Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate how much fuel a journey will use and what the total trip will cost.
Your journey cost
Enter your journey details to see the result.
ESTIMATED JOURNEY COST
This is an estimate. Real fuel use can vary because of traffic, driving style, weather, vehicle load and road conditions.
How the fuel cost calculator works
Enter the journey distance, your vehicle’s fuel economy and the current price of fuel. Select return journey if you are travelling both ways. The calculator will estimate the fuel required and the total journey cost.
Enter the distance
Use miles or kilometres. Enter the one-way distance and select the return journey option if you are travelling back again.
Add your fuel economy
Enter UK MPG, US MPG or litres per 100 km. Check which measurement your vehicle display or handbook uses.
Enter the fuel price
Enter the price for one litre in pounds. For example, petrol costing 145 pence per litre should be entered as £1.45.
Why your real fuel cost may be different
The calculator uses the figures you provide, but actual fuel consumption changes from journey to journey.
Traffic and short journeys
Stop-start traffic, cold engines and repeated short journeys often use more fuel than steady motorway driving.
Driving speed
Higher speeds increase aerodynamic drag. A vehicle may use considerably more fuel at 70 mph than at 55 or 60 mph.
Vehicle weight
Passengers, luggage, roof boxes and towing add weight or drag and can reduce fuel economy.
Tyres and maintenance
Low tyre pressure, wheel-alignment problems, worn components and poor servicing can increase fuel consumption.
Weather conditions
Cold weather, strong winds, rain and snow may all increase the amount of fuel needed for a journey.
Dashboard MPG
Vehicle computers provide useful estimates, but they may differ slightly from fuel economy calculated using actual fuel receipts.
Fuel cost calculator FAQs
Does this work with UK MPG and litres per 100 km?
Yes. Choose UK MPG, US MPG or litres per 100 km from the fuel economy menu. UK and US gallons are different sizes, so selecting the correct MPG option is important.
Does the return journey option double the distance?
Yes. Enter the one-way distance and select return journey. The calculator will double the distance before calculating the fuel use and total cost.
Are the results exact?
No. The result is an estimate based on the distance, fuel economy and fuel price entered. Traffic, driving style, weather and vehicle condition can change the actual cost.
Should I enter fuel prices in pounds or pence?
Enter the price in pounds per litre. For example, if the filling station displays 145.9 pence per litre, enter 1.459.
Can I use my dashboard MPG figure?
Yes. Your dashboard average MPG is usually a reasonable figure to use. A long-term average is normally more realistic than the MPG shown for one unusually efficient journey.
Why is my motorway MPG different from my town MPG?
Town driving involves more braking, acceleration and idling. Motorway driving is usually steadier, although very high motorway speeds can also increase fuel use.
How do I split the fuel cost between passengers?
Calculate the total fuel cost, then divide it by the number of people sharing the expense. Remember that this only covers fuel and does not include parking, tolls or vehicle wear.
Does the calculator include tolls or parking?
No. The result only estimates fuel costs. Tolls, parking, ferries, congestion charges and other journey expenses should be added separately.
Can I use this for an electric car?
No. Electric vehicles use electricity measured in kilowatt-hours rather than petrol or diesel measured in litres. A separate EV charging cost calculator is needed.
How can I calculate my real MPG?
Fill the tank, reset the trip meter, drive normally, then refill the tank. Use the distance travelled and the amount of fuel added to work out your actual fuel economy.
Important
This calculator provides an estimate only. Fuel economy figures supplied by a manufacturer or vehicle computer may not match real-world driving.
The result includes fuel costs only. It does not include road tolls, parking, ferries, depreciation, servicing, tyres, insurance or other motoring costs.