Barrels and Gallons: Crude Oil Units
Figures from EIA data; latest published observations: WTI Oct 20, 2026, Brent Oct 20, 2026.
Crude oil prices are quoted in U.S. dollars per barrel, abbreviated bbl. A barrel is a unit of volume equal to 42 U.S. gallons. [EIA] The U.S. gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches, or exactly 3.785411784 liters, so one barrel is about 158.99 liters.
Conversion factors
| From | To | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 barrel | U.S. gallons | 42 |
| 1 barrel | liters | 158.987 |
| 1 barrel | cubic meters | 0.1590 |
| 1 cubic meter | barrels | 6.2898 |
| 1 U.S. gallon | liters | 3.785411784 |
Latest crude oil spot prices in other units
| Benchmark | Observation date | $ per barrel | $ per gallon of crude | $ per liter of crude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI | Oct 20, 2026 | $107.89 | $2.569 | $0.679 |
| Brent | Oct 20, 2026 | $115.22 | $2.743 | $0.725 |
Dividing a crude oil price by 42 converts it from dollars per barrel to dollars per gallon of crude oil. It does not give the price of gasoline or diesel, which also include refining, distribution, marketing and taxes; see how crude oil reaches the pump.
Barrels per day
Production, consumption and refinery capacity are measured in barrels per day (b/d), often in thousands (Mb/d) or millions of barrels per day. Inventories are measured in barrels. Conversions between barrels and metric tonnes depend on the density of the specific crude, so this site does not convert crude oil volumes to weight.