Hogshead to Gallons Converter

Historic cask sizes can be confusing. Use this tool to convert hogsheads to US gallons and imperial gallons, and back again.

Number of hogsheads (can be decimal)

US gal

Imperial gal

Reverse: Gallons → Hogsheads

We divide by the current hogshead size

hogsheads = gallons ÷ hogshead_size

Current definition: 1 hogshead = 63 US gal and 52.5 imp gal

Historical use varies. Always match the period / product (wine, ale, tobacco) you are studying.

Quick hogshead → gallons table

Hogsheads US gallons (63) Imperial gallons (52.5) Notes
0.2515.7513.13Quarter hogshead
0.531.526.25Half hogshead
163.0052.50Standard reference
2126.00105.00Two casks
5315.00262.50Large storage

How these conversions work

A hogshead was never a single worldwide standard, but the values used here match the most common documented sizes:

  • US wine hogshead = 63 US gallons
  • British wine hogshead = 52.5 imperial gallons ≈ 63.05 US gallons

If your source is British and pre-metric, pick the UK option. If you’re modern US / brewing / distilling, the 63 US gallon value is very common.

Formulas

US gal = hogshead × HHDUS

Imp gal = hogshead × HHDIMP

Example: 1.5 hogshead × 63 US gal = 94.5 US gal

hogshead = gallons ÷ hogshead_size

Example: 200 US gal ÷ 63 ≈ 3.1746 hogsheads

FAQ

1. My book says something like “beer hogshead” — is that the same?

Not always. Beer, ale and tobacco hogsheads have been recorded at other sizes. This tool lets you select a “beer-ish” cask to get close, but always check the original standard.

2. Can I get liters too?

Sure: once you have US gallons, multiply by 3.785411784; for imperial gallons multiply by 4.54609 to get liters.

3. Can I enter decimal hogsheads?

Yes — that’s how you’d handle half or quarter casks.