The following table lists a number of old English capacity measures as used in Britain, containers such as the firkin, kilderkin, puncheon and hogshead. These measures were often used for different commodities and for each there was often a different capacity in terms of cubic inches or gallons, particularly in Britain.

This table lists the most common uses and the associated capacities in cubic inches of the base unit and its derivatives. Each major use in a column also shows the fractional part or multiple of a gallon in round brackets. In each case the base unit is the gallon and the size is indicated in red to distinguish it from derived values.

Other commodities measures as used in Britain are illustrated in separate tables as is a list of less common uses and sizes of some of the containers in this table, such the barrel. Of particular note is the different capacities of the same measure as used in Britain and America following 1824.
  Dry Pre 18241 Wine2 Ale, Beer, Porter3 Post 1824 Liquid/Dry4
Measure Size
 Vol.
in3 		Size
(Gals)		 Vol.
in3 		Size
(Gals)		 Vol.
in3 		Size
(Gals)		 Vol.
in3
Fl. Ounce   1/160 Gal(1/160) 1.44375 1/160 Gal(1/160) 1.7625 1/160 Gal(1/160) 1.733875
Gill   5 Fl. Oz.(1/32) 7.21875 5 Fl. Oz.(1/32) 8.8125 5 Fl. Oz.(1/32) 8.669375
Chopin    2 Gills(1/16) 14.4375  2 Gills(1/16) 17.625  2 Gills(1/16) 17.33875
Reputed Pint   1/3 Quart(1/12) 23.11833
Pint    4 Gills(1/8) 28.875  4 Gills(1/8) 35.25  4 Gills(1/8) 34.6775
Reputed Quart   2/3 Quart(1/6) 46.23667
Quart 2 Pints(1/4) 67.1875 2 Pints(1/4) 57.75 2 Pints(1/4) 70.5 2 Pints(1/4) 69.355
Pottle 2 Quarts(1/2) 134.375 2 Quarts (1/2) 115.5 2 Quarts (1/2) 141 2 Quarts (1/2) 138.71
Gallon Gallon (1) 268.75 Gallon (1) 231 4 Quarts (1) 282 2 Pottles (1) 277.42
Peck 2 Gallons (2) 537.5   2 Gallons (2) 554.84
Bucket 2 Pecks (4) 1075   2 Pecks (4) 1109.68
Pin   4.5 Gallons (4.5) 1039.5   4.5 Gallons (4.5) 1248.39
Bushel 4 Pecks (8) 2150   8 Gallons (8) 2256 4 Pecks (8) 2219.36
Firkin   9 Gallons (9) 2079 9 Gallons (9) 2538 9 Gallons (9) 2496.78
Anker   10 Gallons (10) 2310   10 Gallons (10) 2774.2
Strike 2 Bushels (16) 4300   2 Bushels (16) 4438.72  
Rundlet   2 Firkins (18) 4158   2 Firkins (18) 4993.56
Kilderkin   2 Firkins (18) 4158 2 Firkins (18) 5076 2 Firkins (18) 4993.56
Bag 3 Bushels (24) 6450   3 Bushels (24) 6658.08
Coomb 2 Strikes (32) 8600   2 Strikes (32) 8877.44
Barrel 5 9 Buckets (36) 9675 31.5 Gals. (31.5) 7276.5 2 Kilderkins (36) 10152 2 Kilderkins (36) 9987.12
Sack 5 Bushels (40) 10750   5 Bushels (40) 11096.8
Tierce   42 Gallons (42) 9702   42 Gallons (42) 11651.64
Hogshead   2 Barrels (63) 14553 1.5 Barrels (54) 15228  
Quarter 2 Coombs (64) 17200   2 Coombs (64) 17754.88
Puncheon/Tertian   2 Tierces (84) 19404 2 Barrels (72) 20304  
Thirdendel   2 Tierces (84) 19404  
Pipe/Butt   2 Hogsheads(126) 29106 3 Barrels (108) 30456  
Tun/Ton 4 Quarters(256) 68800 2 Pipes (252) 58212 2 Pipes (216) 60912 4 Quarters (256) 71019.52
Chaldron 36 Bushels(288) 77400   36 Bushels(288) 79896.96
Wey6 5 Quarters(320) 86000   5 Quarters(320) 88774.4
Last 2 Weys (640) 172000   2 Weys (640) 177548.8

Footnotes:


  1. Based on the Winchester gallon of 268.75 cubic inches, itself based on the Winchester bushel of 2150 cubic inches. These measures were declared by statutes 13 and 14 William III. They are named after the ancient capital of England.


  2. Based on the 18th century "Wine gallon", according to the statute of Queen Anne.


  3. Based on the 282 cubic inch beer and ale standard gallon held in the U.K. Treasury


  4. The Weights and Measures Act of 1824 defined an Imperial British Gallon as the volume occupied by 10 pounds (Avoirdupois) of pure water at 62°F. It was subsequently defined as the volume occupied by exactly 10 pounds of water of density 0.988859 gramme per millilitre weighed in air of density 0.001217 gramme per millilitre against weights of density 8.136 grammes per millilitre. This latter is the value used here. Note also that where an individual measure prior to 1824 had more than one interpretation in terms of gallons, that capacity is excluded from the last column (Post 1824) as there is no clear view of the agreed size following 1824. In the case of the Tun/Ton however, the value used is that previously used for dry capacities.


  5. The ubiquitous barrel appears to have been the most fluid (pun intended) of measures, exhibiting a multitude of sizes depending upon the the commodity for which it was used. Uses include;

    • Ale - 32 gals. (See table above)
    • Beer - 36 gals. (See table above)
    • Butter - 2 cwt.
    • Cheese (U.K.) - 224 lb. (av.)
    • Cement (U.S.) - 376 lb. (av.)
    • Cranberries - 5,826 cu. in.
    • Dry Goods (U.S.) - 105 quarts @ 268.75 cu. in./gal.
    • Fluids (U.S.) - 31.5 gals @ 231 cu. in. /gal.
    • Flour - 196 lb. (av.)
    • Herrings - 32 gals. (U.K.)
    • Meat - 200 lb. (av.)
    • Oil (U.S.) - 42 gal. @ 231 cu. in./gal.
    • Proof Spirits (U.S.) - 40 gal. @ 231 cu. in./gal.
    • Soap - 30 gals.

  6. This 'Wey' was also called a 'Horse-load'.