Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate exactly how much any trip, commute, or annual drive costs in fuel. Compare gas vs electric. Supports MPG, L/100km, and km/L.
Fuel Cost Calculator
Trip · Annual · Gas vs EV
Total Fuel Cost
$35.00
10.00 gal
Fuel Used
88.9 kg
CO₂
FUEL ECONOMY REFERENCE
Typical MPG by Vehicle Type
EPA combined MPG estimates for common vehicle categories. Actual MPG varies by driving conditions.
| Vehicle Type | Combined MPG | L/100km | Annual Gas Cost* | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Car | 30-38 MPG | 6.2-7.8 | $1,243-$1,575 | Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla |
| Mid-size Sedan | 26-32 MPG | 7.4-9.0 | $1,477-$1,817 | Toyota Camry, Honda Accord |
| Small SUV | 26-34 MPG | 6.9-9.0 | $1,390-$1,817 | RAV4, CR-V, Tiguan |
| Mid-size SUV | 20-26 MPG | 9.0-11.8 | $1,817-$2,363 | Explorer, Grand Cherokee |
| Full-size Pickup | 16-22 MPG | 10.7-14.7 | $2,148-$2,953 | F-150, Ram 1500, Silverado |
| Minivan | 20-26 MPG | 9.0-11.8 | $1,817-$2,363 | Honda Odyssey, Pacifica |
| Hybrid Sedan | 40-58 MPG | 4.1-5.9 | $815-$1,181 | Toyota Prius, Honda Insight |
| Hybrid SUV | 35-42 MPG | 5.6-6.7 | $1,125-$1,350 | RAV4 Hybrid, Escape Hybrid |
| Electric Vehicle | 100-130 MPGe | — | $488-$660 | Tesla Model 3, Chevy Bolt |
*Based on 13,500 miles/year at $3.50/gallon. EV based on 4 mi/kWh at $0.17/kWh.
⛽ Average US Driver Spends ~$1,700-$2,600/Year on Gas
At $3.50/gallon, driving 13,500 miles/year with a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $1,688/year. A pickup truck owner at 18 MPG pays about $2,625/year — nearly $1,000 more for the same mileage. Switching to a hybrid or EV can cut fuel costs by 40-50%. Use the Annual tab above to see exactly what your specific vehicle and commute costs.
💡 Top Fuel-Saving Tips
- Speed is the #1 factor: each 5 mph over 60 mph costs roughly 7-14% more fuel — at 75 vs 65 mph a 30 MPG car effectively drops to about 26 MPG, spending 15% more on highway trips.
- Tire pressure: tires lose about 1 PSI per month and 1 PSI per 10°F temperature drop. Under-inflated tires reduce MPG by up to 3%.
- Remove weight: every 100 lbs of extra cargo reduces MPG by roughly 1-2%.
🔋 Gas vs EV Cost Reality
At $3.50/gal, 28 MPG works out to about $0.125/mile. At $0.17/kWh, an EV getting 4 mi/kWh costs about $0.043/mile — roughly 65% less per mile. Over 13,500 miles a year that's typically $1,100-$1,600 in fuel savings. EV purchase prices usually run $5,000-$15,000 higher than a comparable gas car, so the real fuel-cost payback period is often 4-10 years — use the Gas vs EV tab above for your own numbers.
How to Calculate Fuel Cost — All Formulas
Every mode on this calculator reduces to the same idea: figure out how much fuel a distance requires, then multiply by the price of that fuel. The formulas below show exactly how.
Core Formulas
Metric (L/100km): Liters = Distance(km) × L/100km ÷ 100 · Cost = Liters × Price per Liter
Round-trip: multiply one-way cost × 2
Example: 300 mi, 28 MPG, $3.50/gal → Gallons = 300 ÷ 28 = 10.71 gal, Cost = 10.71 × $3.50 = $37.50 one-way, Round trip = $75.00
Unit Conversions
L/100km to km/L: km/L = 100 ÷ L/100km
Examples: 28 MPG = 8.40 L/100km ≈ 11.9 km/L · 7 L/100km ≈ 33.6 MPG ≈ 14.3 km/L
CO₂ Emissions
Example: 28 MPG, 13,500 mi/yr → Gallons/yr = 482, CO₂/yr = 482 × 8.887 ≈ 4,284 kg ≈ 4.3 metric tons
EV (US grid average): ≈ 386 g CO₂/kWh — varies widely by region and grid mix
— FAQ