Skip to content
CalcBro

Fuel Cost Calculator

Work out how much fuel a trip will use and what it will cost, from the distance, your car's fuel consumption and the fuel price.

kilometres

One-way trip distance. Double it for a return journey.

litres per 100 kilometres

Your car's average, e.g. from the trip computer.

per litre

In any currency. Results use the same currency.

Results

Total fuel cost

55.25

In the same currency as your fuel price.

Fuel required
32.5 L
Cost per km
0.1105

Total fuel cost 55.25. Fuel required 32.5 litres. Cost per kilometre 0.1105.

Formula

Fuel required (L)
= distance (km) ÷ 100 × fuel consumption (L/100 km)
Total fuel cost
= fuel required (L) × fuel price per litre
Cost per kilometre
= total fuel cost ÷ distance (km)

Consumption in L/100 km is the number of litres used to drive 100 km, so dividing the distance by 100 gives the number of “hundreds of kilometres” in the trip.

Worked example

You are planning a 500 km drive in a car that uses 6.5 L/100 km, and fuel costs 1.70 per litre.

  1. Step 1: Fuel required

    500 ÷ 100 × 6.5 = 32.5 L

  2. Step 2: Total fuel cost

    32.5 × 1.70 = 55.25

  3. Step 3: Cost per kilometre

    55.25 ÷ 500 = 0.1105

The trip needs 32.5 litres of fuel and costs 55.25 in total — about 0.1105 per kilometre — in whichever currency the price was given.

How to find your car's fuel consumption

The calculator is only as accurate as the consumption figure you give it. There are a few ways to find a realistic number:

  • Trip computer: most modern cars show average consumption in L/100 km. Reset it at the start of a typical week of driving for a good figure.
  • Fill-up method: fill the tank, reset the trip meter, drive normally, then fill up again. Divide the litres added by the kilometres driven and multiply by 100.
  • Official figures: the manufacturer's rating (for example a WLTP figure) is a useful starting point, but real-world consumption is often higher.

What affects the real cost of a trip

Fuel consumption changes with how and where you drive. Motorway driving at high speed, heavy loads, roof boxes, towing, cold weather, short trips with a cold engine and stop-start traffic all tend to increase it.

Fuel prices also vary between stations and regions. For a longer trip, it can help to run the calculation with a slightly higher consumption and price to give yourself a sensible buffer.

Using the results

The total cost is the figure to budget for the trip. The cost per kilometre is useful for comparing vehicles, deciding between driving and other transport, or working out a fair per-kilometre rate when sharing a car.

To split the cost between passengers, divide the total fuel cost by the number of people sharing it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the fuel cost of a trip?

Divide the distance in kilometres by 100, multiply by your car's consumption in L/100 km to get the litres needed, then multiply the litres by the price per litre. For example, 500 km at 6.5 L/100 km needs 32.5 litres, which costs 55.25 at 1.70 per litre.

What does L/100 km mean?

L/100 km is the number of litres of fuel a vehicle uses to travel 100 kilometres. Lower is better: a car rated at 5 L/100 km uses less fuel than one rated at 8 L/100 km.

Which currency does the calculator use?

Any currency. Enter the fuel price in your local currency per litre and the total cost and cost per kilometre are shown in that same currency. The calculator does not convert between currencies.

How do I calculate the cost of a return trip?

Enter the total distance you will drive. For a return journey, that is usually the one-way distance multiplied by two.

Can I use miles or MPG?

This calculator uses kilometres and L/100 km. To convert, multiply miles by 1.609344 to get kilometres, or use the miles to kilometres converter. To convert fuel economy, divide 235.214583 by US MPG (or use the MPG to L/100 km converter), or 282.481 by UK (imperial) MPG, to get L/100 km.

Why might my actual fuel cost be different?

The result is an estimate based on the numbers you enter. Real consumption depends on speed, traffic, load, weather and driving style, and fuel prices vary, so actual costs can be higher or lower.

Related calculators

Browse all automotive calculators