Gas / Fuel Cost Calculator
Trip cost = distance ÷ MPG (or L/100km) × fuel price. Supports US gallons, UK gallons, litres. Multi-leg trips, EV comparison. Free.
Gas / Fuel Cost Calculator
Compute trip fuel cost from distance, fuel economy (MPG or L/100km), and fuel price. Supports US gallons, UK gallons, litres. Shows one-way + round-trip cost, per-mile cost, per-person cost (for shared trips), plus EV-equivalent for comparison.
How to Use the Fuel Cost Calculator
Enter trip distance
Use Google Maps for accurate one-way distance. Toggle between miles (US default) and km (EU/Asia default).
Set vehicle fuel economy
From your car's specs or recent fuel logs. Toggle between MPG (US/UK) and L/100km (EU/Asia). The tool normalises internally so any unit combination produces correct cost.
Enter current fuel price
From GasBuddy, AAA, or your most recent receipt. US averages USD 3.20-4.20/gallon depending on state; EU typically EUR 1.50-2.00/litre (USD 1.65-2.20). Toggle USD-per-gallon vs USD-per-litre as appropriate.
Compare to EV equivalent
The EV equivalent assumes 30 kWh per 100 miles (typical for Tesla Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E) at USD 0.16 per kWh (US residential average). For longer trips, EV typically saves 60-80% on fuel cost — useful for the EV-vs-gas decision.
Fuel Cost Math — Distance, MPG, and the EV Comparison
The Universal Formula
Fuel cost is one of the simplest financial calculations in personal travel: distance × (fuel price ÷ fuel economy). A 300-mile trip at 28 MPG on USD 3.45/gallon gasoline costs 300 ÷ 28 × USD 3.45 = USD 36.96 one-way. Round trip: USD 73.93. The math is universal across regions — only the units differ. The US uses miles + US gallons; UK uses miles + UK gallons (1.20 US gal); EU + Asia uses kilometers + litres or L/100km. The conversion math: 1 mile = 1.609 km; 1 US gal = 3.785 L; MPG (US) ÷ L/100km mapping uses 235.214 ÷ MPG = L/100km.
The single most useful number for cross-vehicle comparison is MPG (US) — every US car is rated by the EPA on a standardised testing cycle (city, highway, combined). The 2026 EPA fleet average for new US light-duty vehicles is roughly 28 MPG combined, up from 22 MPG in 2010 thanks to CAFE standards and the rise of hybrids. Pickup trucks and large SUVs run 18-25 MPG; sedans 28-35; hybrids 45-55; plug-in hybrids 40-50 hybrid + ~100 MPGe electric-only. Pure EVs are rated in MPGe (Miles Per Gallon equivalent) which is ~100-130 for typical sedans.
Gas Prices Across US Markets
US gasoline prices vary by 60-80 cents per gallon across states. AAA's monthly Gas Prices Report tracks this in real time. California consistently leads at USD 4.20-5.50/gallon driven by state taxes (USD 0.51/gal state) + reformulated-gasoline blending requirements. Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana typically lead the cheap end at USD 2.80-3.40 driven by refinery proximity. The federal gas tax is USD 0.184/gallon; state taxes range from USD 0.09 (Alaska) to USD 0.668 (Pennsylvania). For multi-state road trips, fuel-up strategies matter — apps like GasBuddy show real-time prices and routing for cost optimisation.
European gas prices are 2-3× US prices due to fuel taxation. EU averages: France EUR 1.85/L (USD 8/gal equivalent), Germany EUR 1.80/L, UK GBP 1.45/L (USD 7/gal). High EU fuel prices are the structural reason European drivers adopted high-efficiency diesel and hybrid vehicles earlier than US drivers — the marginal economics tilt sharply toward fuel-efficient options when fuel costs 2-3× more.
"A 600-mile round trip (LA to Las Vegas) at 28 MPG and USD 3.45/gal costs USD 74. The same trip in an EV at 30 kWh/100mi and USD 0.16/kWh costs USD 29 — 60% savings, with no oil-change or transmission-service expenses along the way."
The EV vs Gas Total-Cost-of-Ownership Math
For fuel cost alone, EVs typically beat gas by 50-70% per mile in the US (USD 0.04-0.06/mile EV vs USD 0.10-0.15/mile gas). The total ownership cost analysis from AAA's 2024 study and Consumer Reports' 2023 EV TCO report shows EVs come out ahead on 5-year operating costs by USD 6,000-10,000 vs equivalent ICE vehicles — mostly from fuel savings, partly from reduced maintenance (no oil changes, no transmission service, regenerative braking extends brake life). The upfront purchase premium for EVs is shrinking (USD 3-5K vs USD 8-12K in 2020) and federal + state tax credits frequently bring net EV price below ICE equivalent. For high-mileage drivers (15,000+ miles/year), EV economics are decisively favourable; for low-mileage drivers (under 8,000 miles/year), the upfront premium may still tilt toward ICE.
10 Facts About Fuel Cost
Fuel cost formula: distance × (fuel price ÷ fuel economy). Universal across regions.
US 2026 EPA fleet-average combined MPG is 28 (up from 22 in 2010 due to CAFE standards).
Federal gas tax: USD 0.184/gallon (unchanged since 1993). State taxes range USD 0.09 (Alaska) to 0.668 (Pennsylvania).
California gas consistently 50-100 cents/gal above national average due to state taxes + reformulated blending requirements.
European gas prices are 2-3× US prices due to fuel taxation. Drives EU's earlier adoption of efficient + hybrid vehicles.
