Fuel Cost Calculator
Find out exactly what a trip will cost in fuel — free, no account required, and nothing leaves your device. Enter your distance, your car's MPG or L/100 km, and today's fuel price to see total cost, fuel used, and cost per mile in seconds.
Results are estimates based on the values you enter. Actual fuel costs vary with driving conditions, vehicle load, tyre pressure, and other factors. Nothing you enter is stored or transmitted — all calculations run locally in your browser.
How It Works
Pick your units
Choose MPG if you think in miles and gallons, or L/100 km if you work in kilometres and litres. All labels update automatically.
Enter the distance
Type how far you're driving. Use miles for MPG mode or kilometres for L/100 km mode.
Enter fuel efficiency
Add your car's fuel economy — from the manual, the dashboard display, or a recent fill-up calculation.
See your cost instantly
Type today's pump price and pick your currency. Total cost, gallons or litres needed, and cost per mile appear straight away — no button to press.
How to Use the Fuel Cost Calculator
- Select MPG or L/100 km using the toggle at the top.
- Enter the trip distance in miles or kilometres.
- Enter your vehicle's fuel efficiency (check your dashboard or owner's manual).
- Type the current fuel price per gallon or litre and choose your currency.
- Read your total cost, fuel used, and cost per mile/km — results update as you type.
Fuel Cost Formula
The calculator uses two standard formulas depending on your unit choice:
| Unit system | Fuel used | Total cost |
|---|---|---|
| MPG (US) | Distance ÷ MPG = gallons | Gallons × price per gallon |
| L/100 km | (Distance × L/100 km) ÷ 100 = litres | Litres × price per litre |
Typical Fuel Cost Examples
| Distance | Efficiency | Price | Fuel used | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 miles | 30 mpg | $3.50/gal | 3.33 gal | $11.67 |
| 300 miles | 35 mpg | $3.50/gal | 8.57 gal | $30.00 |
| 500 km | 7.5 L/100 km | £1.55/L | 37.5 L | £58.13 |
| 1,000 km | 6.0 L/100 km | €1.70/L | 60 L | €102.00 |
MPG vs L/100 km — Quick Reference
| MPG | L/100 km | Typical vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 15–20 mpg | 14–16 L/100 km | Pickup truck / large SUV |
| 25–30 mpg | 9.4–7.8 L/100 km | Average family car |
| 35–45 mpg | 6.7–5.2 L/100 km | Compact / hybrid car |
| 50–60 mpg | 4.7–3.9 L/100 km | Full hybrid (e.g. Toyota Prius) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my car's MPG?
Check your vehicle's owner's manual for the official EPA rating, look at your dashboard trip computer if equipped, or calculate it manually: fill up completely, reset the trip odometer, drive normally, then refill and divide miles driven by gallons used.
Does the calculator work for motorcycles?
Yes — just enter your motorcycle's MPG or L/100 km figure and today's fuel price. The same formula applies to any petrol or diesel vehicle.
Can I use this for a road trip budget?
Absolutely. Enter the total round-trip distance and use the result as your fuel budget estimate. Remember that real-world fuel economy can vary by 10–15% depending on driving style, load, road conditions, and weather.
Is the calculation accurate?
The calculator uses the standard mathematical formula and is accurate given the inputs you provide. Real-world results depend on your actual fuel efficiency under driving conditions — highway, city, and stop-start traffic all produce different numbers.