One standard US oil barrel is equal to 42 US gallons, so you can convert barrels to gallons by multiplying the number of barrels by 42. On the other hand, one US gallon is equal to 0.02381 US oil barrels, so you can convert gallons to barrels by multiplying the number of gallons by 0.02381 or dividing it by 42.
But if you don’t feel like calculating and would rather just get the values from some charts, this post is for you.
We at PowerSportsGuide have compiled the most common conversion numbers into this post!
How Many Gallons Are in a Barrel?
According to Energy.gov, one US barrel (BBL) equals exactly 42 US gallons. A 42-gallon barrel is a cylindrical shipping container used for shipping bulk liquids like crude oil.
However, the US barrel is also considered a standard measurement for measuring petroleum products like diesel, gasoline, and kerosene, but primarily crude oil. This is why this type of barrel is often referred to as the “US oil barrel.”
The refined products resulting from one barrel of crude oil typically include about:
- 20 gallons of gasoline
- 12 gallons of diesel fuel
- 4 gallons of jet fuel
- Some other products (like liquefied petroleum)
When it comes to other units of measurement, one standard US oil barrel is equal to:
- 1 US oil barrel = 42 US gallons
- 1 US gallons = 0.02381 US oil barrel
- 1 US oil barrel = 168 US quarts
- 1 US oil barrel = 336 US pints
- 1 US oil barrel = 5376 US fluid ounces
- 1 US oil barrel = 35 Imperial gallons
- 1 US oil barrel = 159 liters
- 1 US oil barrel = 158987 milliliters
- 1 US oil barrel = 0.159 m3
- 1 US oil barrel = 5.615 cubic foot
Besides standard oil barrels, you can find many other types of barrels (or drums) in the marketplace, like the standard 55-gallon drum (steel or plastic) and various wooden barrels.
However, this post will focus on the standard 42-gallon US oil barrel and its conversion numbers.
Why is a Barrel 42 Gallons?
According to the American Oil and Gas Historical Society, the reason why a barrel is equal to 42 gallons is because 42 gallons of crude oil roughly weigh 300 pounds.
When the first oil wells were set up in the US in the mid-1800s, oil companies had to deal with transportation issues. To keep things simple, they tried to determine the most suitable barrel size for bulk shipping.
As a result of this effort, they found that the best transporting container for crude oil is a 42-gallon barrel since it weighs approximately 300 pounds.
The standard for the 42-gallon oil barrel was finally settled in 1866 and has been used ever since.
How do You Convert Barrels to Gallons?
You can convert US oil barrels into gallons by multiplying the number of barrels by 42 since the volume of one barrel is equal to 42 US gallons. For example, 5 barrels of oil are equal to 5 x 42= 210 gallons, and 200 barrels are equal to 200 x 42 = 8,400 gallons.
Barrels-to-Gallons Chart
For your convenience, we’ve compiled the typical conversion numbers into this barrels-to-gallons chart.
| US Barrels (bbl) | US Gallons (gal) |
| 1 US bbl | 42 US gal |
| 2 US bbl | 84 US gal |
| 3 US bbl | 126 US gal |
| 4 US bbl | 168 US gal |
| 5 US bbl | 210 US gal |
| 6 US bbl | 252 US gal |
| 7 US bbl | 294 US gal |
| 8 US bbl | 336 US gal |
| 9 US bbl | 378 US gal |
| 10 US bbl | 420 US gal |
| 20 US bbl | 840 US gal |
| 30 US bbl | 1260 US gal |
| 40 US bbl | 1680 US gal |
| 50 US bbl | 2100 US gal |
| 60 US bbl | 2520 US gal |
| 70 US bbl | 2940 US gal |
| 80 US bbl | 3360 US gal |
| 90 US bbl | 3780 US gal |
| 100 US bbl | 4200 US gal |
| 200 US bbl | 8400 US gal |
| 300 US bbl | 12600 US gal |
| 400 US bbl | 16800 US gal |
| 500 US bbl | 21000 US gal |
| 600 US bbl | 25200 US gal |
| 700 US bbl | 29400 US gal |
| 800 US bbl | 33600 US gal |
| 900 US bbl | 37800 US gal |
| 1000 US bbl | 42000 US gal |
How do You Convert Gallons to Barrels?
