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Travel & Vehicles

Fuel Cost Calculator

Trip fuel cost from distance, L/100 km, km/L or mpg and fuel price, per person; real consumption from a fill-up.

Updated:

Result

Fuel cost

46.80

Fuel needed
29.25 litres
Total distance
450 km
Cost per km
0.10

What do you want to work out?
Distance in

One way.

Your own measured average is more accurate than the brochure figure.

Enter the current pump price.

How it's calculated

The fuel a trip uses is the distance times the car's consumption per 100 km; multiply by the price per litre to get the cost. Economy given in km/L or mpg is first turned into L/100 km, and a price per gallon into a price per litre, using the exact gallon and mile definitions. Your average consumption comes from a fill-up: litres put in over the distance driven.

Fuel (L)
= distance (km) × L/100 km / 100
Cost
= fuel × price per litre
L/100 km
= 100 / (km/L) = 282.48 / mpg (UK) = 235.21 / mpg (US)

Worked example

A 1,000 km drive in a car using 7.5 L/100 km, fuel at 1.60 a litre (example price):

  1. Fuel: 1,000 × 7.5 / 100 = 75 litres
  2. Cost: 75 × 1.60 = 120.00, or 0.12 per km

Fuel economy and trip cost tables

Trip cost by distance

Fuel cost by consumption and distance at 1.60 a litre (example price)
Consumption100 km250 km500 km1,000 km
Consumption: 4 L/100 km100 km6.40250 km16.00500 km32.001,000 km64.00
Consumption: 5 L/100 km100 km8.00250 km20.00500 km40.001,000 km80.00
Consumption: 6 L/100 km100 km9.60250 km24.00500 km48.001,000 km96.00
Consumption: 7 L/100 km100 km11.20250 km28.00500 km56.001,000 km112.00
Consumption: 8 L/100 km100 km12.80250 km32.00500 km64.001,000 km128.00
Consumption: 10 L/100 km100 km16.00250 km40.00500 km80.001,000 km160.00
Consumption: 12 L/100 km100 km19.20250 km48.00500 km96.001,000 km192.00

L/100 km, km/L and mpg

The same fuel economy in each unit
L/100 kmkm/Lmpg (UK)mpg (US)
L/100 km: 4km/L25mpg (UK)70.6mpg (US)58.8
L/100 km: 5km/L20mpg (UK)56.5mpg (US)47
L/100 km: 6km/L16.7mpg (UK)47.1mpg (US)39.2
L/100 km: 7km/L14.3mpg (UK)40.4mpg (US)33.6
L/100 km: 8km/L12.5mpg (UK)35.3mpg (US)29.4
L/100 km: 10km/L10mpg (UK)28.2mpg (US)23.5
L/100 km: 12km/L8.3mpg (UK)23.5mpg (US)19.6

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate the fuel cost of a trip?

Fuel used = distance × consumption per 100 km / 100; cost = fuel × price per litre. A 450 km trip there and back at 6.5 L/100 km uses 58.5 litres; at 1.60 a litre that is 93.60, or 31.20 each for three people.

How do I measure my car's real fuel consumption?

Fill the tank and reset the trip meter. At the next fill-up, divide the litres you put in by the distance driven and multiply by 100. 42 litres after 600 km is 7 L/100 km (40.4 mpg UK, 33.6 mpg US). The average of several fill-ups is more reliable than the trip computer.

How do I convert mpg to L/100 km?

L/100 km = 282.48 / mpg (UK) = 235.21 / mpg (US). 6 L/100 km is 47.1 mpg in UK gallons, 39.2 mpg in US gallons and 16.7 km/L. A UK gallon is about 20% larger than a US gallon, so the same car shows a higher UK mpg.

Does it work for diesel, LPG or petrol?

Yes. The calculation is the same for any liquid fuel: enter the car's consumption on that fuel and that fuel's price. Electric cars need a different calculation based on kWh per 100 km and the electricity price.

Are tolls and parking included?

No, only fuel. Add tolls, parking and ferry fares separately. Speed, load, air conditioning and traffic all raise consumption, so allow a margin on long trips.

Based on the average consumption you enter; speed, load, air conditioning and traffic change real consumption. Tolls and parking are not included.