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Fuel Cost Calculator Guide
Planning a road trip or comparing commutes? This calculator estimates the fuel cost of any trip from the distance, your vehicle's fuel efficiency, and the price of fuel — in either US or metric units.
Fuel needed = distance ÷ efficiency; cost = fuel needed × price. For MPG: gallons = miles ÷ MPG. For metric: litres = km ÷ 100 × (L/100km).
How Do I Calculate Fuel Cost?
Divide the trip distance by your fuel efficiency to find how much fuel you'll use, then multiply by the price per gallon or litre. Mixing units (say, MPG with a per-litre price) is handled automatically.
Worked Example
A 300-mile trip at 30 MPG with fuel at $3.50/gallon: gallons = 300 ÷ 30 = 10; cost = 10 × $3.50 = $35.00, or about $0.12 per mile.
Tips to Lower Fuel Cost
- Keep tires properly inflated — under-inflation can cut fuel economy noticeably.
- Ease off aggressive acceleration and hard braking, which waste fuel.
- Remove excess weight and roof racks to reduce load and drag.
- Combine errands so the engine runs warm and efficient.
Check your real economy with the Gas Mileage Calculator, and budget the purchase with the Car Payment Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate the fuel cost of a trip?
Divide the distance by your fuel efficiency to get the fuel used, then multiply by the price per gallon or litre.
How much does a 300-mile trip cost in fuel?
About $35 in a car doing 30 MPG with fuel at $3.50 a gallon.
How do I work out cost per mile?
Divide the total fuel cost by the number of miles driven — roughly $0.12 per mile in the example above.
Can I mix MPG and price per litre?
Yes — this calculator converts between gallons and litres automatically, so any combination of units works.
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