Calculate trip fuel costs based on distance, efficiency and fuel price. Split between passengers.
What Is Fuel Cost Calculator?
A fuel cost calculator estimates how much you will spend on petrol or diesel for a journey based on the distance, your vehicle's fuel efficiency (miles per gallon or litres per 100km) and the current fuel price. It is useful for budgeting road trips, comparing driving costs against train or bus fares, and understanding the real cost of commuting.
Fuel prices fluctuate frequently, and many drivers underestimate how much they spend on fuel annually. A 30-mile round commute at average fuel efficiency and current UK prices costs roughly £2,500–£3,000 per year — a figure that often surprises people when they see it calculated explicitly.
How to Use This Tool
Enter the distance of your journey in miles or kilometres.
Enter your vehicle's fuel efficiency (mpg or litres/100km — check your handbook or dashboard display).
Enter the current fuel price per litre.
View the total fuel cost, litres used and cost per mile.
For commute costs, multiply the one-way result by the number of working days per year.
Tips & Best Practices
Real-world fuel efficiency is typically 10–20% lower than the manufacturer's official figures.
Motorway driving at 70mph uses about 15% more fuel than driving at 60mph due to increased air resistance.
Keeping tyres at the correct pressure improves fuel efficiency by up to 3%.
Compare the per-mile cost of driving against rail fares for long journeys — trains are often cheaper for solo travellers.
Common Use Cases
Budgeting for a road trip by calculating total fuel costs in advance.
Comparing the daily cost of commuting by car versus public transport.
Estimating annual fuel expenses for tax deductions or expense claims.
Comparing fuel costs between vehicles when deciding on a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it support both mpg and L/100km?
Yes. Switch between miles per gallon (UK) and litres per 100km. Also supports miles and kilometres.