Fuel Cost Calculator Calculate fuel cost for any trip based on distance, fuel efficiency, and fuel price.

What Is Fuel Cost Calculator?

The Fuel Cost Calculator estimates the total fuel expense for a trip based on distance, vehicle fuel efficiency, and current fuel price. It supports both US units (miles, MPG, dollars per gallon) and metric units (kilometers, L/100km, dollars per liter). The calculator shows total fuel needed, total cost, and the cost per unit of distance — helping you budget for road trips, compare vehicles, or evaluate commute costs.

Why Use Fuel Cost Calculator?

• Supports US (MPG) and metric (L/100km) fuel efficiency
• Shows total fuel needed, total cost, and cost per distance unit
• Simple inputs for quick trip cost estimation
• Useful for budgeting road trips and comparing vehicle costs

Common Use Cases

Road Trip Planning

Budget fuel costs for upcoming road trips.

Commute Costs

Calculate daily, weekly, or monthly commute fuel expenses.

Vehicle Comparison

Compare fuel costs between vehicles with different efficiency.

Business Mileage

Calculate fuel reimbursement amounts for business travel.

Technical Guide

For US units: Fuel Needed (gallons) = Distance (miles) / MPG. Total Cost = Fuel Needed × Price per gallon. Cost per mile = Total Cost / Distance. For metric: Fuel Needed (liters) = (Distance (km) / 100) × L/100km. Total Cost = Fuel Needed × Price per liter. Cost per km = Total Cost / Distance. The conversion between systems: MPG = 235.215 / (L/100km). Note that US gallons (3.785 L) differ from Imperial gallons (4.546 L); this calculator uses US gallons.

Tips & Best Practices

• 1
  Actual fuel consumption varies with driving conditions, speed, traffic, and terrain
• 2
  City driving typically uses 15-30% more fuel than highway driving
• 3
  A/C use, tire pressure, and vehicle load all affect fuel efficiency
• 4
  Compare total trip fuel cost between routes — shorter routes may not always be cheapest

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q How accurate is this calculator?

It provides an estimate based on rated fuel efficiency. Actual consumption varies with driving style, traffic, terrain, weather, and vehicle condition.

Q Should I use MPG or L/100km?

US and UK typically use MPG. Most other countries use L/100km. Both measure the same thing — fuel efficiency — in different ways.

Q How can I reduce fuel costs?

Maintain steady speeds, keep tires properly inflated, reduce excess weight, use cruise control on highways, and minimize aggressive acceleration.

Q What is the difference between US and Imperial gallons?

US gallon = 3.785 liters. Imperial gallon = 4.546 liters. This means 30 US MPG ≈ 36 Imperial MPG.

Q Does this account for price variations along the route?

No, it uses a single fuel price. For long trips, you might want to average expected prices along the route.

About This Tool

Fuel Cost Calculator is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.