Quart vs. Pint — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 20, 2023
A quart is equivalent to 2 pints. A pint is half of a quart.
Difference Between Quart and Pint
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A quart and a pint are both units of volume or capacity, commonly used in the United States to measure liquids. The term "quart" comes from the Latin "quartus," which means fourth, reflecting its original definition as a quarter of a gallon. In contrast, the term "pint" derives from the Old French "pinte," and it represents half of a quart or an eighth of a gallon.
Both quart and pint have been historically used in various regions, with different values depending on the location and the substances being measured. For instance, in the UK, there was once a difference between the ale pint and the wine pint. However, in modern American measurement standards, a quart consistently remains double the volume of a pint.
In daily usage, one might find quarts and pints most frequently referenced in cooking and grocery stores. When purchasing milk or orange juice, for example, the containers might be labeled in quarts or pints. While a quart will offer double the amount of the pint, products in pint-sized containers might be more suitable for smaller households or individual consumption.
It's also worth noting that the specific volume represented by a quart or a pint can differ slightly based on whether one is using the US customary system or the British imperial system. However, in both systems, the relationship remains constant: one quart is equivalent to two pints.
Comparison Chart
Origin of Word
Derived from Latin "quartus"
Derived from Old French "pinte"
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Relation to Gallon
Quarter of a gallon
Eighth of a gallon
Volume in Liters
Approximately 0.946 liters
Approximately 0.473 liters
Common Use
Larger liquid containers
Smaller servings or containers
Multiplicity
Equal to 2 pints
Half of a quart
Compare with Definitions
Quart
A unit of liquid capacity equal to a quarter of a gallon.
I bought a quart of milk for my morning cereal.
Pint
A unit of volume or capacity in the US customary system, equal to 1/8 of a gallon or 16 ounces.
I'll have a pint of your best ale, please.
Quart
Used informally to refer to a large amount of something.
She has a quart of toys in her room.
Pint
A unit of volume or capacity in the US Customary System, used in liquid measure, equal to 1/8 gallon or 16 ounces (0.473 liter).
Quart
The quart (symbol: qt) is an English unit of volume equal to a quarter gallon. Three kinds of quarts are currently used: the liquid quart and dry quart of the US customary system and the imperial quart of the British imperial system.
Pint
A container that holds a pint.
She drank a pint of water after her run.
Quart
A container holding a quart.
Can you hand me that quart of ice cream from the freezer?
Pint
Used informally to denote a small amount of something.
He's got a pint of patience left with the noisy neighbors.
Quart
A measurement used in the US customary system.
The recipe requires a quart of broth.
Pint
A measurement often used for liquids and sometimes dry goods.
The recipe asks for a pint of blueberries.
Quart
A unit of volume or capacity in the US Customary System, used in liquid measure, equal to 1/4 gallon or 32 ounces (0.946 liter).
Pint
The pint (, listen ; symbol pt, sometimes abbreviated as p) is a unit of volume or capacity in both the imperial and United States customary measurement systems. In both of those systems it is traditionally one eighth of a gallon.
Quart
A unit of volume or capacity in the US Customary System, used in dry measure, equal to 1/8 peck or 2 pints (1.101 liters).
Pint
A glass of beer or cider, served by the pint.
A couple of pints please, barman.
Quart
(cards) Four successive cards of the same suit.
Pint
A measure of capacity, equal to half a quart, or four gills, - used in liquid and dry measures. See Quart.
Quart
A term indicating one fourth of certain quantities.
He ate nearly a quart of the pie by himself.
Pint
A unit of volume or capacity in the US Customary System, used in dry measure, equal to 1/16 peck or 1/2 quart (0.551 liter).
Quart
A measure of capacity, both in dry and in liquid measure; the fourth part of a gallon; the eighth part of a peck; two pints.
Pint
A unit of volume, equivalent to:
Quart
A United States liquid unit equal to 32 fluid ounces; four quarts equal one gallon
Pint
(Hungary) 1.696 liters
Quart
The contents of such a container.
Pint
(medicine) 12 fluid ounces
Quart
A unit of liquid capacity equal to two pints; one-fourth (quarter) of a gallon. Equivalent to 1.136 liters in the UK and 0.946 liter (liquid quart) or 1.101 liters (dry quart) in the U.S.
Pint
A pint of milk.
Please leave three pints tomorrow, milkman.
Quart
A vessel or measure containing a quart.
Pint
A United States dry unit equal to 0.5 quart or 33.6 cubic inches
Quart
In cards, four successive cards of the same suit. Cf. Tierce, 4.
Pint
Half of a quart in terms of volume.
Two pints make a quart, so I'll need another pint of juice.
Quart
A unit of volume or capacity in the British Imperial System, used in liquid and dry measure, equal to 1.201 US liquid quarts or 1.032 US dry quarts (1.136 liters). See Table at measurement.
Pint
A unit of liquid or dry capacity equal to one eighth of a gallon, in Britain equal to 0.568 litre and in the US equal to 0.473 litre (for liquid measure) or 0.551 litre (for dry measure).
Quart
A container having a capacity of one quart.
Pint
A unit of volume or capacity in the British Imperial System, used in dry and liquid measure, equal to 0.568 liter. See Table at measurement.
Quart
(obsolete) A fourth; a quarter; hence, a region of the earth.
Pint
A container with a pint capacity.
Quart
The fourth part; a quarter; hence, a region of the earth.
Camber did possess the western quart.
Pint
The amount of a substance that can be held in such a container.
Quart
A British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 2 pints or 1.136 liters
Pint
One eighth of a gallon, specifically:
Quart
A United States dry unit equal to 2 pints or 67.2 cubic inches
Pint
The laughing gull.
Pint
A British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 gills or 568.26 cubic centimeters
Pint
A United States liquid unit equal to 16 fluid ounces; two pints equal one quart
Common Curiosities
How many pints are in a quart?
There are two pints in a quart.
Why is a quart called a quart?
A quart is called so because it represents a quarter of a gallon.
Can I use two pint containers in place of a quart container?
Yes, since two pints equal a quart, you can use two pint containers to replace one quart container.
Is a quart larger than a pint?
Yes, a quart is larger than a pint, specifically twice as large.
Are quart and pint measurements the same worldwide?
No, while the relationship remains constant (1 quart = 2 pints), the specific volume can differ, especially between the US and the UK.
How do quarts and pints relate to other measurements like gallons or liters?
A quart is a quarter of a gallon, and a pint is an eighth of a gallon. In liters, a quart is approximately 0.946 liters and a pint is approximately 0.473 liters.
Is it better to buy a quart or two pints of a product?
It depends on the need. For larger consumption or households, a quart might be more economical, but for individual use or smaller households, two pints might be preferable.
Can I measure a quart or pint using household items?
While not exact, common household items like cups can help approximate quarts and pints, but for precise measurements, it's better to use proper measuring tools.
Do recipes often call for quarts or pints?
Yes, many recipes, especially those from the US, might specify ingredients in quarts or pints.
Where are quarts and pints commonly used?
Both are used in cooking and grocery items, with quarts often denoting larger containers and pints indicating smaller servings.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
