Fuel Cost Calculator

About Fuel Cost Calculator

Plan your travel budget accurately with our free fuel cost calculator. Whether you're planning a cross-country road trip, calculating daily commute expenses, comparing vehicle fuel efficiency, or budgeting for business mileage, our tool provides instant, accurate fuel cost estimates. Enter your trip distance, vehicle MPG (or L/100km), and current gas prices to see total fuel costs, gallons needed, and cost per mile. Supports both imperial (miles, gallons, MPG) and metric (kilometers, liters, L/100km) units for international users. Essential for road trippers, commuters, fleet managers, rideshare drivers, and anyone who wants to budget travel expenses accurately.

Key Features

Round Trip Support

Calculate fuel costs for both one-way and round-trip journeys

Multiple Vehicles

Compare fuel costs across different vehicles or fuel efficiency levels

Imperial & Metric

Supports miles/MPG or kilometers/L/100km for global use

Cost Per Mile

Shows fuel cost per mile or kilometer for detailed expense tracking

Fuel Price Database

Optional integration with local fuel price data for accuracy

Hybrid/Electric Options

Calculate costs for hybrid vehicles with combined MPG ratings

Multi-Leg Trips

Break complex trips into segments with different fuel prices

Passenger Split

Divide total cost among multiple passengers for carpooling

Save Trips

Save frequent routes for quick recalculation with updated prices

Export Results

Print or export trip cost summaries for expense reports

How to Use the Fuel Cost Calculator

Enter Distance

Input total trip distance in miles or kilometers (one-way or round-trip)

Input Vehicle MPG

Enter your vehicle's fuel efficiency (MPG or L/100km)

Set Fuel Price

Enter current gas price per gallon or liter in your area

View Cost Breakdown

See total fuel cost, gallons needed, and cost per mile instantly

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my vehicle's MPG?

Check your owner's manual, the sticker on the driver's door jamb, or search your vehicle's make/model/year on fueleconomy.gov. For real-world MPG, calculate it manually: fill up your tank, note the odometer reading, drive normally, fill up again, divide miles driven by gallons added. Highway MPG is typically 20-30% higher than city MPG.

Why does my actual fuel cost differ from the calculator?

Several factors affect real-world fuel consumption: driving style (aggressive acceleration burns more fuel), traffic conditions, terrain (hills reduce MPG), weather (cold weather and AC use increase consumption), tire pressure, and vehicle maintenance. The calculator uses your input MPG - if you're not sure, use a slightly lower number than the EPA estimate for conservative budgeting.

How do I calculate fuel cost for a hybrid vehicle?

For hybrid vehicles, use the combined MPG rating (averaging city and highway) or the specific rating matching your planned driving conditions. Most hybrids achieve better city MPG than highway due to regenerative braking. Check your trip computer for your actual average MPG over recent drives for the most accurate calculation.

Should I use city, highway, or combined MPG?

Use city MPG for urban driving with frequent stops. Use highway MPG for interstate travel at steady speeds. Use combined MPG (usually shown on EPA stickers) for mixed driving. For road trips that are mostly highway with some city driving, highway MPG is most accurate. When unsure, combined MPG provides a reasonable middle ground.

Can I calculate costs in metric units?

Yes! The calculator supports both imperial (miles, gallons, MPG) and metric (kilometers, liters, L/100km) units. Note that L/100km works inversely - lower numbers are better (e.g., 6 L/100km is more efficient than 10 L/100km). The calculator handles conversion automatically.

Is this fuel cost calculator free?

Yes! Our fuel cost calculator is completely free to use with unlimited calculations and no registration required.

Will my trip data be stored or shared?

No. All calculations happen entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your trip details are never sent to our servers, stored in databases, or shared with anyone. Your information remains completely private.

Does it work on mobile devices?

Absolutely! The fuel cost calculator is fully responsive and works perfectly on smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers - perfect for calculating costs on the road.

Common Use Cases

Road Trip Planning: Budget vacation fuel costs for long-distance travel and cross-country trips
Commute Expenses: Calculate monthly fuel costs for daily work commutes and job decisions
Vehicle Comparison: Compare fuel costs between different vehicles before buying or renting
Business Mileage: Track fuel expenses for business travel and mileage reimbursement
Rideshare Drivers: Calculate fuel costs to determine actual earnings from Uber/Lyft driving
Moving Budgets: Estimate fuel costs when moving to a new city or state
Carpool Planning: Split fuel costs fairly among carpooling participants
Fleet Management: Calculate fuel budgets for company vehicle fleets and delivery routes

Why Use Our Fuel Cost Calculator?

Fuel is often the biggest variable expense in travel budgets, yet most people just guess or find out the hard way after spending more than expected. Our free fuel cost calculator eliminates surprises by providing accurate cost estimates before you leave. Whether you're planning a family vacation and need to budget precisely, comparing job offers with different commute distances, deciding between driving and flying, or tracking business mileage for tax purposes, you'll know exactly what to expect. Stop underestimating fuel costs and getting caught without enough budget - input your trip details and get reliable cost projections that help you plan smarter, budget accurately, and make informed travel decisions every time.

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