Typical US EV cost-per-mile: USD 0.04-0.06 (vs USD 0.10-0.15 for ICE at current gas prices).
AAA's annual study shows EVs save USD 6,000-10,000 over 5 years vs equivalent ICE vehicles.
GasBuddy is the dominant US gas-price-tracking app — tracks real-time prices across 150,000+ US stations.
MPG conversion: 235.214 ÷ MPG (US) = L/100km. So 28 MPG = 8.4 L/100km.
Diesel typically gets 20-30% better MPG than gasoline per gallon but is more expensive — net cost-per-mile is similar.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Distance × (fuel price ÷ fuel economy). For 300 miles at 28 MPG on USD 3.45/gal: 300 ÷ 28 = 10.7 gallons; 10.7 × USD 3.45 = USD 37 one-way. For L/100km vehicles, convert first: 235.214 ÷ L/100km = equivalent MPG. The tool handles all unit conversions automatically.
- 1 UK (imperial) gallon = 1.20095 US gallons = 4.546 litres. So a UK car rated at 40 MPG (UK) is actually 33.3 MPG (US) — they look similar but use different gallon definitions. The tool's "MPG (UK)" option handles this conversion automatically. Most modern UK cars are rated in L/100km or km/L due to EU regulations, with MPG (UK) shown as a secondary metric.
- Inversely. L/100km measures consumption (lower is better); MPG measures distance per fuel (higher is better). Conversion: 235.214 ÷ L/100km = MPG (US). So 8 L/100km = 29.4 MPG. EU cars typically rate 5-8 L/100km (29-47 MPG); US trucks 12-15 L/100km (16-20 MPG). The US-EU view-of-efficiency uses opposite scales but the underlying physics is the same.
- GasBuddy is the US standard — 150,000+ tracked stations, real-time updates from user-reported prices. AAA's Gas Prices Report publishes weekly state-level averages. Google Maps now shows gas prices for stations along your route. For accurate trip cost estimates, use the average price at stations you plan to fill up at — typically 10-30 cents below the state average if you choose Costco / Sam's Club / wholesale stations vs branded retail.
- Yes. EPA estimates each 100 lbs of extra weight reduces fuel economy by 1-2% for typical sedans. A 4-passenger family + luggage adds 600-800 lbs of weight — typically a 5-10% MPG hit vs solo driving. Roof racks, cargo carriers, and bike racks add aerodynamic drag worth another 5-15% MPG penalty at highway speed. For accurate trip planning, use 90% of EPA combined MPG for loaded family trips.
- Reasonably accurate for mid-size EVs charging at home. The tool uses 30 kWh per 100 miles (typical for Tesla Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5) and USD 0.16/kWh (US residential electricity average per EIA). Highway driving consumes 35-40 kWh per 100 miles; city driving 25-30. Public DC fast-charging costs 2-3× home electricity (USD 0.35-0.50/kWh) — making long road trips with public charging meaningfully more expensive than home charging. For accurate-to-your-car analysis, use the EPA MPGe rating and your actual electricity rate.
- Significantly. EPA data shows aggressive driving (rapid acceleration, hard braking, speeds 75+ mph) reduces highway MPG by 15-30% vs smooth driving at 65 mph. Each 5 mph above 50 mph costs roughly 6-10% MPG. Cold-weather operation (below 20°F / -7°C) also costs 10-15% MPG due to engine warm-up cycles and battery effects. For most drivers, smoothing out acceleration alone improves MPG 10-15% — worth USD 200-400/year for a typical 12,000-mile annual driver.
- Hybrids (Toyota Prius, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid) are rated as a single MPG number (45-55 typical) reflecting the integrated gas-electric powertrain. Plug-in hybrids (Toyota Prius Prime, Hyundai Tucson PHEV) have two ratings: a "hybrid" MPG (40-50) for gas-only operation, and an "MPGe" (40-100) for plug-in electric-only mode. For trip planning, use the hybrid MPG number for long road trips (where battery is depleted) and the MPGe for daily commutes (often fully electric). The fuel cost math is the same; the EV-comparison-cost row in this tool is most informative for plug-in or full-EV drivers.
- US has structurally cheap gas (USD 3.50-4.50/gal) due to lower taxation and domestic refining capacity. Singapore: SGD 2.80-3.20/L (USD 7.85-9/gal equivalent) due to high taxation. Malaysia: MYR 2.05/L for RON95 (subsidised) or MYR 3.50/L for RON97 (USD 1.85-3.15/gal) — among the world's cheapest. Indonesia: IDR 10,000/L (USD 0.85/L = USD 3.20/gal) similarly subsidised. Philippines: PHP 60-70/L (USD 1.05-1.20/L = USD 4-4.50/gal). The pattern: US subsidises gas via low taxes; SG/EU heavily tax it; MY/ID/VN subsidise the consumer end via state-owned oil companies.
- US gas is structurally cheaper than Singapore + Philippines but more expensive than Malaysia + Indonesia (subsidised). Major US road-trip distances are also much longer — LA to Las Vegas is 270 miles each way (430 km), more than most ASEAN inter-city drives. Use the tool's per-person split feature for group road trips. EV-vs-gas economics tilt favourably for EVs in California / Oregon / Washington due to lower electricity prices + state EV incentives; less favourably in Texas / Midwest where gas is cheap and electricity is grid-coal-heavy. Many ASEAN expats settling in Sun Belt states drive 18,000-25,000 miles/year (vs 8,000-12,000 in their home country) due to longer commutes and weekend road trips.
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