How do I calculate fuel cost for a trip?

Fuel cost = (Distance / 100) x Consumption (L/100km) x Price per liter. A 200 km trip at 8 L/100km and $1.50/L: (200/100) x 8 x 1.50 = $24.00.

Liters per 100 kilometers — the standard fuel consumption measure outside the US. Lower is better. Small car: 5-7 L/100km. SUV: 9-13 L/100km. Truck: 12-18 L/100km.

How do I find my car fuel consumption?

Check your car manual or the sticker inside the fuel door. Or calculate: fill tank, drive until near empty, note km driven and liters to refill. L/100km = (liters / km) x 100.

How much does a 100 km trip cost?

Depends on your car and fuel price. Average car (8 L/100km) at $1.50/L: 8 x $1.50 = $12. Efficient car (5 L/100km): $7.50. SUV (12 L/100km): $18.

How do I convert MPG to L/100km?

L/100km = 235.215 / MPG. A car getting 30 MPG = 235.215/30 = 7.84 L/100km. Higher MPG = lower L/100km.

How do I split fuel cost between passengers?

Total cost divided by number of passengers. Our calculator includes a passenger field that automatically calculates per-person cost for ride sharing.

Is it cheaper to drive or fly?

Generally, driving is cheaper for 2+ passengers under 500 km. Solo travelers: driving is cheaper under 300 km. Beyond 500 km, flights often win on time and sometimes cost.

How do I reduce fuel costs?

Drive 80-100 km/h, maintain tire pressure, remove roof racks, avoid rapid acceleration, use cruise control on highways, plan routes to avoid traffic, and service your car regularly.

Does AC affect fuel consumption?

Yes. AC increases consumption by 5-15%. At city speeds, open windows are more efficient. At highway speeds (over 80 km/h), AC is more efficient than open windows due to drag.

Fuel Cost Calculator - Free Trip Fuel Cost (2026)

Trip Fuel Cost

Based on distance, consumption, and price

Total Cost

$12.00

Fuel Needed

8.0 L

Cost/km

$0.12

Per Person

$12.00

Cost by Distance

Distance	Fuel	Cost	Per Person

// Lifestyle · ShashaTools

Fuel Cost

Trip Distance 100 km

12000

Fuel Consumption 8 L/100km

230

Liters per 100 km. Small car: 5-7. SUV: 9-13. Truck: 12-18.

Fuel Price $1.50

Price per liter at the pump.

Passengers

For ride sharing / cost splitting. Default: 1 (driver only).

// Results

Trip Cost

$12.00

Total Cost

$12.00 total fuel cost

Fuel Needed

8.0 liters

Cost per km

$0.120/km ($0.193/mile)

Per Person

$12.00 per person

Round Trip

$24.00 (16.0 L)

100km trip: $12.00 fuel (8.0L at $1.50/L)

How to Use This Calculator

Calculate fuel cost for any trip

Step 1 Enter Trip

Enter distance

One-way trip distance in km. Use Google Maps for exact distance. The calculator also shows round trip cost.

Set fuel consumption

Your car L/100km rating. Check your manual or fuel door sticker. Small car: 5-7. Sedan: 7-9. SUV: 9-13.

Enter fuel price

Current price per liter at the pump. Check local gas station signs or fuel price apps for today rates.

Add passengers

For ride sharing. Cost per person = total / passengers. Great for planning carpools and splitting gas money.

💡 Formula: Cost = (Distance / 100) × Consumption × Price. 200 km at 8 L/100km at $1.50/L = (200/100) × 8 × 1.50 = $24.

Step 2 Save Money

Drive 80-100 km/h

Most cars are most fuel-efficient at 80-100 km/h. Above 100, consumption rises 15% per 20 km/h due to air resistance.

Maintain tire pressure

Under-inflated tires increase consumption by 3-5%. Check monthly. Proper pressure is on the door jamb sticker, not the tire sidewall.

Carpool when possible

4 passengers = 75% cheaper per person. A $40 trip becomes $10 each. This calculator makes splitting easy.

Plan your route

Avoid traffic (idling burns fuel). Highway is more efficient than stop-and-go city driving. Combine errands into one trip.

💡 Tip: Track your actual consumption over 3-4 fill-ups. Manufacturer ratings are optimistic. Real-world consumption is typically 10-20% higher than the official number.

// Related Calculators

🌍

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Calculate CO2 emissions from driving.

🔄

Unit Converter

Convert km to miles, L to gallons.

💰

Budget Calculator

Plan transportation in your budget.

📆

Days Between Dates

Plan trip timing and duration.

