Bleach and other liquids are generally measured by volume, but you may need to know the general weight of a liquid like bleach from time to time. So, how much is a gallon of bleach?
A gallon (3.8 L) of bleach weighs approximately 9-10 lbs, based on a 5-9% sodium hypochlorite mixture, which is the standard for most household bleach products. In kilograms, this equates to approximately 4-4.5. You can weigh bleach by placing it in a container and using a weighing scale.
This article will discuss how much a gallon of bleach weighs in more detail. I will also discuss how much bleach per gallon you need to sanitize, how many bleach tablets are a gallon, and how much bleach powder is a gallon.
How Much Does a Gallon of Bleach Weigh?
A gallon (3.8 L) of bleach weighs between 9 and 10 lbs in the case of most standard household bleach products, which is equal to between 4082 and 4535 g or 4 and 4.5 kg. Once you know how much one gallon of bleach weighs, it’s easy to figure out how much a larger volume weighs.
If you’re wondering what standard household bleach is, it’s generally a solution containing 5-9% sodium hypochlorite (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The weight may vary slightly if you have a bleach containing less or more than this.
Let’s say your household bleach weighs 9 lbs (4 kg) per gallon (3.8 L), and you want to find out how much 4 gallons (15 L) of bleach weigh. In that case, you would multiply 9 lbs x 4 gallons, giving you 36 lbs (16 kg). Therefore, 4 gallons (15 L) of your bleach would weigh approximately 36 lbs (16 kg).
Some people may get confused and think that one gallon of bleach equals 8.35 lbs (3.8 kg), but that’s incorrect. While a gallon of bleach weighs more than this, a gallon of water is usually around 8.35 lbs or 3.8 kg (because water is thinner and lighter than bleach).
Below is a table displaying how much a typical gallon, 5-gallon (19 L), and 10-gallon (38 L) bleach product weighs in grams, pounds, and kilograms:
| Gallons | Grams (g) | Pounds (lb) | Kilograms (kg) |
| 1 | 4082-4535 g | 9-10 lbs | 4-4.5 kg |
| 2 | 8164-9070 g | 18-20 lbs | 8-9 kg |
| 5 | 20410-22675 g | 45-50 lbs | 20-23 kg |
How Much Bleach per Gallon of Water To Purify or Sanitize?
You should use approximately one cup (250 ml) of bleach per gallon (3.8L) of water for deep cleaning and sanitization, for example, removing fungal spores from a surface. For regular sanitizing, use around one tablespoon (approximately 15 ml) of bleach per gallon (3.8L) of water.
The University of Florida recommends using one cup (250 ml) of bleach per gallon (3.8 L) of water for deep sanitization because the solution will be strong enough to kill bacteria and fungal spores (like ringworm) that may be present (source: University of Florida).
On the other hand, the CDC recommends using one tablespoon (15 ml) of bleach per gallon of water to sanitize surfaces on a more daily basis (for example, countertops that come into contact with food) (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Below is a table detailing how much bleach one should use per gallon (3.8 L) to sanitize or purify a surface:
| Bleach amount | Cleaning type |
| One cup (250 ml) per gallon (3.8 L) of water | Deep cleaning (periodic rather than daily sanitization) |
| One tablespoon (15 ml) per gallon (3.8 L) of water | Every day cleaning |
How Many Bleach Tablets Are a Gallon?
One bleach tablet mixed with half a cup of water generally equals half a cup (125 ml) of regular bleach, and there are 16 cups in a gallon (3.8 L). Therefore, you need 32 tablets to make an entire gallon of bleach.
However, this may vary, as some bleach tablets might be bigger or smaller than others.
The number of tablets you use will also depend on the strength you want. If you want a strong bleach solution, you’ll need more tablets and less water to make a gallon of bleach.
You can buy Evolve Concentrated Bleach Tablets on Amazon; each tablet equals half a cup (125 ml) of bleach when mixed with half a cup (250 ml) of water. So, if you wanted to make up an entire gallon (3.8 L) of bleach using these tablets, you would need 32.
Below is a small table displaying how many bleach tablets are generally necessary to make a gallon (3.8 L) of bleach:
| How many bleach tablets to make a gallon (3.8 L)? | How many bleach tablets to make a half gallon (1.9 L)? |
| Approximately 32 tablets | Approximately 16 tablets |
How Much Bleach Powder Is a Gallon?
0.02 lbs (9 g) of bleach powder can make a gallon of bleach when mixed with clean water. However, the amount of bleach powder you use will depend on your desired strength.
While 0.02 lbs (9 g) is enough for a moderately strong solution, you may want to use more with slightly less water.
For example, you can make 60 gallons (227 L) of bleach using this 600 g (1.32 lb) bottle of Clorox Concentrated Bleach Powder from Amazon. Therefore, you need 9 g (0.02 lbs) to make one gallon (3.8 L).
Although bleach is generally measured by volume, it’s possible to measure it by weight as I’ve demonstrated here! After reading this article, you should better understand how much the different types of bleaches weigh.