Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate the fuel needed and total cost of a trip from distance, fuel economy, and price per gallon.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the one-way or round-trip distance in miles.
- Enter your vehicle's MPG (check your dashboard average or the EPA rating).
- Enter the current fuel price per gallon.
The formula
Fuel = Distance ÷ MPG Cost = Fuel × Price per gallon- Distance
- Total miles driven
- MPG
- Miles per gallon your vehicle achieves
How it works
Dividing distance by fuel economy gives gallons consumed; multiplying by price gives cost.
Real-world MPG varies with speed, terrain, load, and temperature — using your own measured average beats the sticker rating.
Worked example
A 350-mile trip in a car rated 32 MPG with fuel at $3.60/gallon.
- 1350 ÷ 32 = 10.94 gallons
- 210.94 × 3.60 = 39.38
About 10.9 gallons and $39.38 for the trip.
When this calculator is useful
- Road trip budgeting
- Commute cost estimates
- Comparing vehicles
- Splitting costs on shared drives
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my real MPG?
Fill the tank, reset the trip odometer, drive, then refill: MPG = miles driven ÷ gallons to refill.
Can I use kilometers and litres?
This version uses US units. Convert first: 100 km ≈ 62.14 miles; 1 US gallon ≈ 3.785 litres.