// Complete Guide — Updated 2026

Fuel Cost Calculation:
The Complete Guide

Fuel is one of the largest ongoing vehicle expenses. Knowing exactly what a trip costs helps with budgeting, choosing between driving and alternatives, and finding ways to reduce consumption. This guide covers the fuel cost formula, consumption rates by vehicle type, and money-saving strategies.

The Fuel Cost Formula

// Trip Fuel Cost

Cost = (Distance ÷ 100) × L/100km × Price/L

200 km ÷ 100 × 8 L/100km × $1.50 = $24.00

Consumption by Vehicle Type

Vehicle	L/100km	Cost per 100km at $1.50/L
Small car (Yaris, Swift)	5-7	$7.50-$10.50
Sedan (Corolla, Civic)	7-9	$10.50-$13.50
SUV (RAV4, CR-V)	9-13	$13.50-$19.50
Pickup truck	12-18	$18.00-$27.00
Hybrid	3-5	$4.50-$7.50

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Daily Commute. James drives 30 km each way to work in a sedan (8 L/100km). Daily round trip: 60 km. Fuel: 4.8 L. At $1.50/L: $7.20/day. Monthly (22 days): $158. Yearly: $1,900. Carpooling with 1 colleague: $950 each. Use our Budget Calculator for monthly planning.

Scenario 2: Road Trip. Maria plans a 500 km road trip in her SUV (11 L/100km). Fuel: 55 L. At $1.60/L: $88 one way, $176 round trip. With 3 friends (4 people): $44 per person round trip. Cheaper than 4 bus tickets at $60 each ($240 total).

Scenario 3: Drive vs Fly. David considers driving 800 km (sedan, 8 L/100km) vs flying. Driving: 64 L × $1.50 = $96 + tolls/parking ~$30 = $126. Flight: $180 + $40 airport parking = $220. Driving wins by $94 but takes 8 hours vs 1.5. With 2 passengers: driving = $42/person vs $220/person flying.

Scenario 4: Hybrid Savings. Priya compares her old car (10 L/100km) vs a new hybrid (4 L/100km). Annual driving: 15,000 km. Old: 1,500 L × $1.50 = $2,250/year. Hybrid: 600 L × $1.50 = $900/year. Savings: $1,350/year. Over 5 years: $6,750 in fuel savings alone. Use our Carbon Footprint Calculator for emissions comparison.

💡 Key insight: The single biggest fuel cost factor is not your car or gas price — it is how you drive. Aggressive driving (rapid acceleration, speeding, hard braking) increases consumption by 15-33% vs smooth driving. At 15,000 km/year, that is $300-750 wasted on aggressive habits alone.

Fuel Saving Tips

Drive 80-100 km/h	-15%
Tire pressure	-5%
Smooth driving	-20%
Remove roof rack	-5%
AC off (city)	-10%

// Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Fuel Costs

How do I calculate trip fuel cost? +

(Distance/100) x Consumption x Price. 200 km at 8 L/100km at $1.50/L = 2 x 8 x 1.50 = $24.00.

What is L/100km? +

Liters per 100 km. Standard consumption measure. Lower = better. Small car: 5-7. SUV: 9-13. Truck: 12-18.

How to find my car consumption? +

Check manual or fuel door sticker. Or calculate: fill up, drive, refill, note km and liters. L/100km = (liters/km) x 100.

How much does 100 km cost? +

Average car 8L/100km at $1.50: $12. Efficient 5L: $7.50. SUV 12L: $18. Depends on car and fuel price.

How to convert MPG to L/100km? +

L/100km = 235.215 / MPG. 30 MPG = 7.84 L/100km. Higher MPG = lower L/100km.

Does speed affect fuel cost? +

Yes. Most efficient at 80-100 km/h. Above 100: +15% consumption per 20 km/h increase due to air resistance.

How to split fuel between passengers? +

Total cost / passengers. Our calculator has a passenger field for automatic per-person splitting.

Drive or fly? +

Driving cheaper for 2+ passengers under 500 km. Solo: cheaper under 300 km. Beyond 500 km, flying often wins on time.

How to reduce fuel costs? +

Drive 80-100 km/h, tire pressure, smooth driving, remove roof rack, avoid traffic, service regularly. Saves 15-30%.

Does AC affect consumption? +

Yes, +5-15%. City: windows better. Highway (80+ km/h): AC better (open windows create drag).

Fuel CostCalculator

Fuel Cost Calculation:The Complete Guide

The Fuel Cost Formula

Consumption by Vehicle Type

Real-World Scenarios

Fuel Cost
Calculator

Fuel Cost Calculation:
The Complete Guide