GPH to GPM Converter
Convert gallons per hour to gallons per minute quickly and accurately for all your flow rate calculations
Conversion Formula
Converting gallons per hour to gallons per minute requires dividing by 60, since there are 60 minutes in one hour.
Or equivalently:
Conversion Examples
Example 1: Small Flow Rate
Problem: A chemical dosing pump operates at 30 gallons per hour. What is the flow rate in gallons per minute?
Solution:
GPM = 30 ÷ 60 = 0.5 GPM
Answer: The pump delivers 0.5 gallons per minute.
Example 2: Medium Flow Rate
Problem: An irrigation system has a flow rate of 240 gallons per hour. Convert this to gallons per minute.
Solution:
GPM = 240 ÷ 60 = 4 GPM
Answer: The irrigation system flows at 4 gallons per minute.
Example 3: Large Flow Rate
Problem: A swimming pool pump circulates water at 1,200 gallons per hour. What is this in gallons per minute?
Solution:
GPM = 1,200 ÷ 60 = 20 GPM
Answer: The pool pump operates at 20 gallons per minute.
Conversion Reference Table
| Gallons Per Hour (GPH) | Gallons Per Minute (GPM) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.0167 |
| 5 | 0.0833 |
| 10 | 0.1667 |
| 15 | 0.2500 |
| 20 | 0.3333 |
| 30 | 0.5000 |
| 40 | 0.6667 |
| 50 | 0.8333 |
| 60 | 1.0000 |
| 80 | 1.3333 |
| 100 | 1.6667 |
| 120 | 2.0000 |
| 150 | 2.5000 |
| 180 | 3.0000 |
| 200 | 3.3333 |
| 240 | 4.0000 |
| 300 | 5.0000 |
| 360 | 6.0000 |
| 480 | 8.0000 |
| 600 | 10.0000 |
| 720 | 12.0000 |
| 900 | 15.0000 |
| 1,000 | 16.6667 |
| 1,200 | 20.0000 |
| 1,500 | 25.0000 |
| 1,800 | 30.0000 |
| 2,400 | 40.0000 |
| 3,000 | 50.0000 |
| 3,600 | 60.0000 |
| 6,000 | 100.0000 |
Popular Flow Rate Conversions
Household Faucet
A typical household faucet flows at approximately 120-180 GPH (2-3 GPM), which is suitable for washing dishes and filling containers.
Garden Hose
Standard garden hoses deliver 300-600 GPH (5-10 GPM), ideal for watering plants and washing vehicles.
Swimming Pool Pump
Pool pumps typically circulate 1,200-3,000 GPH (20-50 GPM) to maintain proper water filtration and circulation.
Irrigation System
Agricultural irrigation systems operate at 600-6,000 GPH (10-100 GPM) depending on field size and crop requirements.
Fire Hydrant
Fire hydrants can discharge 60,000-90,000 GPH (1,000-1,500 GPM) for emergency firefighting operations.
Chemical Dosing Pump
Precision chemical pumps deliver 6-120 GPH (0.1-2 GPM) for accurate chemical treatment in water systems.
Related Flow Rate Conversions
Beyond GPH and GPM, flow rates can be expressed in multiple units depending on your application:
| From GPH | To Other Units | Conversion Factor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GPH | Liters per hour (L/h) | 3.785 L/h |
| 1 GPH | Liters per minute (L/min) | 0.063 L/min |
| 1 GPH | Cubic feet per hour (ft³/h) | 0.134 ft³/h |
| 1 GPH | Cubic meters per hour (m³/h) | 0.00379 m³/h |
| 1 GPH | Fluid ounces per minute (fl oz/min) | 2.133 fl oz/min |
Step-by-Step Conversion Process
Method 1: Division by 60
- Identify your flow rate in gallons per hour (GPH)
- Divide the GPH value by 60
- The result is your flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM)
- Round to the desired number of decimal places
Method 2: Multiplication Factor
- Identify your flow rate in gallons per hour (GPH)
- Multiply the GPH value by 0.016666667
- The result is your flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM)
- Round to the desired number of decimal places
Practical Applications
Water Systems
Flow rate conversions are critical in residential and commercial water systems. Plumbers and engineers use GPM measurements to specify pump capacities, pipe sizes, and fixture requirements. Converting from GPH helps in calculating daily water consumption and sizing storage tanks appropriately.
HVAC Systems
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems rely on precise flow rates for coolant and refrigerant circulation. HVAC technicians convert GPH specifications from manufacturers into GPM for field installation and troubleshooting, particularly when matching pump performance to system requirements.
Agricultural Irrigation
Farmers and irrigation specialists use flow rate conversions to optimize water delivery to crops. By converting hourly ratings to per-minute flows, they can calculate precise watering schedules, prevent over-irrigation, and conserve water resources while maintaining crop health.
Industrial Processes
Manufacturing facilities require accurate flow rate measurements for coolant systems, chemical processing, and material handling. Converting between GPH and GPM allows process engineers to match equipment specifications, maintain production efficiency, and comply with safety regulations.
Aquarium and Pool Maintenance
Aquarium enthusiasts and pool service professionals convert flow rates to select appropriate pumps and filters. Proper conversion between GPH and GPM helps maintain water quality by achieving the recommended turnover rates for the water volume being treated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we divide by 60 to convert GPH to GPM?
There are 60 minutes in one hour. When you have a flow rate measured per hour and want to know the rate per minute, you divide by 60 to distribute that hourly flow across each of the 60 minutes.
Is GPM or GPH more commonly used?
GPM (gallons per minute) is more commonly used in most applications, especially for pumps, plumbing fixtures, and water treatment systems. GPH is typically used for slower flow rates or when measuring consumption over longer periods, such as chemical dosing systems or fuel consumption.
How accurate does my conversion need to be?
The required accuracy depends on your application. For general household purposes, rounding to two decimal places is usually sufficient. Industrial and scientific applications may require four or more decimal places for precision equipment calibration.
Can I convert GPM back to GPH?
Yes, simply multiply the GPM value by 60 to get GPH. For example, 5 GPM × 60 = 300 GPH. The conversion works both ways using inverse operations.
What is a good flow rate for a water pump?
It depends on the application. A typical residential well pump operates at 5-15 GPM (300-900 GPH), while a sump pump might be 20-40 GPM (1,200-2,400 GPH). Commercial applications can require much higher flow rates.
How do flow rate and water pressure relate?
Flow rate (GPM or GPH) measures volume over time, while pressure measures force per area (PSI). Higher pressure typically increases flow rate, but the relationship depends on pipe diameter, length, and restrictions in the system.
Does pipe diameter affect the conversion?
No, the mathematical conversion between GPH and GPM is independent of pipe diameter. However, pipe diameter does affect the actual flow rate achievable in a system due to friction and velocity constraints.
Are US gallons and Imperial gallons different?
Yes, a US gallon is 3.785 liters while an Imperial gallon (UK) is 4.546 liters. Make sure to use the correct gallon type for your region. This converter uses US gallons, which are standard in the United States.
What is the minimum flow rate for a shower?
Modern low-flow showerheads typically operate at 1.5-2.0 GPM (90-120 GPH) to conserve water while maintaining adequate pressure. Older fixtures may use 2.5 GPM (150 GPH) or more.
How can I measure my actual flow rate?
Use a bucket of known volume and a timer. Run water into the bucket for exactly one minute, then measure the volume collected. This gives you GPM directly. Multiply by 60 to get GPH, or use smaller time intervals and adjust accordingly.