Litres to Pints Calculator & Guide
Convert litres to pints accurately, whether you need UK (imperial) pints or US liquid pints. Learn the exact formulas, see a quick-reference table, and understand why the two measurements differ.
Understanding Litres and Pints
Litres are a metric unit of volume used almost everywhere in the world, while pints are an imperial or US customary unit still widely used for drinks, milk, and everyday measurements in the UK, Ireland, and the United States.
How the Conversion Works
Formulas for converting litres to UK and US pints
Litres to UK (Imperial) Pints
One UK pint equals exactly 568.26125 millilitres. To convert litres to UK pints, multiply the litre value by 1.75975.
Litres to US Liquid Pints
One US liquid pint equals exactly 473.176473 millilitres, smaller than a UK pint. To convert litres to US pints, multiply the litre value by 2.11338.
Converting Pints Back to Litres
To reverse the conversion, divide instead of multiplying: Litres = UK Pints ÷ 1.75975, or Litres = US Pints ÷ 2.11338.
Why Two Different Pints Exist
The UK pint is defined as one-eighth of an imperial gallon, while the US pint is one-eighth of a US gallon. Because the imperial and US gallon are different sizes, the pints derived from them differ too, with the US pint around 16.7% smaller than the UK pint.
Litres to Pints Quick Facts
Essential figures to remember
How to Convert Litres to Pints
Converting between litres and pints only takes one multiplication, but choosing the right pint measurement is the step people get wrong most often.
Confirm the Litre Amount
Start with the volume in litres you want to convert. If your figure is in millilitres, divide by 1,000 first to get litres.
Decide UK or US Pints
Work out which pint you actually need. UK recipes, pub measures, and most European contexts use the imperial pint. US recipes and US packaging use the smaller US liquid pint.
Apply the Right Multiplier
Multiply your litre figure by 1.75975 for UK pints, or by 2.11338 for US pints, to get your converted volume.
Round Sensibly
For cooking or everyday use, rounding to one or two decimal places is usually accurate enough. For brewing, dosing, or scientific work, keep the full precision of the multiplier.
Litres to Pints Conversion Table
Common litre values converted to both UK and US pints for quick lookup.
| Litres | UK Pints | US Pints |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 L | 0.88 pt | 1.06 pt |
| 1 L | 1.76 pt | 2.11 pt |
| 2 L | 3.52 pt | 4.23 pt |
| 5 L | 8.80 pt | 10.57 pt |
| 10 L | 17.60 pt | 21.13 pt |
| 20 L | 35.20 pt | 42.27 pt |
Litres to Pints FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about converting litres to pints.
One litre equals approximately 1.75975 UK (imperial) pints, or approximately 2.11338 US liquid pints. The exact figure you should use depends on which pint measurement you need.
The UK pint is based on the imperial system and equals 568.26 millilitres, while the US liquid pint is based on the US customary system and equals 473.18 millilitres. The US pint is smaller because the US and UK adopted different gallon definitions historically, and pints are defined as a fraction of a gallon in each system.
To convert litres to UK pints, multiply the number of litres by 1.75975. To convert litres to US pints, multiply the number of litres by 2.11338. To reverse the conversion, divide the number of pints by the same figure.
No. A UK pub pint is 568ml, while a US pint of beer is typically 473ml, around 17% smaller. This is important to know when comparing serving sizes or recipes between the two countries.