how much does a gallon of jet fuel weigh
A U.S. gallon of jet fuel weighs about 6.7–6.8 pounds under standard conditions (around 15–16 °C / 59–60 °F).
Basic answer
- Jet-A and Jet A-1 typically come out to roughly 6.7–6.8 lb per U.S. gallon.
- In metric, that corresponds to a density around 0.80–0.82 kg per liter, which converts to about 6.7–6.8 lb per gallon.
- In many aviation settings, people just use 6.7 lb/gal as a convenient rule of thumb for quick fuel weight calculations.
Why it can vary
- Jet fuel density changes with temperature: colder fuel is denser (slightly heavier per gallon), warmer fuel is less dense (slightly lighter per gallon).
- Real-world ranges often quoted are roughly 6.5–7.0 lb per gallon depending on exact formulation and temperature, but 6.7–6.8 lb/gal is the commonly cited “typical” value.
Quick rule pilots use
- For planning and mental math, many pilots and fuelers use 6.7 lb per gallon as the standard conversion factor for Jet-A/Jet A-1.
- This is accurate enough for most operational calculations, with more precise density figures used when needed for detailed weight-and-balance.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.