How do I work out fuel cost for a trip?

Fuel used = distance × consumption. Cost = fuel used × price per litre or gallon.

What fuel economy should I use?

Use the real-world figure from your dashboard, not the brochure figure. Motorways at high speed use more fuel.

Does this include tolls and parking?

No. Add them separately before splitting the cost.

Road Trip Fuel Cost Calculator

Enter the distance, your car's fuel economy and the fuel price to see the litres needed and the total cost, then split it fairly between everyone in the car.

Trip Details

Distance (km)

Efficiency (L/100km)

Fuel price (per litre)

Passengers sharing

Round trip (double the distance)

Work out how much fuel a road trip costs and split the total fairly between passengers, in litres-per-100km or miles-per-gallon.

Formula

Metric: fuel (L) = distance (km) × L/100km ÷ 100. Imperial: fuel (gal) = miles ÷ MPG. Cost = fuel × price, split by passengers.

Reference Values

•Average car: 6–8 L/100km
•Average US car: 25–30 MPG
•Diesel typically 15–20% more efficient

FAQ

Common questions about Road Trip Fuel Cost Calculator

How we calculate this

We use the standard published formula for this calculation, and we show the working so you can check it.

Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll check it within a few days. See how we check our calculators.