How Much Does Fuel Weigh? Petrol, Diesel, Jet Fuel & LPG Guide
Compare the weights of petrol, diesel, jet A-1, kerosene, and LPG per litre and gallon in kg and lbs. Includes fuel density tables and tank calculations.
Read articleConvert Liters of Petrol (Gasoline) to KG
Petrol (Gasoline) weighs 0.74 kg per litre. Convert litres to kilograms (and back) using its exact density.
Quick Metrology Summary
1 liter of Petrol (Gasoline) weighs approximately 0.74 kilograms (or 740 grams) at standard room temperature. Because mass equals volume multiplied by density (\(m = V \times \rho\)), multiplying volume in liters by 0.74 gives the exact mass in kg.
Petrol (Gasoline): Weight per Litre Explained
Petrol (Gasoline) has a density of 0.74 kg/L, which makes it 26% lighter than water. Petrol (gasoline) is a blend of light hydrocarbons, so it is about 26% lighter than water at 0.74 kg/L. Fuel density is one reason petrol is sold by volume while heavier industrial fuels are sold by mass.
When You Need This Conversion
Vehicle weight and payload planning, fuel logistics, generator and small-engine runtime estimates, and emissions calculations that start from litres purchased.
What Changes the Density
Summer and winter blends differ, ranging from about 0.72 to 0.775 kg/L. Ethanol-blended E10 sits slightly higher than pure petrol.
Volatile Hydrocarbon Fractions, Octane Ratings & Vehicle Mass Dynamics
Motor gasoline (petrol) is a volatile, refined mixture of low-boiling hydrocarbons predominantly containing between 4 and 12 carbon atoms per molecule (aliphatic alkanes, cycloalkanes, and aromatics like toluene and benzene). Commercial unleaded petrol conforms to EN 228 and ASTM D4814 standards, with standard density specified between 0.720 kg/L and 0.775 kg/L at 15°C, nominally averaging 0.740 kg/L (740 g/L or 6.175 lb/US gal). Because of its lightweight hydrocarbon chain structure, petrol is roughly 26% lighter than water and 11.4% lighter than automotive diesel fuel.
Temperature sensitivity and seasonal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) formulations cause petrol density to fluctuate more dramatically than almost any other commercial liquid. The volumetric thermal expansion coefficient of petrol is approximately 0.0012 per °C (nearly 50% greater than diesel). In winter, refineries blend pressurized butane (C4H10) into gasoline to enhance cold engine starting, which lowers density to approximately 0.725 kg/L. In summer, butane is stripped to prevent vapor lock, raising density closer to 0.750 kg/L. Furthermore, modern E10 fuel (containing 10% bioethanol with an anhydrous ethanol density of 0.789 kg/L) is approximately 0.5% to 1.0% denser than traditional non-ethanol E0 petrol.
In automotive motorsport, aerospace avgas calculations, and vehicle payload engineering, petrol's liter-to-kilogram conversion is critical for vehicle balance. In Formula 1 and rally racing, fuel loads are calibrated strictly in kilograms because every 10 kg of fuel burns off to improve lap times by roughly 0.3 seconds. In general aviation, pilots fueling aircraft with 100LL aviation gasoline (density ~0.721 kg/L / 6.0 lb/gal) calculate total fuel mass to ensure the aircraft remains below Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) and within center-of-gravity flight envelopes.
Common Container & Bulk Packaging Weights
Practical reference weights for petrol (gasoline) across standard commercial packaging and household containers.
| Container / Volume | Volume (L) | Weight (kg) | Weight (lb) | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Litre | 1 L | 0.740 kg | 1.631 lb | Standard retail fuel dispensing pump reference |
| 1 US Gallon | 3.785 L | 2.801 kg | 6.175 lb | US automotive fuel economy calculation standard |
| 5-Litre Can | 5 L | 3.700 kg | 8.157 lb | Lawn mower, chainsaw, and garden tool fuel canister |
| 10-Litre Can | 10 L | 7.400 kg | 16.314 lb | Portable auxiliary roadside rescue fuel container |
| 20-Litre NATO Jerry Can | 20 L | 14.800 kg | 32.628 lb | Standard military & overland 4x4 expedition canister |
| 50-Litre Tank | 50 L | 37.000 kg | 81.571 lb | Compact passenger car full fuel tank capacity |
| 70-Litre Tank | 70 L | 51.800 kg | 114.200 lb | Full-size SUV, pickup truck, or executive saloon tank |
| 205-Litre (55 Gal) Drum | 205 L | 151.700 kg | 334.441 lb | Commercial motorsport, aviation hangar & farm fuel drum |
Temperature Sensitivity & Density Variation
Thermal expansion causes petrol (gasoline) to expand as temperature increases, reducing weight per litre.
