An oil barrel is 42 US gallons.
Oil barrels to Liters Converter — bbl to L
Convert Oil barrel (bbl) to Liter (L) using the exact conversion factor (1 oil barrel = 158.9872949 liter). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Oil barrels to Liters converter
Converter
Volume Converter
Convert metric, US customary, imperial, cooking, dry, and industrial volume units.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
A liter is one cubic decimeter.
Result = input x 0.1589872949 / 0.001.
Volume uses the cubic meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Oil barrels to Liters
Oil barrel and Liter appear side by side at fuel pumps and on beverage labels, since the US measures liquids in gallons while most of the world uses liters. Specifically: An oil barrel is 42 US gallons, and a liter is one cubic decimeter.
Formula
liters = oil barrels × 158.987294928
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 oil barrel equals 0.158987294928 base units, and 1 liter equals 0.001 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct oil barrel-to-liter factor of 158.987294928.
Simple example
1 bbl × 158.9872949 = 158.9872949 L
1 oil barrel = 158.9872949 liters.
Real-world example
10 bbl × 158.9872949 = 1,589.872949 L
10 oil barrels = 1,589.872949 liters.
Conversion table
| Oil barrel (bbl) | Liter (L) |
|---|---|
| 1 bbl | 158.9872949 L |
| 5 bbl | 794.9364746 L |
| 10 bbl | 1,589.872949 L |
| 25 bbl | 3,974.682373 L |
| 50 bbl | 7,949.364746 L |
| 100 bbl | 15,898.72949 L |
Reverse conversion: Liter to Oil barrel
158.9872949 L × 0.00628981077 = 0.9999999998 bbl
158.9872949 liters = 0.9999999998 oil barrels.
oil barrels = liters × 0.00628981077043
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Liter to Oil barrel.
Understanding the Oil barrel (bbl)
An oil barrel is 42 US gallons.
Understanding the Liter
Liter (L) measures volume. A liter is defined as exactly one cubic decimeter (0.001 cubic meters). It is classified as a Non-SI metric unit accepted for use with SI.
Where it's used: Standard volume unit for liquids worldwide, including in the US for beverages and fuel labeling in some contexts
Uses of the Liter today
- Beverage, fuel, and liquid product packaging worldwide
- Cooking and recipe measurement in metric countries
- Laboratory and scientific volume measurement
History of the Liter
The liter was introduced with the French metric system in 1795, originally defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water at its freezing point — tying volume, mass, and the meter together.
Between 1901 and 1964, the liter was briefly redefined as the volume of exactly one kilogram of water at its maximum density (about 4 °C), which made it very slightly larger than a cubic decimeter. It was redefined back to exactly one cubic decimeter in 1964, the definition still used today.
Historical origin. Liter was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Liter — sources
- BIPM SI Brochure — Non-SI units accepted for use with SI — Current cubic-decimeter definition of the liter.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters are in 1 oil barrel?
1 oil barrel equals 158.9872949 liters, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert oil barrel to liter?
Multiply the oil barrel value by 158.9872949. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert liter back to oil barrel?
Use the reverse factor: 1 liter equals 0.0062898108 oil barrels. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a oil barrel?
Oil barrel (bbl) is a unit of volume.
What is a liter?
Liter (L) measures volume. A liter is defined as exactly one cubic decimeter (0.001 cubic meters). It is classified as a Non-SI metric unit accepted for use with SI.
Is the oil barrel to liter conversion exact?
Yes. A liter is defined as exactly one cubic decimeter (0.001 cubic meters). That fixed definition is what the converter above uses, so any rounding you see is a display choice, not a limitation of the math.