Updated November 3, 2025
If you’ve ever crossed the U.S.-Canada border and stopped for gas, you’ve probably noticed that the prices look very different. Americans see dollars per gallon, while Canadians see cents per liter. Why the difference? Let’s break it down.
Canada uses the metric system, which means liters, kilometers, and kilograms. The U.S. uses the imperial system, where gallons, miles, and pounds are common. This is why Canadian gas stations advertise prices like 158.9¢/L, while U.S. stations might say $3.80/gal.
To make it even trickier, there are two types of gallons:
Canada switched to liters in the 1970s, so if you’re comparing prices, always make sure you’re using the U.S. gallon figure — otherwise the math won’t add up.
Because the units are different, comparing gas prices across the border without converting can be misleading. That’s why we built the Gas Price Converter — to make comparisons fast and accurate.