Fuel Cost Calculator

Enter the values into this fuel cost calculator and click “Calculate” to find how much fuel you will need and how much it will cost for a planned trip.

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Fuel Cost Calculator

This fuel cost calculator is used to estimate the cost of fuel your vehicle consumes to cover a specific distance. Once you know how much the total cost of fuel will be, it helps in budgeting, trip planning, or comparing fuel costs between different vehicles or routes.  

How to Calculate the Fuel Cost of a Vehicle?

To calculate the fuel cost, divide the distance by the fuel efficiency to know the number of gallons of fuel that are consumed. Then, multiply the present fuel price to calculate the total fuel price. Let us represent it mathematically:

Fuel Cost = (Distance / Fuel Efficiency) * Fuel Price

According to an equation:

  • Distance = Total distance covered by the vehicle 
  • Fuel Efficiency = Number of miles covered per gallon of fuel
  • Fuel Price = Cost of one gallon of the fuel

Most typically, the cost of fuel can be calculated using an online fuel cost calculator as it provides quick results. But, somewhere the above formula can also be used where manual calculation is essential.

Example:

Suppose a gasoline vehicle that gets 30 MPG will cost you $860 less to fuel each year than one that gets 20 MPG (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $3.44 per gallon). 

Solution:

Given Values:

  • Annual driven miles = 15,000
  • Fuel cost per gallon = $3.44

Step # 1 - Calculate annual gallons

For 30 MPG vehicle 

Gallonn Used = Distance / MPG 

= 15,000 miles / 30 MPG

= 500 Gallons 

For 20 MPG vehicle 

Gallon Used = Distance (miles)/MPG 

= 15000 miles / 20 MPG 

750 gallons  

Step # 2 - Calculate annual fuel cost

Annual Fuel Price = Cost per gallon * gallon used 

➥ For 30 MPG vehicle 

$3.44/gallon * 500 gallons = $1,720

➥ For 20 MPG vehicle 

$3.44/gallon * 750 gallons = $2,580

Step # 3 - Calculate the annual fuel cost difference

Annual cost difference = Higher cost - Lower cost

= $2,580 - $1,720 

= $860

Step # 4 - Calculate the fuel cost saving over 5 years

Total savings = Annual cost difference * Number of years

= $860/year * 5 years 

= $4,300

The 30 MPG vehicle saves you $860 annually and $4,300 over five years compared to the 20 MPG vehicle, assuming the same driving distance and fuel price.

Ways to Reduce Fuel Costs:

  • Use public transportation

As compared to other passenger vehicles, public transportation is the best way to enhance fuel efficiency. If you take the average fuel efficiency of other vehicles as compared to the public transit options you will see a clear variation of fuel efficiency in buses and trains. 

  • Carpool

Carpooling is the arrangement between two or more people to travel to a shared destination in a single vehicle. Generally, heavy vehicles use more fuel than small cars but it is an efficient method for two people to drive separately. 

  • Use a more fuel-efficient vehicle

Use vehicles with less powerful engines than you need. When the working of a four-cylinder engine is just fine then don't pay for an eight-cylinder engine. A big engine results in more investment than you have invested in the gasoline of a less efficient engine. 

  • Tune the engine

Properly tuned engines can enhance the power and fuel efficiency. So fixing a car out of tune can improve efficiency by an average of 4 percent. 

  • Adjust tires

It is important to make the tires inflated at the right level. This practice helps to reduce the consumption of fuel. In tires, the pressure decreases due to the thermal contraction therefore in every month of winter, tires lose one PSI.

  • Use the correct motor oil

Using the manufacturer's will improve the grades of motor oil. This gas mileage will improve by 1% to 2%.  

  • Plan trips carefully

Driving a shorter distance is considered the most efficient way to save gas and fuel. Hence by using the fuel cost calculator, you can plan your route carefully. At the time of driving, try to park in a central location and save a high level of gas, and pull out in a parking lot. 

FAQs:

Can I use this calculator for other types of vehicles?

Yes, you can use this fuel cost calculator for various vehicle categories as long as you possess distance, fuel efficiency, and fuel prices. 

How much will it cost to drive 200 miles with gas prices at $3.50 per gallon?

Let's assume an average of 25 mpg (miles per gallon). As we know the formula to find the cost of fuel, put the values into the equation:

Cost of Fuel = 200 Miles / 25 mpg x $3.50 per gallon

= $7.14

If Gas Cost $3.50 Per Gallon, How Much Would It Cost to Drive 500 Miles?

Given Values:

  • Distance in miles = 500 miles 
  • Car’s MPG = 25 mpg 
  • Assuming a gas price per gallon = $3.50/gallon

Put these values into the formula and we can get:

Fuel Price = (500 miles) / (25 mpg) * ($3.50/gallon) .

Fuel price = $70

How much will I spend on gas for a 150-mile round trip if my car's fuel efficiency is 32 mpg?

In order to get the total cost of fuel, here we need to find the total distance for a round trip:

Round Trip Distance = Distance one way * 2

= 150 miles * 2

= 300 miles

Enter the values into the formulas to find the cost of fuel:

= (300 miles) / (32 mpg) * ($3.50/gallon)

= $9.38