What this tool does
Estimates trip distance in kilometers, fuel volume in liters, total fuel cost and cost per kilometer across metric, US and UK units.
How to use it
- Enter one-way distance and choose km or miles.
- Enter fuel efficiency in km/L, L/100 km, US MPG or UK MPG and a compatible price unit.
- Choose round trip if needed, calculate, and compare with real route and pump conditions.
Method
Inputs are normalized to kilometers, liters and price per liter. Fuel = kilometers÷km-per-liter; cost = liters×price-per-liter; cost per km = cost÷kilometers. Miles use 1.609344 km; US and imperial gallons use different liter factors. Round trip doubles distance before fuel is calculated.
Worked example
A 420 km trip at 12 km/L needs 35 L. At 6 currency units per liter it costs 210. A 100-mile trip at 25 US MPG and 4 per US gallon costs about 16.
Common uses
- Trip budget planning
- Comparing two vehicle efficiencies
- Estimating one-way versus return travel
Limitations
This is a fuel-only estimate. Traffic, idling, weather, load, terrain, detours and driving style change consumption. It excludes tolls, parking, charging, maintenance and currency conversion. Match MPG and gallon price to the same US or UK convention; use your vehicle’s observed efficiency for a better estimate.
FAQ
Are US and UK MPG the same?
No. An imperial gallon is larger, so select the efficiency and price units that match the source.
Does round trip double every cost?
It doubles modeled distance, fuel and total fuel cost while cost per kilometer stays the same.