water, industrial and agricultural flow rates
Convert litres per hour to gallons per hour instantly with precise calculations. Supports both US and Imperial gallons. Includes reverse conversion, full formula reference, real-world flow rate examples, and comprehensive comparison tables for 2026.
Professional flow rate conversion for fuel systems, irrigation, plumbing, HVAC, and industrial engineering
Convert litres per hour to gallons per hour using exact internationally defined factors: 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 litres and 1 Imperial gallon = 4.54609 litres exactly. Our tool outputs results in both US gallons per hour and Imperial gallons per hour simultaneously, along with cubic metres per hour and millilitres per second, giving you a complete multi-unit flow rate breakdown in one step for 2026.
The US gallon and the Imperial (UK) gallon are different units — a critical distinction in flow rate calculations. The US gallon is approximately 3.785 litres while the Imperial gallon is approximately 4.546 litres, making them differ by about 20%. Our converter clearly outputs both simultaneously so you can use the correct value for your application, whether it is a US-designed fuel system or a UK agricultural irrigation system.
Essential for mechanical engineers, plumbers, HVAC technicians, fuel system designers, farmers, pool technicians, and process engineers in 2026. Flow rate conversions between L/hr and gal/hr are routine when working with equipment specifications from different countries, comparing pump performance curves, calculating fuel consumption, sizing irrigation systems, and specifying flow control valves across metric and imperial unit systems.
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Litres per hour (L/hr) is a metric unit of volumetric flow rate measuring the volume of fluid passing a point per hour, expressed in litres. It is the standard flow rate unit used in engineering, plumbing, HVAC, irrigation, and process industries in metric countries including Australia, Europe, and most of Asia. Gallons per hour (gal/hr) is the equivalent imperial or US customary flow rate unit, used primarily in the United States and, historically, the United Kingdom.
A critical distinction exists between the US gallon (3.785411784 litres exactly) and the Imperial gallon (4.54609 litres exactly). This means 1 US gal/hr ≈ 3.785 L/hr while 1 Imperial gal/hr ≈ 4.546 L/hr — a difference of approximately 20%. Using the wrong gallon type in an engineering calculation can lead to significant errors in pump sizing, fuel system design, and irrigation planning. Always confirm which gallon system is used in any specification before converting. For related volume conversions, see the pressure converter for pump head calculations.
1 L/hr = 0.264172 US gal/hr and 1 L/hr = 0.219969 Imperial gal/hr. The US gallon (3.785 L) and Imperial gallon (4.546 L) differ by approximately 20% — always confirm the gallon type before applying a flow rate specification from a foreign manufacturer or standard.
The conversion between litres per hour and gallons per hour uses the exact internationally defined volume of each gallon. Both the US gallon and Imperial gallon are defined in terms of litres with exact values, so the conversion factors carry no inherent rounding error in their base definitions.
Example 1: 500 L/hr ÷ 3.785411784 = 132.09 US gal/hr
Example 2: 500 L/hr ÷ 4.54609 = 109.98 Imperial gal/hr
Example 3: 100 US gal/hr × 3.785411784 = 378.54 L/hr
Bar heights are proportional to illustrate relative flow rate values — US gal/hr shown
Use this quick-reference table to look up common litres per hour to gallons per hour conversions. Values are shown for both US and Imperial gallons using the exact conversion factors. For values not shown, use the calculator above.
