Fuel Cost Calculator

Calculate exact trip fuel costs, fuel consumption in gallons or liters, cost-per-mile, and estimate annual commuting fuel expenses with live vehicle comparison bars.

Trip & Fuel Parameters

Live calculation
miles
MPG
$/gal
e.g. 10 roundtrips
e.g. 50 working wks
Trip Fuel Cost
$42.00for 300 miles
Fuel Consumption12.0 gallons

Cost per Mile

$0.140

Weekly Commute

$420.00

Annual Expense

$21,000.00

Trip Cost Comparison by Vehicle Class

Compare your trip expense with common vehicle efficiency benchmarks

Hybrid (50 MPG)$21.00 (6.0 gal)
Compact Car (35 MPG)$30.00 (8.6 gal)
Midsize Sedan (28 MPG)$37.50 (10.7 gal)
Crossover SUV (24 MPG)$43.75 (12.5 gal)
Full-Size Truck (18 MPG)$58.33 (16.7 gal)

Driving a 50 MPG hybrid instead of an 18 MPG truck saves $37.33 on this trip alone.

Over a year of commuting (10 trips/wk), that efficiency difference equates to over $18,666.67 in annual gas savings.

How Is Trip and Commuting Fuel Cost Calculated?

Trip fuel expenses depend directly upon three mathematical variables: total travel distance, your vehicle's real-world fuel economy (MPG or L/100km), and the local unit fuel price ($/gallon or $/liter).

1. US Imperial Fuel Expense Formulas
Gallons Consumed
Gallons =
Distance (miles)Fuel Economy (MPG)
Cost Per Mile
Cost/Mile =
Gas Price ($/gal)Fuel Economy (MPG)
2. Metric Fuel Consumption Formula
Liters Consumed=
Distance (km) × L/100km100
Step-by-Step Calculation Breakdown
Step 1: Determine Fuel Volume Consumed (300 Miles @ 25 MPG)
Fuel Consumed=
300 miles25 MPG
=12.00 gallons
Step 2: Calculate Trip Total Fuel Cost ($3.50 / Gallon)
Trip Cost=12.00 gallons × $3.50/gal=$42.00
Step 3: Calculate Cost Per Mile & Annualized Commute (10 trips/wk × 50 wks)
• Cost per Mile = $42.00 ÷ 300 miles = $0.140 / mile
• Weekly Commute (10 trips) = $42.00 × 10 = $420.00 / week
• Annual Commute (50 weeks) = $420.00 × 50 = $21,000 / year

Vehicle Class Annual Fuel Expense Comparison (15,000 Miles/Year @ $3.50/gal)

Vehicle CategoryAvg Combined MPGGallons / YearAnnual Fuel Cost5-Year Fuel Expenditure
Hybrid Electric (e.g. Prius, Camry Hybrid)52 MPG288 gal$1,010$5,050 (Lowest gasoline cost)
Compact Sedan (e.g. Civic, Corolla)35 MPG429 gal$1,500$7,500
Mid-Size Crossover SUV (e.g. RAV4, CR-V)28 MPG536 gal$1,875$9,375
Full-Size Pickup / 3-Row SUV (e.g. F-150, Tahoe)18 MPG833 gal$2,917$14,585 (+$9,535 vs Hybrid)

Highway Speed vs. Aerodynamic Drag & Fuel Consumption

Cruising SpeedRelative EfficiencyFuel Penalty / Cost Impact
55 mph (88 km/h)100% (Optimal)Peak aerodynamic efficiency for most internal combustion gearings.
65 mph (105 km/h)~92% (-8%)Costs approx. $0.28 more per gallon equivalent.
75 mph (120 km/h)~82% (-18%)Drag quadruples with velocity squared; significant penalty.
80 mph (130 km/h)~72% (-28%)Consumes ~28% more fuel than driving at 55 mph.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate fuel cost for a trip?
Divide the total trip distance by your vehicle's MPG, then multiply by the fuel price per gallon. For example, a 300-mile trip in a car that gets 25 MPG with gas at $3.50/gallon costs: (300 ÷ 25) × $3.50 = $42.00 in fuel.
What's the difference between MPG and L/100km?
MPG (miles per gallon) measures distance per volume (higher is better). L/100km (liters per 100 km) measures volume consumed per distance (lower is better).
How can I reduce fuel consumption on a road trip?
Maintaining proper tire pressure, using cruise control on flat highways, driving at 65 mph instead of 75+ mph (which can reduce highway fuel consumption by 15%), and avoiding sudden accelerations.

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