Fuel Trip Cost Calculator
Cost of a journey from distance, fuel efficiency and fuel price — works in MPG or L/100km, any currency.
Fuel cost = how much fuel the trip burns × the price per unit. This tool uses the metric L/100km efficiency standard; to convert from MPG, L/100km = 235.2 ÷ MPG (US) or 282.5 ÷ MPG (UK). Real consumption rises with speed, load, AC, traffic and terrain — budget ~10–20% above the rated figure.
Formula
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
About Fuel Trip Cost Calculator
The fuel trip cost calculator estimates what a journey will cost in fuel from three numbers: the distance, your vehicle's efficiency, and the fuel price — and splits it across passengers for carpooling. It uses the metric L/100km efficiency standard (the lower, the better) and works in any currency. Whether you're budgeting a road trip, comparing driving against other transport, settling a carpool split, or claiming mileage, it turns the everyday 'how much will the petrol cost?' question into an instant, accurate answer, with guidance on converting from MPG and why real-world consumption runs higher than the rated figure.
How to use Fuel Trip Cost Calculator
- 1Enter your values into Fuel Trip Cost Calculator — sensible, domain-typical defaults are pre-filled so you see a real result immediately.
- 2The result recomputes live using the formula shown on the page; there is no button to press.
- 3Adjust any input to compare scenarios, then read the worked example to see the substituted numbers.
Why use Fuel Trip Cost Calculator?
- ✓Computes Fuel Trip Cost instantly in your browser — no sign-up, no upload, no server round-trip.
- ✓100% free and unlimited, with the exact formula shown: fuel used = distance/100 × (L/100km).
- ✓Runs entirely client-side, so every value you enter stays private on your device.
- ✓Live recompute as you type, with a worked example and authoritative references for trust.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate fuel cost for a trip?+
Fuel used = distance ÷ 100 × your L/100km figure; cost = fuel used × price per litre. For 300 km at 7 L/100km, that's 21 litres; at $1.60/litre, $33.60. This tool does it instantly and splits the cost for carpools. For mile/gallon countries, convert efficiency first (see below) or work in your local units.
How do I convert MPG to L/100km?+
L/100km = 235.2 ÷ MPG for US gallons, or 282.5 ÷ MPG for UK (imperial) gallons. So 30 US MPG ≈ 7.8 L/100km; 30 UK MPG ≈ 9.4 L/100km. Note the inverse relationship — lower L/100km and higher MPG both mean more efficient. Convert your MPG to L/100km, then enter it here.
Why does my real fuel use exceed the calculation?+
The rated efficiency is measured under ideal lab conditions. Real-world consumption rises with high speed (air resistance grows with speed squared), heavy loads, air conditioning, cold starts, stop-and-go traffic, hills, underinflated tyres and aggressive driving. Budget 10–20% above the rated figure for a realistic trip estimate, more for mountainous or city driving.
Is it cheaper to carpool or drive separately?+
Carpooling splits the same fuel cost among passengers, so per-person cost drops sharply — four people sharing one car each pay a quarter of the fuel, versus full cost driving alone. This tool's per-person output makes the saving explicit, which is why ride-sharing is one of the simplest ways to cut commuting and travel costs.
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