Everything is worked out in your browser and saved only on this device. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
About the fuel cost calculator
Planning a road trip, a holiday drive or the daily commute? This calculator tells you how much fuel the drive needs and what it will cost — and, when friends share the ride, how much each person pays.
Enter the distance in miles or kilometres, your car's fuel economy (mpg, L/100 km or km/L) and the fuel price per gallon or litre. Tick Round trip to double the distance.
How to use it
- Type the distance and choose miles or kilometres
- Tick Round trip if you drive there and back
- Enter your car's fuel economy and pick the unit
- Enter the fuel price and whether it is per gallon or per litre
- Type how many people split the cost
How the cost is worked out
Fuel needed = distance ÷ fuel economy (for mpg), or distance × L/100 km ÷ 100.
Cost = fuel needed × price.
300 miles in a car that does 28 mpg needs 300 ÷ 28 = 10.7 gallons. At $3.50 a gallon that is $37.50 — or $9.38 each for four people.
Fuel cost by distance
At $3.50 a gallon:
| Distance | 25 mpg | 30 mpg | 35 mpg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 miles | $14.00 | $11.67 | $10.00 |
| 250 miles | $35.00 | $29.17 | $25.00 |
| 500 miles | $70.00 | $58.33 | $50.00 |
| 1,000 miles | $140.00 | $116.67 | $100.00 |
Where to find your fuel economy
- The car's trip computer — usually shows the average mpg or L/100 km.
- The official rating for your model (the "highway" figure suits long trips).
- Measure it: fill the tank, reset the trip meter, drive, fill up again. Distance ÷ fuel added = your real fuel economy.
Highway driving at steady speed usually uses less fuel than town driving; a full car, roof boxes and air conditioning use more.
Tips to spend less on fuel
- Drive steadily — smooth acceleration and braking save up to 20%.
- Slow down a little on the highway: fuel use rises fast above about 60 mph (100 km/h).
- Check tyre pressure — soft tyres waste fuel.
- Fill up before the highway — motorway and airport stations are often dearer.
- Share the ride and split the cost with the tool above.
Frequently asked questions
How much gas will my trip take?
Divide the distance by your car's mpg. A 450-mile trip at 30 mpg needs 15 gallons. The calculator does it in any unit.
How do I split gas money with friends?
Enter the number of people in Split between (people). Many groups also share tolls and parking — add those to the total and divide the same way.
Should I count the round trip?
If you drive back too, yes — tick Round trip and the distance is doubled.
Does it work with litres and kilometres?
Yes. Choose kilometres, L/100 km or km/L, and a price per litre. You can even mix them: miles with a price per litre works too.
What about electric cars?
This calculator is for petrol and diesel. For an electric car, the cost is the kWh used (distance × kWh per mile) × the price per kWh.
Good to know
- Works with any currency — choose it at the top
- Your last trip is saved in this browser
- Nothing you type is sent anywhere
Related tools
- Fuel Economy Converter — mpg, L/100 km and km/L
- Expense Splitter — share all the trip costs fairly
- Packing List Maker — what to bring
- Trip Itinerary Maker — plan the days
- Miles to km — distance conversion
