hectoliter

A hectoliter (symbol hL) is a unit of volume in the metric system equal to 100 liters. The name derives from the prefix hecto-, meaning one hundred, combined with the liter. The standard symbol is written with a lowercase h and an uppercase L, to distinguish it clearly from other symbols.

Conversions and relationships: 1 hL = 100 L = 0.1 cubic meters (m^3). Accordingly, 1 L = 0.01 hL. Since 1 dekaliter (daL) equals 10 liters, 1 hL also equals 10 daL.

Use and contexts: Hectoliters are used in contexts where larger liquid volumes are common but still conveniently expressed in multiples of liters. They appear in agriculture (for example, yields reported as hectoliters per hectare, hL/ha), in the beverage industry (beer, wine, and other liquids), and in storage, production, and logistics to describe tank capacities and shipment sizes.

Standards and notation: The liter is a non-SI unit accepted for use with the SI, and the hectoliter is an accepted non-SI multiple of the liter. In practice, the hL helps avoid confusion that can arise when using liters for large volumes, and it is often preferred in industries dealing with substantial quantities.

Related units include the liter, decaliters (daL), and kiloliters (kL); larger-scale measurements may use megaliters (ML).