About the Fuel Cost Calculator
Planning a road trip or just tired of guessing what the drive will cost? Type in the distance, your car's fuel consumption and the current fuel price, and this fuel cost calculator tells you exactly how much you'll spend at the pump. It works in metric (kilometers and L/100km) or US units (miles and MPG), so it fits whichever way your dashboard and your gas station think.
Sharing the ride? Enter the number of passengers and the calculator divides the total fairly, so carpool math stops being awkward. It also shows how much fuel the trip will burn, which helps you plan refueling stops on longer drives. Use it before a vacation to budget the driving leg, compare taking the car against a train or flight, or figure out what your daily commute really costs over a month.
Features
- Trip cost from distance, consumption and fuel price
- Metric and US units: km, miles, L/100km, MPG
- Cost per passenger for fair ride-sharing splits
- Shows total fuel needed for the trip
- Works with any currency you enter
- Free, instant results, nothing to install
How to calculate the fuel cost of a trip
- Choose metric or US units to match your car.
- Enter the trip distance in kilometers or miles.
- Add your vehicle's consumption in L/100km or MPG.
- Type the fuel price per liter or gallon.
- Optionally set passengers to split the cost per person.
Frequently asked questions
How is the fuel cost calculated?
In metric units: fuel needed = distance × consumption ÷ 100, then cost = fuel needed × price per liter. With US units, fuel needed = distance ÷ MPG, multiplied by the price per gallon. Dividing the total by the number of passengers gives each person's fair share of the trip.
Where do I find my car's fuel consumption?
Most trip computers show average consumption on the dashboard as L/100km or MPG. You can also check the manufacturer's specs, or measure it yourself: fill the tank, drive normally, refill, and divide fuel added by distance driven. Real-world figures are usually 10–20% higher than official ratings.
Can I use this for a round trip?
Yes — simply enter the total distance there and back. If the outbound and return routes differ, add the two distances together first. For multi-stop journeys, sum every leg; the calculation only cares about the total kilometers or miles driven at your average consumption.
How accurate is the estimate?
It's as accurate as your inputs. Consumption rises with highway speed, hills, heavy loads, roof boxes and air conditioning, so a real trip may burn a little more than the sticker figure suggests. Enter your car's true average from the trip computer for the closest match to reality.
Is the fuel cost calculator free?
Completely free, with no account required. Everything computes instantly in your browser as you type, and none of your trip details are uploaded or stored. Use it as often as you like — before every fill-up, road trip or carpool if you want.