| Litres/hr (L/hr) | US Gal/hr | Imp Gal/hr | m³/hr | mL/sec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 L/hr | 0.2642 US gal/hr | 0.2200 Imp gal/hr | 0.001 m³/hr | 0.278 mL/s |
| 5 L/hr | 1.3209 US gal/hr | 1.0998 Imp gal/hr | 0.005 m³/hr | 1.389 mL/s |
| 10 L/hr | 2.6417 US gal/hr | 2.1997 Imp gal/hr | 0.010 m³/hr | 2.778 mL/s |
| 20 L/hr | 5.2834 US gal/hr | 4.3994 Imp gal/hr | 0.020 m³/hr | 5.556 mL/s |
| 50 L/hr | 13.2086 US gal/hr | 10.9985 Imp gal/hr | 0.050 m³/hr | 13.889 mL/s |
| 100 L/hr | 26.4172 US gal/hr | 21.9969 Imp gal/hr | 0.100 m³/hr | 27.778 mL/s |
| 200 L/hr | 52.8344 US gal/hr | 43.9938 Imp gal/hr | 0.200 m³/hr | 55.556 mL/s |
| 500 L/hr | 132.0860 US gal/hr | 109.9846 Imp gal/hr | 0.500 m³/hr | 138.889 mL/s |
| 1,000 L/hr | 264.1721 US gal/hr | 219.9692 Imp gal/hr | 1.000 m³/hr | 277.778 mL/s |
| 2,000 L/hr | 528.3441 US gal/hr | 439.9385 Imp gal/hr | 2.000 m³/hr | 555.556 mL/s |
| 5,000 L/hr | 1,320.860 US gal/hr | 1,099.846 Imp gal/hr | 5.000 m³/hr | 1,388.889 mL/s |
| 10,000 L/hr | 2,641.721 US gal/hr | 2,199.692 Imp gal/hr | 10.000 m³/hr | 2,777.778 mL/s |
Understanding flow rates in litres per hour and gallons per hour becomes much easier when related to familiar real-world applications. The following examples cover common engineering, domestic, and industrial flow rates encountered in 2026.
A standard household shower head flows at approximately 8–12 litres per minute, which is 480–720 L/hr or 127–190 US gal/hr. Water-efficient shower heads use 6 L/min (360 L/hr = 95 US gal/hr). Converting L/hr to gal/hr is useful when comparing shower head specifications between Australian and US products, or calculating water consumption for a household water audit.
A petrol car engine at highway cruise consumes approximately 6–10 litres per hour of fuel, equal to 1.6–2.6 US gal/hr. A diesel truck engine may consume 20–40 L/hr (5.3–10.6 US gal/hr) under load. Fuel flow rates in L/hr and gal/hr are used in engine management systems, fuel consumption testing, and fleet management reporting across different country standards.
A drip irrigation emitter typically delivers 2–8 L/hr per emitter, equal to 0.53–2.11 US gal/hr. A large-scale centre-pivot irrigation system may deliver over 200,000 L/hr (52,834 US gal/hr). Agricultural engineers routinely convert between L/hr and gal/hr when specifying equipment imported from US manufacturers, comparing pump curves, or complying with water authority reporting requirements in 2026.
A residential swimming pool pump typically circulates water at 10,000–30,000 L/hr, equal to 2,642–7,925 US gal/hr. Pool chemical dosing pumps operate at much lower rates of 10–100 L/hr (2.6–26.4 US gal/hr). Pool equipment from the US is often rated in US gallons per hour, requiring conversion to L/hr when comparing with Australian or European pump specifications or calculating filtration turnover rates.
Industrial centrifugal pumps used in process plants, water treatment, and chemical manufacturing can operate at flow rates from 1,000 L/hr to over 1,000,000 L/hr (264–264,172 US gal/hr). Pump manufacturers publish performance curves in either L/hr or US gal/hr depending on their target market. Engineers must accurately convert these figures when selecting pumps from global suppliers for Australian, European, or North American installations.
A Boeing 737 burns approximately 2,400–3,000 kg of fuel per hour. Since Jet-A fuel has a density of approximately 0.8 kg/L, this equates to 3,000–3,750 L/hr per engine, or 792–990 US gal/hr per engine. Aviation fuel flow is typically measured in kg/hr or lbs/hr for weight-critical operations, but L/hr and gal/hr are used for fuel truck delivery rates, fuel farm pump specifications, and ground support equipment in 2026.
The need to convert between litres per hour and gallons per hour arises constantly in engineering, manufacturing, agriculture, and domestic applications where equipment specifications, regulatory requirements, or client documentation from different countries use different unit systems. The United States predominantly uses US gallons per hour for flow rate specifications, while Australia, Europe, and most of the world use litres per hour.
Our L/hr to gal/hr converter is designed for instant, accurate results on any device. Follow these simple steps to convert your flow rate value in seconds.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology provides the official definition of the US gallon and other volume units used as the reference standard for this converter and all official US engineering calculations.
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