As a rule of thumb, one US gallon is equal to 0.02381 barrels. Based on that, you can convert gallons to barrels by multiplying the gallon figure by 0.02381 or dividing it by 42. For example, 714 gallons are equal to 714 x 0.02381 = 17 barrels.
Alternatively, you can get the same result by dividing the gallon figure by 42.
Example – converting 504 gallons to barrels:
504 gallons / 42 = 12 barrels
(or)
504 gallons x 0.02381 = 12 barrels
Gallons-to-Barrels Chart
For your convenience, we’ve compiled the typical conversion numbers into this gallon-to-barrels chart:
| US Gallons (gal) | US Barrels (bbl) |
| 1 US gal | 0.024 US bbl |
| 2 US gal | 0.048 US bbl |
| 3 US gal | 0.071 US bbl |
| 4 US gal | 0.095 US bbl |
| 5 US gal | 0.119 US bbl |
| 6 US gal | 0.143 US bbl |
| 7 US gal | 0.167 US bbl |
| 8 US gal | 0.190 US bbl |
| 9 US gal | 0.214 US bbl |
| 10 US gal | 0.238 US bbl |
| 20 US gal | 0.476 US bbl |
| 30 US gal | 0.714 US bbl |
| 40 US gal | 0.952 US bbl |
| 42 US gal | 1.000 US bbl |
| 50 US gal | 1.190 US bbl |
| 60 US gal | 1.429 US bbl |
| 70 US gal | 1.667 US bbl |
| 80 US gal | 1.905 US bbl |
| 90 US gal | 2.143 US bbl |
| 100 US gal | 2.381 US bbl |
| 200 US gal | 4.762 US bbl |
| 300 US gal | 7.143 US bbl |
| 400 US gal | 9.524 US bbl |
| 500 US gal | 11.90 US bbl |
| 600 US gal | 14.29 US bbl |
| 700 US gal | 16.67 US bbl |
| 800 US gal | 19.05 US bbl |
| 900 US gal | 21.43 US bbl |
| 1000 US gal | 23.81 US bbl |
| 2000 US gal | 47.62 US bbl |
| 3000 US gal | 71.43 US bbl |
| 4000 US gal | 95.24 US bbl |
| 5000 US gal | 119.05 US bbl |
| 6000 US gal | 142.86 US bbl |
| 7000 US gal | 166.67 US bbl |
| 8000 US gal | 190.48 US bbl |
| 9000 US gal | 214.29 US bbl |
| 10000 US gal | 238.10 US bbl |
| 20000 US gal | 476.19 US bbl |
| 30000 US gal | 714.29 US bbl |
| 40000 US gal | 952.38 US bbl |
| 50000 US gal | 1190.48 US bbl |
FAQs About Gallons-to-Barrels Conversion
As a takeaway, we’ve answered the most common questions on the topic. (In these Q&As, one “barrel” is considered a standard 42-gallon barrel, while gallon figures refer to US gallons.)
How many gallons are in a barrel?
One standard US oil barrel is equal to exactly 42 US gallons.
Is a barrel of oil 42 or 55 gallons?
The official standard for a crude oil barrel is 42 gallons in the US, so “one barrel of oil” refers to 42 gallons of oil in most cases. However, oils and other liquids are sometimes stored and shipped in 55-gallon barrels.
How many m3s are in a barrel?
One standard oil barrel is equal to 0.159 m3.
How many liters are in a barrel?
One standard oil barrel is equal to 159 liters.
How many cubic feet are in a barrel?
One standard oil barrel is equal to 5.615 cubic feet.
