Pint vs Quart: What’s the Difference?

Pint and quart are two words we use to describe units of volume.

But what’s the difference between the two?

The short answer is that a pint is about half the size of a quart.

Read on to learn more about the difference between pint and quart and exactly how big each of these units are.

What Is a Pint?

A pint, sometimes abbreviated as “pt” or “p,” is a unit of volume equivalent to one-eighth of a gallon.

We often use the word pint when talking about beverages such as beer, cider, and milk. In a bar, for example, you might order “a pint of beer.”

The word pint can be used for dry goods as well; you might buy a pint of ice cream from the grocery store, or a pint of blueberries.

How Big Is a Pint?

The exact size of a pint varies depending on which country you’re in.

It’s always one-eighth of a gallon, but the size of a gallon is defined in multiple different ways around the world, so the size of a pint is different too.

In the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth nations, the word pint refers to the imperial pint, which is around 568 ml.

In the United States, there are two types of pints: the liquid pint and the dry pint.

The liquid pint, which you would use to measure liquids such as milk, is around 473 ml. The dry pint, which you would use to measure dry goods such as flour and grain, is around 551 ml.

What Is a Quart?

A quart, sometimes abbreviated as “qt,” is a unit of volume equivalent to a quarter of a gallon. You can think of quart as being a shortened version of the word quarter.

We use quarts similarly to the way we use pints. You might buy a quart of milk, a quart of ice cream, or a quart of blueberries.

How Big Is a Quart?

A quart is equal to a quarter gallon.

Just like the size of a pint, the exact size of a quart also varies depending on where you are.

In the United Kingdom, an imperial quart is equivalent to 1.136 liters.

In the United States, there’s both a liquid quart and a dry quart. A liquid quart has a liquid capacity equal to 0.946 liters, and a dry quart has a capacity equal to 1.101 liters.

What’s the Difference Between Pint vs Quart?

A quart is twice the size of a pint.

In other words, if you have a quart of something, that’s equivalent to having two pints of it. And if you have a pint of something, that’s equivalent to having half a quart of it.

Examples of Pint and Quart Used in Sentences

Here are some examples of how you might use each of these words in a sentence:

• Can you buy me another pint of beer?
• Becky ate a whole pint of ice cream after dinner.
• I need to borrow five pints of flour.
• A pint won’t be enough; get a quart instead.
• The recipe calls for three quarts, or six pints, of strawberries.
• I bought a quart of paint for my new art project.
• Susan needs a quart of milk to feed her kittens.

Conclusion on the Difference Between Pint vs Quart

There you have it: a complete guide to pints and quarts. Just remember that a quart is a quarter of a gallon, and a pint is an eighth of a gallon.

Next time you’re measuring the volume of something, you’ll know how many quarts and how many pints to use!

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