Convert km/L to MPG (US)
Kilometers per liter to MPG (US) is the conversion you need when a car's fuel economy is quoted the metric way but you compare cars in US miles per gallon. One km/L is approximately 2.352145833 mpg (US), so the mpg number always comes out larger. Both are 'distance per fuel' figures, so bigger is better either way.
Kilometers per liter to Miles per gallon (US) conversion table
| Kilometers per liter (km/L) | Miles per gallon (US) (mpg (US)) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2.352146 |
| 2 | 4.704292 |
| 3 | 7.056437 |
| 5 | 11.760729 |
| 10 | 23.521458 |
| 20 | 47.042917 |
| 50 | 117.607292 |
| 100 | 235.214583 |
| 500 | 1,176.072917 |
| 1,000 | 2,352.145833 |
The formula
To convert kilometers per liter to miles per gallon (US), multiply the km/L figure by 2.352145833:
mpg (US) = km/L × 2.352145833
A worked example
Say a car does 15 km/L and you want that in US miles per gallon:
15 × 2.352145833 = 35.28 mpg (US)
So 15 km/L is about 35.28 mpg (US).
Why it's an approximation
The factor 2.352145833 is a rounded value. It comes from stacking two conversions that don't divide evenly: a mile and a kilometer, and a US gallon and a liter. Because none of those line up in whole numbers, the combined factor stays approximate — 2.352145833 is the practical number to use, and extra decimal places only add precision.
Keep in mind this is the US gallon. The imperial (UK) gallon is about 20% larger, so the very same km/L figure converts to a noticeably higher mpg number in UK figures. If you're comparing quotes, make sure you know which gallon each one uses.
When you'll use it
Comparing a car's metric fuel economy against the US miles-per-gallon figures you're used to, reading an overseas spec sheet, or sizing up an import against the numbers on a US window sticker.
Frequently asked questions
How many US MPG is 1 km/L?
About 2.352145833 mpg (US). It's a rounded figure, because a mile and a kilometer, and a gallon and a liter, don't divide evenly — so multiply your km/L by roughly 2.352145833 to get US MPG.
Why is the US MPG number lower than the UK MPG number for the same km/L?
Because the US gallon is smaller. The imperial (UK) gallon is about 20% bigger, so the same fuel economy converts to a higher mpg number in UK figures than in US figures. Always check which gallon a quote uses.
Is the km/L to MPG (US) conversion exact?
No. The factor 2.352145833 is rounded, since the mile, kilometer, gallon, and liter don't line up in whole numbers. More decimal places give you more precision if you need it.