Oil Barrels to Liters

What is Oil Barrels to Liters Converter?

This tool converts oil barrels (bbl) to liters, essential for understanding petroleum industry measurements. The barrel is the standard unit for crude oil trading worldwide, while liters provide a more tangible metric perspective.

The Conversion Factor

One barrel of oil equals exactly 158.987 liters, which is 42 US gallons. This 42-gallon standard was established in the 1860s by Pennsylvania oil producers.

Putting Barrels in Perspective

• 1 barrel = 159 liters ≈ 42 gallons
• 1 barrel of crude yields ~20 gallons of gasoline
• Average car tank: 15 gallons = 0.36 barrels
• World uses ~100 million barrels per day

Who Uses This Conversion

• Energy analysts: Understanding production and consumption
• Investors: Evaluating oil company metrics
• Students: Learning about energy economics
• Journalists: Reporting on oil markets

Privacy

All calculations are performed locally in your browser.

How to Use

Converting oil barrels to liters is straightforward:

1. Enter the barrel amount
2. View the liter equivalent instantly
3. Use for analysis or comparisons

Quick Estimation

For mental math, use 160 liters per barrel:

• 10 barrels × 160 = 1,600 liters (actual: 1,590)
• 100 barrels × 160 = 16,000 liters

Scale Examples

• Tanker truck: ~120 barrels = 19,000 liters
• Rail car: ~700 barrels = 111,000 liters
• Small tanker ship: ~500,000 barrels = 79 million liters

Daily Context

Global oil consumption perspective:

• World: ~100 million bbl/day = 15.9 billion liters/day
• US: ~20 million bbl/day = 3.2 billion liters/day

Features

Precise Conversion

Uses the exact petroleum industry standard: 1 barrel = 158.987 liters (42 US gallons).

Instant Results

Results display as you type for quick calculations.

Reference Table

Common barrel to liter conversions:

• 1 bbl = 159 L
• 10 bbl = 1,590 L
• 100 bbl = 15,899 L
• 1,000 bbl = 158,987 L
• 1 million bbl = 159 million L

Copy Function

Copy values for reports or spreadsheets.

Unit Options

Switch to gallons or other units using the dropdown menus.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many liters are in a barrel of oil?

One barrel of oil contains 158.99 liters (42 US gallons). This is the international standard for petroleum trading.

Why is an oil barrel 42 gallons?

The 42-gallon barrel was standardized in 1866 by Pennsylvania oil producers. It was a practical size that could be handled manually and transported efficiently on wagons and ships.

How much gasoline comes from a barrel of crude oil?

A 42-gallon barrel of crude oil typically yields about 19-20 gallons of gasoline, plus 12 gallons of diesel, 4 gallons of jet fuel, and other products.

What does bbl stand for?

"bbl" stands for "blue barrel," a reference to Standard Oil's practice of painting their 42-gallon barrels blue. It has become the universal abbreviation for oil barrels.

How much is a barrel of oil worth?

Oil prices fluctuate constantly. Multiply the current price per barrel by the number of barrels to get total value. Use this converter to understand volumes in liters.

Is a beer barrel the same as an oil barrel?

No. A US beer barrel is 31 gallons, while an oil barrel is 42 gallons. Different industries use different barrel sizes.