How to use the fuel cost calculator
Enter the distance, how much fuel your vehicle uses and what fuel costs. Each of the three can be in the units you are used to: the calculator converts between kilometres and miles, litres and gallons for you.
You can find your fuel economy in the car's handbook or trip computer. Real-world figures are usually a little worse than the official ones, especially in town or with a full load.
The formula
- With L/100 km:
fuel = distance in km × consumption ÷ 100 - With km/L or mpg:
fuel = distance ÷ economy Cost = fuel × price per unit of fuel
Worked example
A 500 km trip in a car that uses 7 litres per 100 km needs 500 × 7 ÷ 100 = 35 litres. At 1.50 a litre the fuel costs 52.50.
Common questions
Is a UK gallon the same as a US gallon?
No. A UK (imperial) gallon is 4.546 litres and a US gallon is 3.785 litres, so the same car has a higher mpg figure in the UK.
How do I convert mpg to L/100 km?
Divide 235.2 by the US mpg figure, or 282.5 by the UK mpg figure.
Does this include tolls and wear?
No, only fuel. For the full cost of driving add tolls, parking and an allowance for tyres and servicing.