How Many Pints Are in a Quart: Pints to Quarts and Quarts to Pints

Converting between pints and quarts is a common task in cooking, baking, and everyday measurements. Knowing how these units relate makes it easier to follow recipes and handle volume conversions with ease.

Pints and quarts are both standard units of volume in the U.S. customary system, and they come up often when measuring liquids like milk, water, or juice. A clear understanding of their relationship helps avoid mistakes and saves time in the kitchen or during any activity that involves measuring fluids.

Pints to Quarts and Quarts to Pints Conversion Calculator

In order to convert pints to quarts and quarts to pints, feel free to use this conversion calculator - write the value that You have and click 'Calculate' to convert it:

Conversion Formulas

A quart is a measurement unit of a volume. The Imperial (British) measurement system uses only a single quart unit for both solids and liquids, while the US measurement system uses a dry quart for measuring the volume of (dry) solids and a liquid quart for measuring the volume of liquids.

The good thing is that regardless of the measurement system (US or Imperial) and type of quart/pint (dry/liquid), the relationship between quarts and pints is:

1 Quart = 2 Pints

1 Pint = 0.5 Quarts

For example:

• 1 US Fluid Ounce (fl oz) = 1/32 US Liquid Quart = 1/16 US Liquid Pint = 29.5735 milliliters
• 1 US Liquid Quart = 2 US Fluid Pints = 0.946353 liters
• 1 US Dry Quart = 2 US Dry Pints = 1.10122 liters
• 1 Imp Fluid Ounce = 1/40 Imp Liquid Quarts = 1/20 Imp Liquid Pints = 28.4131 milliliters
• 1 Imp Liquid Quart = 2 Imp Liquid Pints = 1.13652 liters
• 1 US Liquid Quart = 0.832674 Imp Liquid Quart, etc.

Conversion Examples

2 Quarts to Pints:

If You have 2 quarts of something, and you want to know how many pints is that, just multiply the number of quarts with the number 2:

V_(pints) = 2 * V_(quarts) = 2 * 2 quarts = 4 pints

4 Quarts to Pints:

If You have 4 quarts of something, and you want to know how many pints is that, just multiply the number of quarts with the number 2:

V_(pints) = 2 * V_(quarts) = 2 * 4 quarts = 8 pints

3.8 Pints to Quarts:

If You have 3.8 pints of something, and you want to know how many quarts is that, just multiply the number of pints with the number 0.5 (or divide by 2):

V_(quarts) = 0.5 * V_(pints) = 0.5 * 3.8 pints = 1.9 quarts

6 Pints to Quarts:

If You have 6 pints of something, and you want to know how many quarts is that, just multiply the number of pints with the number 0.5 (or divide by 2):

V_(quarts) = 0.5 * V_(pints) = 0.5 * 6 pints = 3 quarts

10 Pints to Quarts:

If You have 10 pints of something, and you want to know how many quarts is that, just multiply the number of pints with the number 0.5 (or divide by 2):

V_(quarts) = 0.5 * V_(pints) = 0.5 * 10 pints = 5 quarts

Pints to Quarts and Quarts to Pints Conversion Table

Here are some pints-to-quarts and quarts-to-pints quick conversion charts to aid You with unit conversions:

For more values, please, use the conversion calculators.

Brief History of Pints and Quarts

The pint and quart are traditional units of volume with deep historical roots in both the British Imperial and United States customary measurement systems. Their origins date back to medieval Europe, where standardization of measurements was inconsistent, and local units often varied significantly. Over time, more defined systems emerged, resulting in the units used today.

Early Origins in Britain

In medieval England, pints and quarts were part of a broader effort to regulate weights and measures, with roots in Roman and Anglo-Saxon practices. The term “quart” derives from the Latin quartus, meaning "a fourth," while “pint” comes from the Old French pinte, which is believed to have originated from the Latin word pincta, indicating a painted mark on a container used for measuring liquids.

These units were not standardized until the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century, when more consistent measures were introduced for commerce. However, even then, there were different kinds of pints and quarts depending on what was being measured—ale, wine, or grain, for example.

The Imperial System (UK)

The British Imperial system was officially established in 1824 with the British Weights and Measures Act. This act defined the Imperial gallon as the volume of ten pounds of distilled water at 62°F (16.67°C) under standard atmospheric pressure. From this gallon, the pint and quart were derived:

• 1 Imperial gallon = 8 quarts = 160 fluid ounces
  1 Imperial quart = 2 Imperial pints = 40 fluid ounces
  1 Imperial pint = 20 fluid ounces

The Imperial system unified the various existing measures into a single legal framework across the British Empire. This system is still used in the UK and some Commonwealth countries today, although the metric system has largely replaced it in many official contexts.

U.S. Customary System

The United States retained the older English wine gallon definition when it gained independence, rather than adopting the newer British Imperial gallon. The U.S. gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches, which is approximately 3.785 liters—smaller than the Imperial gallon (approximately 4.546 liters). As a result, the U.S. pint and quart are also smaller than their Imperial counterparts.

There are two distinct types of pints and quarts in the U.S. system:

U.S. Liquid Measure

• 1 U.S. gallon = 4 quarts = 128 fluid ounces
• 1 U.S. quart = 2 pints = 32 fluid ounces
• 1 U.S. pint = 16 fluid ounces

U.S. Dry Measure

• 1 U.S. dry gallon = 4 dry quarts = 537.6 cubic inches
• 1 U.S. dry quart = 2 dry pints = approximately 67.2 cubic inches
• 1 U.S. dry pint = approximately 33.6 cubic inches

The dry pint and quart are used for measuring dry goods like berries, grains, and produce. Unlike fluid measures, they are based on volume rather than weight or fluid ounces.

Modern Usage and Confusion

The coexistence of these systems has led to frequent confusion, especially in international contexts or when converting recipes. For instance, a British pint of beer (20 fluid ounces) is significantly larger than a U.S. pint (16 fluid ounces), even though both are called a "pint." The dry and liquid pints in the U.S. also differ, adding another layer of complexity.

Despite these challenges, pints and quarts remain widely used in everyday life, especially in food and beverage contexts. Labeling on food packages, recipes, and even colloquial expressions like “a pint of milk” or “a quart of oil” continue to reflect the enduring legacy of these traditional units.

Conclusion

Pints and quarts have a rich history rooted in trade, regulation, and cultural evolution. While the Imperial and U.S. customary systems have taken different paths over time, both maintain these measures in practical use.

A deeper look at their origins highlights the complexity and adaptability of measurement systems as they evolve to meet changing needs across regions and centuries.