Liter to Kg Converter (liters to kilograms)
Liters measure volume and kilograms measure mass, so the weight of a liter depends on what is in it. 1 liter of water = 1 kg. A liter of cooking oil weighs about 0.92 kg, a liter of petrol 0.74 kg and a liter of honey 1.42 kg. Pick the substance above or enter a density to convert any volume to weight, and back.
1 kilogram of water = 1 liter (density 1 kg/L). Volume = mass ÷ density, mass = volume × density.
How to convert liters to kg
Kilograms = liters × density (kg/L)
Multiply the volume by the density of the liquid. 5 liters of diesel at 0.83 kg/L weighs 4.15 kg. 20 liters of water weighs 20 kg. For the reverse (kg to liters), divide by density.
Weight of 1 liter by substance
| Substance | Density (kg/L) | 1 liter weighs |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 1 | 1 kg |
| Milk | 1.03 | 1.03 kg |
| Seawater | 1.025 | 1.025 kg |
| Petrol / gasoline | 0.74 | 0.74 kg |
| Diesel | 0.83 | 0.83 kg |
| Cooking oil | 0.92 | 0.92 kg |
| Honey | 1.42 | 1.42 kg |
| Ethanol / alcohol | 0.789 | 0.789 kg |
| Wheat flour | 0.593 | 0.593 kg |
| Sugar (granulated) | 0.85 | 0.85 kg |
| Rice | 0.75 | 0.75 kg |
| Sand (dry) | 1.6 | 1.6 kg |
| Concrete | 2.4 | 2.4 kg |
| Ice | 0.917 | 0.917 kg |
| Paint | 1.3 | 1.3 kg |
| LPG (liquid) | 0.55 | 0.55 kg |
Liters to kg of water
| Liters | Kilograms of water |
|---|---|
| 1 L | 1 kg |
| 2 L | 2 kg |
| 3 L | 3 kg |
| 4 L | 4 kg |
| 5 L | 5 kg |
| 10 L | 10 kg |
| 15 L | 15 kg |
| 20 L | 20 kg |
| 25 L | 25 kg |
| 50 L | 50 kg |
| 100 L | 100 kg |
| 500 L | 500 kg |
| 1,000 L | 1,000 kg |
Why fuel is sold by the liter but shipped by the ton
Volume is easy to measure at a pump, but it changes with temperature: petrol expands about 1% for every 10 °C. Bulk fuel and cooking oil are therefore traded by weight, and the conversion between the two uses a standard density at 15 °C. For a household, the difference is negligible. A 15 kg cooking-oil tin holds about 16.3 liters, and a 1,000-liter water tank holds 1,000 kg, which is why tank stands need to be strong.
Frequently asked questions
How much does 1 liter of water weigh?
1 kilogram (1,000 g), or 2.2046 pounds. The kilogram was originally defined as the mass of a liter of water, which is why the two match so closely.
How much does 1 liter of petrol weigh?
About 0.74 kg (740 g). Diesel is heavier at about 0.83 kg per liter. A full 50-liter petrol tank adds roughly 37 kg to a car.
How many kg is 1 liter of milk?
About 1.03 kg. Milk is a little denser than water because of its dissolved sugars, proteins and minerals.
How do I convert liters to kg for gas cylinders?
LPG is bottled as a liquid at about 0.55 kg/L, so a 14.2 kg domestic cylinder holds about 26 liters of liquid. Choose LPG (liquid) in the substance list.
Related calculators
Last updated . Formulas are shown on the page and checked against the worked example.
Densities are typical room-temperature values and vary with temperature, composition and packing. Water is taken as 1 kg/L. Results are rounded to 8 significant digits.