Early Modern Measurements

Measurement before the enlightenment and the age of standardization varied widely. While some terms had wide adoption, others were highly regional and idiosyncratic. The following equivalencies are meant to aid in estimations.

Wet Amounts

Tun (e.g. of wine): 950-960 litres, or approximately 252 gallons during the early modern period.

pipe or butt: 1/2 of a tun, 475-480 liters, or 126 gallons

puncheon: 1/3 of a tun, 316-320 litres, or 84 gallons

hogshead: 1/4 of a tun, 237-242 litres, or 63 gallons

tierce: 1/6 of a tun, 158-160 litres, or 42 gallons

barrel: 1/8 of a tun, 118-120 litres, or 31 1/2 gallons

rundlet: 1/14 of a tun, 68-69 litres, or 18 gallons

Comparisons:

1 ton = 2 butts, 3 puncheons, 4 hogsheads, 6 tierces, 8 barrels, or 14 rundlets