Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate the fuel used and the fuel cost of a trip in km or miles, and split it between the people sharing.
Enter the price at your pump. This calculator does not look up fuel prices.
Doubles the distance for the journey back.
Enter your trip details to see the fuel cost
- Enter the fuel price per litre.
Amounts are shown without a currency symbol, so you can use any currency.
How to use this calculator
Enter the one-way trip distance in km or miles. Choose how your fuel efficiency is measured (km/L, L/100 km or MPG, with a US or UK gallon) and type the figure. Then enter the fuel price per litre, or per gallon if you chose MPG. Turn on Round trip for the journey back, and enter how many people are sharing the cost.
How the calculation works
The distance is converted to km first (1 mile = 1.609344 km), then the fuel used is:
- km/L: litres = km ÷ km/L
- L/100 km: litres = km × L/100 km ÷ 100
- MPG: gallons = miles ÷ MPG (1 US gallon = 3.785411784 L, 1 UK gallon = 4.54609 L)
Total cost = fuel used × price per litre or gallon. Cost per km or mile = total cost ÷ distance driven. Cost per person = total cost ÷ people sharing. A round trip doubles the distance.
Scope and common mistakes
This is a fuel-only estimate. It does not include tolls, parking, wear and tear or other running costs, and it does not know fuel prices.
- Mixing up km/L and L/100 km: a higher km/L is better, but a lower L/100 km is better.
- Using a US MPG figure with the UK gallon setting, or the other way round.
- Entering the round-trip distance and turning on Round trip as well.
How do I work out the fuel cost of a trip?
Work out how much fuel the trip uses from the distance and your car's fuel efficiency, then multiply by the fuel price. For example, 100 km in a car that does 12 km/L uses about 8.33 L; at a price of 3 per litre, that costs 25.00.
Where do I find my car's fuel efficiency?
Many cars show it on the dashboard trip computer. You can also fill the tank, note the distance driven until the next fill-up, and divide the distance by the litres added.
What is the difference between a US and a UK gallon?
A US gallon is exactly 3.785411784 litres and a UK (imperial) gallon is exactly 4.54609 litres. So the same car has a higher MPG figure in UK gallons than in US gallons. Pick the gallon your MPG figure and fuel price use.
Does this calculator use live fuel prices?
No. Fuel prices vary by place and change over time, so you enter the price you pay. Nothing is looked up or sent anywhere.
Why might the real cost be different?
Fuel use changes with speed, traffic, load, air conditioning and the weather, so treat the result as an estimate. Tolls, parking and other running costs are not included.