Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate fuel costs in Australian dollars, consumption in litres per 100 km, and cost per kilometre for any trip
Trip Details
Quick Examples
Enter Your Trip Details
Fill in the distance, fuel efficiency, and fuel price to estimate your trip fuel cost.
Fuel Cost Results
Cost Breakdown
How we calculated this
Total Cost
What if?
Each row recalculates with your current inputs. Tap a row to apply it.
Compare two plans
How Fuel Cost Is Calculated
How It Works
The calculator divides your trip distance by fuel efficiency to determine fuel needed, then multiplies by fuel price per unit. For metric, fuel needed = (distance / 100) * L/100km. For imperial, fuel needed = distance / MPG.
Fuel Saving Tips
Maintain steady speeds, keep tires properly inflated, remove excess weight, use cruise control on highways, and avoid excessive idling. These habits can improve fuel efficiency by 10-20%.
Metric vs Imperial
Metric uses kilometers for distance and liters per 100km (L/100km) for efficiency. Imperial uses miles and miles per gallon (MPG). The calculator handles both systems and converts where needed.
Why you can trust this calculator
Our editorial and methodology standards, at a glance.
Expertise
Our fuel cost calculator uses the standard trip cost formula of distance divided by fuel efficiency multiplied by price per unit, supporting both MPG with gallons and L/100km with liters. Efficiency units convert using the exact fixed ratios, not rounded approximations.
Experience
This tool has been used by millions of drivers budgeting commutes and road trips. We cross-checked the MPG to L/100km conversion against the official conversion factors and validated round-trip and multi-stop totals against worked examples.
Authoritativeness
Fuel efficiency comparisons align with the rating methodology published by the U.S. EPA and Environment and Climate Change Canada, the agencies behind official fuel economy labels, and unit conversions use the exact factors of the international SI system.
Trustworthiness
No trip details are stored or shared. All cost math runs locally in the browser, and the full formula with your inputs is displayed alongside every result for independent verification.
Authoritative sources and references
The official standards, guidelines, and research behind this calculator's methodology.
Fuel Cost Calculator FAQ
How is fuel cost calculated?
Fuel cost = (distance / efficiency) * price. For metric: (distance / 100) * L/100km * price per liter. For imperial: (distance / MPG) * price per gallon.
Why does my actual fuel cost differ from the estimate?
Actual fuel consumption varies with driving style, traffic conditions, weather, vehicle load, and terrain. Use the estimate as a baseline and adjust based on your real-world experience.
How can I reduce my fuel costs?
Drive at moderate speeds, maintain your vehicle regularly, plan routes to avoid traffic, combine errands into one trip, and consider carpooling or public transit for regular commutes.
How do I calculate cost per mile?
Divide fuel price per gallon by your miles per gallon: at $3.50 and 30 MPG the cost is about 11.7 cents per mile, while a 20 MPG vehicle at the same price runs 17.5 cents. Over 12,000 miles a year that difference is $696.
Should I use city or highway MPG for a road trip?
Highway for long freeway trips — EPA-rated highway figures usually match sustained cruising well. For mixed itineraries, take a weighted blend (for example 70% highway / 30% city) or just use the combined rating as a safe middle estimate.
How do I budget fuel for a multi-day road trip?
Split the route into legs, estimate each leg's distance from your mapping app, and sum the leg costs at your expected efficiency and a single conservative fuel price. Adding 10–15% headroom covers detours, idling, and mountain driving where consumption jumps.
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