CALCULATORS
Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate fuel used and trip cost from distance, fuel economy and fuel price, in miles or kilometres, with MPG or L/100 km, for one-way or round trips.
Quick answer: Enter the trip distance, vehicle MPG and current fuel price to get an estimate.
Use Fuel Cost Calculator ↓Loading the tool…
How to use Fuel Cost Calculator
- Enter the trip distanceAdd the one-way or round-trip distance.
- Add vehicle efficiency and fuel priceEnter your MPG and the price per unit of fuel.
- Read the estimateSee the fuel needed and the total cost.
About this tool
A road trip budget starts with fuel. Enter the distance, your vehicle’s efficiency and the price of fuel, choose one way or round trip, and see how much fuel you will use and what it will cost.
Common uses: Estimate fuel budgets for road trips, commuting, delivery routes and comparisons between vehicles or fuel prices.
Practical example: Use the expected trip distance, the vehicle’s realistic MPG and the current price per gallon, then rerun the estimate if the route or price changes.
Important limitation: Actual consumption varies with traffic, speed, weather, load, tire pressure and driving style. The estimate excludes tolls, maintenance and other trip costs.
The calculation runs in your browser and nothing you enter is stored. Read the privacy information.
How it works
Fuel needed is distance divided by efficiency, then multiplied by the price per unit of fuel.
Real-world uses
- Budgeting a road trip
- Comparing two vehicles
- Splitting fuel costs with passengers
Getting a realistic fuel estimate
Use your own measured efficiency rather than the sticker figure. Fill the tank, reset the trip meter, and calculate miles divided by gallons the next time you fill up. Highway speeds above 65 mph, a loaded roof box, cold weather, short trips and hills all lower efficiency, sometimes by a fifth or more.
The tool accepts miles or kilometres, MPG or litres per 100 km, and fuel priced per gallon or per litre, so you can enter whatever your car or the pump shows. Choose round trip to double the distance automatically.
The estimate covers fuel only. Tolls, parking, wear and tear and maintenance are extra, and fuel prices vary along the route. To share costs, divide the total by the number of passengers.
Tips for better results
- Use your real average MPG from recent fill-ups rather than the sticker value.
- Highway speed, load and cold weather lower efficiency.
- Divide the total by passengers to share trip costs.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use the vehicle’s advertised MPG?
A recent real-world average is usually more useful. If you do not have one, use the advertised figure as a starting estimate.
Can I compare two trips?
Yes. Record the distance, MPG and fuel price for each scenario and compare the estimated gallons and cost.
Are my calculations uploaded?
The calculation runs in your browser and nothing you enter is stored.
Should I use the advertised MPG?
Real-world figures are often lower. Track your own for a better estimate.
Are tolls and parking included?
No. Only fuel is estimated.
How do I convert between MPG and L/100 km?
You do not need to. Pick the efficiency unit you know in the Efficiency unit box and the tool does the conversion.
Does it include tolls and parking?
No. It estimates fuel only. Add tolls, parking and other costs separately.
Should I use highway or city efficiency?
Use the average for the trip. If most of it is motorway, use your highway figure; for mixed driving use your combined average from real fill-ups.