How many cups are in a US liquid barrel?

One US liquid barrel equals 31.5 gallons, and one gallon equals 16 cups, so 1 liquid barrel = 504 cups. (Note: one US gallon = 16 cups, so 31.5 × 16 = 504.)

How many cups are in an oil barrel?

One oil barrel equals 42 gallons. At 16 cups per gallon, that is 42 × 16 = 672 cups per oil barrel.

What is the difference between a liquid barrel and an oil barrel?

A US liquid barrel holds 31.5 gallons and is used for beverages, chemicals, and general trade. An oil barrel holds 42 gallons and is the global petroleum standard set in the 1860s.

Is a cup the same in all countries?

This tool uses the US customary cup (236.588 mL). The metric cup (250 mL) and the imperial cup (284 mL) differ slightly, so results may vary for non-US measurements.

Can I convert barrels back to cups?

Yes. Choose Barrels to Cups in the Convert from dropdown, select the barrel type, and enter a barrel value. The same exact conversion factors apply in reverse.

Cups to Barrels Converter

Convert cups to US liquid barrels (31.5 gal) and oil barrels (42 gal) instantly.

Enter Volume

Convert from

Cups

Barrel type (for barrels → cups)

US Liquid Barrels (31.5 gal)

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Oil Barrels (42 gal)

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Quick Reference

Cups	Liquid Barrels	Oil Barrels

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Summary

Convert cups to US liquid barrels (31.5 gal) and oil barrels (42 gal) instantly.

How it works

Enter the number of cups in the input field.
The converter divides by 504 to get US liquid barrels (31.5-gallon standard).
It also divides by 672 to get oil barrels (42-gallon petroleum standard).
Both results update instantly as you type.
Choose Barrels to Cups in the Convert from dropdown to run the reverse conversion.

Use cases

Scale up recipes from cups to bulk barrel quantities for commercial production.
Convert cooking or brewing volumes to petroleum-equivalent barrel units for reporting.
Check barrel quantities when purchasing beverages in bulk.
Understand how many cups fill an oil barrel for educational or reference purposes.
Convert lab or industrial measurements between cup and barrel scales.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-19 · Reviewed by Nham Vu