Quick Answer
No, a half gallon is not equal to a fifth. A fifth refers to a fifth of a US gallon, which is 757 ml or 25.6 oz. A half gallon is 1.89 liters or 64 oz. So a fifth is not the same as a half gallon. A fifth is much smaller at around 25% the size of a half gallon.
What is a Fifth?
A fifth is a common term used to refer to a fifth of a US gallon of liquor. Since a US gallon is 3.785 liters, one fifth of a gallon is 0.757 liters or approximately 750 ml.
In the US, hard liquor like vodka, rum, whiskey, etc is often sold in volumes based on fractions of a gallon. Some common sizes are:
| Name | Volume |
|---|---|
| Fifth | 0.757 liters |
| Pint | 0.473 liters |
| Half gallon | 1.89 liters |
| Gallon | 3.785 liters |
As you can see from the table, a fifth is 0.757 liters, which is much smaller than a half gallon at 1.89 liters.
Why is it called a Fifth?
It is called a fifth because it is one fifth of a US gallon. Since a gallon is divided into 5 equal parts, each part is approximately 0.75 liters. Hence it is referred to as a “fifth”. The term originated back when a gallon was legally defined as the volume occupied by 8 pounds of wheat distillate. A fifth of that volume became a common quantity for spirit trade.
Volume of a Half Gallon
A half gallon, as the name suggests, is simply half of a full gallon. Since a US gallon is defined as exactly 3.785 liters, half of that is:
Half gallon = 0.5 * Gallon
= 0.5 * 3.785 liters
= 1.8925 liters
Rounding the number, a half gallon is approximately 1.89 liters. It is equivalent to 64 US fluid ounces.
Some key facts about a half gallon:
– Volume = 1.89 liters
– Weight = Around 1.8 kg or 4 lb for water
– Common usages: Beverages, milk, juices, etc.
– Comes in a typical rectangular shaped plastic jug or carton
So in summary, a half gallon container has a volume of 1.89 liters. This is very different from the 0.75 liter volume of a fifth.
Fifth vs Half Gallon Comparison
Let’s directly compare the volumes of a fifth and a half gallon:
| Fifth | Half Gallon | |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 0.757 liters | 1.89 liters |
| Fluid ounces | 25.6 oz | 64 oz |
Looking at the volumes, it is clear that a fifth and half gallon are very different. A fifth is only about 25% the size of a half gallon.
Some key differences:
– A fifth is 757 ml whereas half gallon is 1890 ml, over 2.5 times larger.
– In fluid ounces, a fifth is 25.6 oz compared to 64 oz for the half gallon.
– A fifth is one portion out of 5 parts of a gallon. A half gallon is much larger at 2 out of 5 parts.
– Typical container shapes are different – fifths are sold in bottles while half gallons use jugs.
So in every measurement, a half gallon has a significantly larger volume compared to a fifth. They are clearly not equal quantities.
When would you use a Fifth vs Half Gallon?
Because of the major difference in volumes, fifths and half gallons are used for very different purposes:
Fifths
– Hard liquor – Vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila, etc.
– Lower quantity alcohol for 1-2 people
– Easy portability with bottles
– Serving alcohol in bars/parties
Half gallons
– Milk, juice, iced tea, lemonade, water
– Larger non-alcoholic beverages for families/groups
– Bulk storage in the refrigerator
– Heavy and not as portable as fifths
You would choose a fifth when you want a smaller quantity of spirits for mixing drinks or casual drinking. It’s easy to take along to parties or stash in your liquor cabinet.
In comparison, the half gallon is better for thirst-quenching drinks that you would store in the fridge and serve with food or to friends and family. Their larger volume makes them ideal for bulk beverage purposes vs. the smaller fifths.
So in summary:
– Buy spirits like vodka and whiskey in fifths for casual drinking
– Get milk, juice and other cold beverages in half gallon jugs for fridge storage
Common brands selling in fifths and half gallons
Here are some examples of popular brands and products commonly sold in fifth and half gallon volumes:
Fifth sizes
– Jack Daniel’s whiskey
– Smirnoff vodka
– Bacardi rum
– Jose Cuervo tequila
– Tanqueray gin
Half gallon sizes
– Milk – Horizon Organic, Organic Valley
– Juices – Tropicana, Simply Orange, Minute Maid
– Iced tea – Lipton, AriZona, Nestea
– Lemonade – Simply Lemonade, Minute Maid
– Water – Aquafina, Poland Spring, Dasani
So if you see any major liquor brands like Jack Daniel’s, Smirnoff or Bacardi selling their spirits in 75cl bottles, you know those are fifths.
Beverage companies like Tropicana and Lipton offer many non-alcoholic drinks in half gallon jugs and cartons perfect for the refrigerator.
Price Differences
Unsurprisingly, you get more drink for your money buying in larger volumes. Let’s compare typical prices:
– Vodka fifth (750ml) – $10 to $30
– Vodka half gallon (1.89L) – $35 to $60
– Milk fifth (2L) – $4
– Milk half gallon (1.89L) – $2 to $3
Buying liquor in half gallons can save you 50% or more compared to getting fifths. On the other hand milk is cheaper to buy in half gallon containers versus larger volumes.
For both liquor and non-alcoholic drinks, you can optimize value by choosing the appropriately sized container. Buy fifths for occasional drinking and half gallons when you need bulk volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fifth the same as a quart?
No, a fifth and quart are different. A fifth is 0.757 liters. A quart is 0.946 liters, about 25% larger than a fifth.
Is a pint bigger than a fifth?
No, a pint is smaller. A pint is only 0.473 liters compared to 0.757 liters for a fifth.
How many shots in a fifth?
A fifth contains approximately 17 standard shots. Each shot is around 1.5oz. With 25.6oz in a fifth, you can pour about 17 shots.
How much is a half gallon of liquor?
A half gallon of liquor like vodka, rum or whiskey contains around 1.89 liters. This volume would hold 38 standard shots. Expect to pay around $35 to $60 for a half gallon of spirits.
Is a half gallon the same as a 64oz jug?
Yes, a half gallon and 64oz jug both refer to the same volume of 1.89 liters or 64 fluid ounces. So these names refer to the same container size.
Conclusion
In summary:
– A fifth is 0.757 liters, a fifth of a US gallon of liquor.
– A half gallon is 1.89 liters, equal to half a US gallon.
– A fifth is only 25% the size of a half gallon.
– Fifths are used for spirits like vodka and whiskey. Half gallons are popular for non-alcoholic drinks.
– You get more volume for your money buying liquor in half gallons instead of fifths.
So in the end, the answer is no – a fifth is definitely not the same thing as a half gallon. A fifth is a much smaller volume better suited for spirits rather than large containers of thirst-quenching beverages.
