Fuel Cost Calculator: Plan Your Trip Expenses
Our fuel cost calculator helps you estimate how much you'll spend on gas or diesel for any trip. Whether you're planning a road trip, calculating your daily commute costs, or comparing vehicles, this tool provides accurate fuel cost estimates based on distance, fuel efficiency, and current fuel prices.
The calculator supports both MPG (miles per gallon) for US users and L/100km (liters per 100 kilometers) for those using the metric system. You can also switch between gallons and liters for fuel pricing, and choose from multiple currencies.
How Fuel Cost Is Calculated
For MPG: Fuel needed (gallons) = Distance (miles) ÷ MPG. Then multiply by price per gallon.
For L/100km: Fuel needed (liters) = (L/100km × Distance in km) ÷ 100. Then multiply by price per liter.
A vehicle rated at 30 MPG traveling 300 miles needs 10 gallons. At $3.50 per gallon, that's $35 total. The same trip round-trip would cost $70.
Understanding Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency varies significantly between vehicles. Compact cars might achieve 35-40 MPG, while SUVs average 20-25 MPG. Electric vehicles have MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). City driving typically uses more fuel than highway driving due to stop-and-go traffic.
Factors affecting fuel efficiency include: driving speed (optimal is usually 45-65 mph), tire pressure, air conditioning use, cargo weight, and driving style. Aggressive acceleration and braking can reduce efficiency by 15-30%.
Tips to Reduce Fuel Costs
1. Maintain proper tire pressure - Under-inflated tires increase fuel consumption by 3%. 2. Drive smoothly - Avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking. 3. Use cruise control - Maintains consistent speed on highways. 4. Remove excess weight - Every 100 lbs reduces efficiency by about 1%. 5. Plan efficient routes - Combine trips and avoid heavy traffic.
FAQ
How do I find my car's MPG?
Check your vehicle's specifications online, the window sticker from purchase, or calculate it by dividing miles driven by gallons filled at the pump. Many cars also display real-time MPG on the dashboard.
Is highway or city MPG more accurate?
Use highway MPG for long-distance trips and city MPG for urban driving. For mixed driving, use the combined MPG rating or average of both.
How do I convert MPG to L/100km?
L/100km = 235.215 ÷ MPG. For example, 30 MPG ≈ 7.84 L/100km. Lower L/100km means better efficiency (opposite of MPG).