How this calculator works
Litres measure volume and pounds measure mass, so the conversion needs the density of the liquid. Mass equals volume times density. Water is the familiar anchor: one litre weighs about 1 kg, which is 2.20462 lb. Milk and seawater are slightly denser, so a litre weighs a little more, while gasoline and cooking oil are less dense and weigh less. The presets are typical values, and a custom density row covers any other liquid.
Formula
pounds = litres x density / 1,000 x 2.20462, with density in kg/m3. Because 1 kg is 2.20462262 lb, the shorter form is pounds = litres x (density in kg/L) x 2.20462262. The kilogram value is litres x density / 1,000.
Worked example
1 L of water is 2.20462 lb. 1 L of milk at 1,030 kg/m3 is 2.27076 lb. 1 L of honey at 1,420 kg/m3 is 3.13056 lb. 1 L of gasoline at 745 kg/m3 is 1.64244 lb. 10 L of water is 22.0462 lb. 1 US gallon of water is 8.34540 lb.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is a litre of water about 2.2 pounds?
A litre of water has a mass of about 1 kg, and one kilogram is 2.20462 lb. The exact figure depends on the water temperature, because density peaks near 4 °C.
Is a pint of water a pound?
Only roughly. A US pint is 473.176 mL, so a pint of water weighs about 1.043 lb. The old saying describes an imperial pint, which is 568.261 mL and weighs about 1.253 lb. Neither is exactly a pound.
How much does a litre of gasoline weigh?
Gasoline is less dense than water, around 745 kg/m3, so a litre weighs about 0.745 kg, or 1.642 lb. The exact value varies with the blend and the temperature.
Which direction does this page work in?
It starts from a volume and finds a mass, but the mode selector also runs the reverse calculation from pounds or kilograms to litres. Choose Volume to mass or Mass to volume at the top.