Convert metric, short, or long tons to 42-gallon oil barrels, or barrels back to tons, using liquid density, commodity presets, or API gravity.

One oil barrel =42US gallons. Preset densities are illustrative assumptions; use density at the volume’s temperature and pressure.

Optional settings

Tons to Barrels Formula

The following formula is used to convert US short tons to US oil barrels (42 US gal) when density is in lb/US gal.

B = (T × 2000) / (D × 42)

Variables:

  • B is the number of barrels
  • T is the weight in US short tons (2,000 lb)
  • D is the density of the material in pounds per US gallon (lb/US gal)
  • 2000 is the number of pounds in one US short ton
  • 42 is the number of US gallons in one (oil) barrel

To convert US short tons to barrels, divide the weight in US short tons multiplied by 2000 (the number of pounds in a US short ton) by the product of the density of the material in pounds per US gallon and 42 (the number of US gallons in an oil barrel).

US Short Tons to US Barrels Conversion Table (Crude oil, ρ ≈ 0.850 kg/L ≈ 7.094 lb/gal)
Tons (Short) Barrels (US, 42 gal)
1/160.420
⅛0.839
1/61.119
¼1.678
⅓2.238
⅜2.517
½3.356
⅝4.196
⅔4.475
¾5.035
⅞5.874
16.713
1¼8.391
1⅓8.951
1½10.069
1¾11.748
213.426
2½16.782
320.139
426.852
* Rounded to 3 decimals. Assumes crude oil density ≈ 0.850 kg/L (≈ 7.094 lb/gal). At this density: 1 short ton ≈ 6.713 barrels; 1 barrel = 42 US gallons.

What is a Barrel?

A barrel is a unit of volume used in the oil industry to measure the quantity of crude oil and other petroleum products. One barrel is equivalent to 42 US gallons. However, the term “barrel” can also be used in other contexts to refer to different volumes depending on the material being measured.

How to Calculate Tons to Barrels?

The following steps outline how to calculate the number of barrels from tons.

  1. Choose the mass unit and enter the amount. For the short-ton formula shown here, T is the mass in US short tons; the calculator also supports metric tonnes and long tons.
  2. Choose a density source. For custom density, use kg/m³, kg/L or lb/US gal at the requested volume conditions. In the short-ton formula, D must be in lb/US gal. Presets are illustrative; API gravity gives an approximate60°F density basis.
  3. Use the formula B = (T * 2000) / (D * 42) to calculate the number of barrels (B).
  4. Select Calculate. The reverse task converts entered oil barrels to the selected ton unit. One oil barrel is42US gallons; no temperature/pressure correction is performed.

Example Problem :

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Weight in tons (T) = 5 short tons

Density (D) =8.34 lb/US gallon, supplied for the example. B = (5 ×2000)/(8.34 ×42) ≈28.54859 bbl. The density is an approximate water value; actual density varies with temperature.