| Temperature | Density (kg/L) | Weight of 1 Litre | Metrology / Operating Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| -10°C (Cold Winter) | 0.762 kg/L | 0.762 kg | Winter ambient temperature in northern temperate zones |
| 0°C (Winter Freezing) | 0.753 kg/L | 0.753 kg | High-density winter fuel condition |
| 15°C (Standard Fiscal Ref) | 0.740 kg/L | 0.740 kg | Official ASTM D1250 fiscal transfer baseline benchmark |
| 25°C (Warm Ambient) | 0.731 kg/L | 0.731 kg | Typical forecourt underground storage tank temperature |
| 35°C (Hot Summer) | 0.722 kg/L | 0.722 kg | High ambient summer temperature causing marked volumetric expansion |
How it works
Enter the litres of petrol (gasoline)
Type the volume in litres. The calculator is preset to Petrol (Gasoline) at 0.74 kg/L.
Switch direction if needed
Flip to kilograms → litres to find how much space a given weight of petrol (gasoline) takes up.
Read the result
See kilograms, pounds, millilitres and gallons. Each litre adds 0.74 kg.
How to Convert Liters of Petrol (Gasoline) to Kilograms
Petrol (gasoline) is a blend of light hydrocarbons, so it is about 26% lighter than water at 0.74 kg/L. Fuel density is one reason petrol is sold by volume while heavier industrial fuels are sold by mass. To convert, multiply the volume in litres by 0.74. To go the other way, divide the weight in kilograms by 0.74.
kg = Litres × 0.74
L = kg ÷ 0.74
1 L → 0.74 kg
10 L → 7.4 kg
100 L → 74 kgExample
Convert 5 litres of petrol (gasoline) to kilograms: 5 × 0.74 = 3.7 kg, or 8.16 lb. Reversed: 3.7 kg ÷ 0.74 = 5 L.
Worked examples
| Scenario | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 L of petrol (gasoline) | 1 × 0.74 kg/L | 0.74 kg |
| 5 L of petrol (gasoline) | 5 × 0.74 kg/L | 3.7 kg |
| 20 L of petrol (gasoline) | 20 × 0.74 kg/L | 14.8 kg |
| 100 L of petrol (gasoline) | 100 × 0.74 kg/L | 74 kg |
| 10 kg of petrol (gasoline) (reverse) | 10 ÷ 0.74 kg/L | 13.51 L |
Conversion reference
| Litres | Kilograms | Pounds | US gallons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 L | 0.185 kg | 0.41 lb | 0.07 gal |
| 0.5 L | 0.37 kg | 0.82 lb | 0.13 gal |
| 1 L | 0.74 kg | 1.63 lb | 0.26 gal |
| 2 L | 1.48 kg | 3.26 lb | 0.53 gal |
| 5 L | 3.7 kg | 8.16 lb | 1.32 gal |
| 10 L | 7.4 kg | 16.31 lb | 2.64 gal |
| 20 L | 14.8 kg | 32.63 lb | 5.28 gal |
| 50 L | 37 kg | 81.57 lb | 13.21 gal |
| 100 L | 74 kg | 163.14 lb | 26.42 gal |
Quick facts
- 1 litre of petrol (gasoline) weighs 0.74 kg (740 g), which is 26% lighter than water.
- 1 kg of petrol (gasoline) fills 1.351 litres (1351 mL).
- 1 m³ (1,000 L) of petrol (gasoline) weighs 740 kg.
- 1 liter of petrol weighs 0.74 kg (740 grams).
- A 50-liter fuel tank adds 37 kg of fuel weight to a vehicle.
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Read articleFrequently asked questions
50 × 0.74 = 37 kg when completely full.
1 ÷ 0.74 ≈ 1.35 litres.
Petrol is refined from short-chain aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (C4 to C12) which have a lower molecular packing density than water molecules. At 0.74 kg/L, petrol is roughly 26% lighter than water.
20 liters of petrol weighs 14.8 kg (32.6 lbs). Adding the 4 kg weight of a steel NATO jerry can gives a total carry weight of ~18.8 kg (41.4 lbs).
1 liter of petrol weighs approximately 0.74 kg.
1 litre of petrol (gasoline) weighs 0.74 kg (740 grams, or 1.63 lb), using a density of 0.74 kg/L.
1 kg of petrol (gasoline) is 1.351 litres. Divide the weight by the density: 1 ÷ 0.74 = 1.351.
Multiply the volume by 0.74. For example, 10 litres of petrol (gasoline) is 7.4 kg and 50 litres is 37 kg.
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