Okay, you’re in the kitchen, halfway through a recipe, and it says “1 quart of vegetable broth.” You reach into the fridge, and all you’ve got is a couple of pint-sized containers. Cue the internal panic: Wait… how many pints in a quart again?
If you’ve ever been stuck googling this mid-cooking—or had a brain freeze trying to convert measurements—you are not alone. The kitchen is basically a battleground of conversions, especially if you’re using American recipes and you’re used to the metric system or vice versa.
When measuring ingredients for baking, it’s critical to understand how many pints make up a quart. When you have to change measurements while following a recipe, it can be challenging. To properly follow recipes, it helps to know the difference between pints, quarts, cups, and gallons.
So, let’s settle this once and for all: How many pints in a quart?
The Quick Answer (So You Can Get Back to Cooking)
There are 2 pints in 1 quart.
Yup, it’s that simple. If you’ve got a quart of soup, broth, juice, or mystery liquid—you’ve got two pints. If your recipe calls for a quart and all you’ve got are pints, just grab two of them. Done.
But if you’re curious (and maybe just a little bit nerdy like me), there’s a bit more to the story. Stick around—we’ll go through everything and look at the weird exceptions you should know.
Pint vs. Quart: What Are We Even Talking About?
Let’s start by breaking down what a pint and a quart actually are.
Pint comes from the Old French word pinte, which may have come from the Latin pincta, meaning “painted” or marked (like on a measuring jug). In the imperial system, a pint is a unit of measurement for liquid volume. It is equivalent to 16 fluid ounces, or 473 milliliters, in the United States and 20 fluid ounces, or 568 milliliters, in the United Kingdom. It is occasionally shortened to “pt” or “p.”
Smaller liquid amounts, such a pint of beer or a cup of water, are frequently referred to as pints. Pints of ice cream are also typical. It can also be used to measure dry ingredients
Quart comes from the Latin quartus, meaning “a fourth.” It’s literally a quarter of a gallon. In the imperial system, a quart is used to measure the volume of a liquid. It is equivalent to 946 milliliters, or 32 fluid ounces. Larger liquid amounts, such a jug of juice or a quart of milk, are frequently measured with it. It can, however, also be used to measure dry ingredients like sugar or flour.
So to summarize, in the U.S. measurement system:
1 pint = 16 fluid ounces
1 quart = 32 fluid ounces
And guess what? 32 ÷ 16 = 2. That’s how you get two pints in one quart.
📏 Conversion Table: Pints to Quarts (U.S. Liquid)
| Pints | Quarts |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.5 |
| 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 1.5 |
| 4 | 2 |
| 6 | 3 |
| 8 | 4 (1 gallon) |
But Wait, Which System Are We Talking About?
This is where things get interesting.
There are two main systems in use when it comes to volume measurements: the U.S. customary system and the British imperial system. And while they use the same names (pint, quart, gallon), they don’t measure the same amounts. Classic confusion.
U.S. System
1 U.S. pint = 16 fluid ounces
1 U.S. quart = 32 fluid ounces
Therefore: 2 pints = 1 quart
UK (Imperial) System
1 UK pint = 20 fluid ounces
1 UK quart = 40 fluid ounces
Still: 2 pints = 1 quart
So yes, in both systems, 1 quart = 2 pints, BUT the actual amount of liquid is different. A UK pint is 20 fluid ounces, which makes it 25% larger than a U.S. pint.
Confused? Let’s make it practical.
If you’re using a British recipe and it calls for a pint of something, but you’re in the U.S. using American measuring cups—you’ll end up with less than you need. That’s why it’s important to make sure your measurements are in the same system the recipe was written in.
Why This Matters
Okay, so you might be thinking, “Does it really matter if I’m a few ounces off?”
Well… sometimes yes, sometimes no.
In baking: YES, IT MATTERS. Precision is key. A little extra liquid or too little milk can completely throw off the texture.
In cooking: You can usually eyeball it. Soups, sauces, stews? You’ve got more wiggle room.
In cocktails: Depends how picky you are, but hey, getting the ratio right can make or break a Negroni.
Some more conversions – fractions
Here’s how the pint-to-quart relationship works in fraction world:
1 pint = ½ quart
2 pints = 1 quart
4 pints = 2 quarts
8 pints = 1 gallon
So if you ever see something like “¾ quart,” and you only have pint measurements—just remember that’s 1 ½ pints.
Common Questions
Is a dry pint the same as a liquid pint?
Nope! This is another twist in the story.
In the U.S., we have dry pints and liquid pints. A dry pint is used to measure things like berries, cherry tomatoes, or mushrooms. It’s about 18.6 cubic inches, or approximately 550 milliliters.
A liquid pint is used for fluids like milk, water, or oil—about 473 milliliters.
So if you’re shopping for strawberries and it says “1 pint,” it’s referring to a dry pint. Don’t go pouring soup into it.
What about metric?
In most of the world, metric is king. No pints, no quarts—just good ol’ liters and milliliters.
1 U.S. pint = about 473 ml
1 U.S. quart = about 946 ml
1 UK pint = about 568 ml
1 UK quart = about 1136 ml
If you’re following a recipe in metric, you’re dealing with decimals and milliliters, which can actually be simpler once you get used to it.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Conversions
At the end of the day, understanding how pints and quarts relate isn’t just about nailing recipes. It’s about feeling confident in the kitchen (or when reading labels at the grocery store).
Because let’s be real—once you start paying attention, you’ll see quarts and pints everywhere. In soup cartons, cream containers, juice bottles, ice cream tubs… even your favorite fancy coffee creamer. Knowing what they mean can help you shop smarter, cook better, and avoid that awkward moment of realizing you only bought half the amount you need.
So the next time someone asks, “Hey, how many pints in a quart?” you can smile and say confidently:
“Two. Always two.”
TL;DR
1 quart = 2 pints
U.S. and UK systems both use this ratio, but the actual sizes differ.
In the U.S., 1 pint = 16 fluid ounces; 1 quart = 32 fluid ounces.
In the UK, 1 pint = 20 fluid ounces; 1 quart = 40 fluid ounces.
Dry pints exist too (used for fruits/veggies) and are different from liquid pints.
If you’re using metric: 1 U.S. quart = ~946 ml, 1 U.S. pint = ~473 ml.