How do you convert barrels to cubic feet?
You can convert US oil barrels to cubic feet by multiplying the number of barrels by 5.615.
How many Imperial gallons are in a barrel?
One standard oil barrel is equal to 35 Imperial gallons.
What is BBL to a gallon?
BBL is the abbreviation for US oil barrel, so one BBL is equal to 42 US gallons.
How many gallons is in 1 barrel?
One US oil barrel is equal to 42 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 2 barrels?
Two US oil barrels are equal to 84 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 3 barrels?
Three US oil barrels are equal to 126 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 4 barrels?
Four US oil barrels are equal to 168 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 5 barrels?
Five US oil barrels are equal to 210 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 6 barrels?
Six US oil barrels are equal to 252 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 7 barrels?
Seven US oil barrels are equal to 294 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 8 barrels?
Eight US oil barrels are equal to 336 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 9 barrels?
Nine US oil barrels are equal to 378 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 10 barrels?
Ten US oil barrels are equal to 420 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 20 barrels?
Twenty US oil barrels are equal to 840 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 30 barrels?
Thirty US oil barrels are equal to 1260 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 40 barrels?
Forty US oil barrels are equal to 1680 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 50 barrels?
Fifty US oil barrels are equal to 2100 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 60 barrels?
Sixty US oil barrels are equal to 2520 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 70 barrels?
Seventy US oil barrels are equal to 2940 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 80 barrels?
Eighty US oil barrels are equal to 3360 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 90 barrels?
Ninety US oil barrels are equal to 3780 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 100 barrels?
One hundred US oil barrels are equal to 4200 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 110 barrels?
One hundred and ten US oil barrels are equal to 4620 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 120 barrels?
One hundred and twenty US oil barrels are equal to 5040 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 130 barrels?
One hundred and thirty US oil barrels are equal to 5460 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 140 barrels?
One hundred and forty US oil barrels are equal to 5880 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 150 barrels?
One hundred and fifty US oil barrels are equal to 6300 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 200 barrels?
Two hundred US oil barrels are equal to 8400 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 300 barrels?
Three hundred US oil barrels are equal to 12 600 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 400 barrels?
Four hundred US oil barrels are equal to 16 800 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 500 barrels?
Five hundred US oil barrels are equal to 21 000 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 1000 barrels?
One thousand US oil barrels are equal to 42 000 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 10 000 barrels?
Ten thousand US oil barrels are equal to 420 000 US gallons.
How many gallons are in 50 million barrels?
Fifty million US oil barrels are equal to 2 100 000 000 US gallons.
How many barrels in 100 gallons?
100 US gallons are equal to 2.381 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 200 gallons?
200 US gallons are equal to 4.762 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 300 gallons?
300 US gallons are equal to 7.143 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 400 gallons?
400 US gallons are equal to 9.524 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 500 gallons?
500 US gallons are equal to 11.90 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 600 gallons?
600 US gallons are equal to 14.29 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 700 gallons?
700 US gallons are equal to 16.67 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 800 gallons?
800 US gallons are equal to 19.05 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 900 gallons?
900 US gallons are equal to 21.43 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 1000 gallons?
1000 US gallons are equal to 23.81 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 2000 gallons?
2000 US gallons are equal to 47.62 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 3000 gallons?
3000 US gallons are equal to 71.43 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 4000 gallons?
4000 US gallons are equal to 95.24 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 5000 gallons?
5000 US gallons are equal to 119.05 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 6000 gallons?
6000 US gallons are equal to 142.86 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 7000 gallons?
7000 US gallons are equal to 166.67 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 8000 gallons?
8000 US gallons are equal to 190.48 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 9000 gallons?
9000 US gallons are equal to 214.29 US oil barrels.
How many barrels in 10 000 gallons?
10 000 US gallons are equal to 238.10 US oil barrels.
References:
https://aoghs.org/transportation/history-of-the-42-gallon-oil-barrel/
