Fuel Cost Calculator
Enter the trip distance, fuel consumption, and fuel price to estimate the fuel needed and the total fuel cost of a trip.
About This Tool
Whether it is a spontaneous road trip or the daily commute, fuel is one of the biggest parts of the cost of running a car. Estimating fuel costs in advance helps you plan your travel budget and compare driving with public transportation.
The fuel cost logic is simple: fuel needed = distance ÷ 100 × consumption (L/100 km), and fuel cost = fuel needed × fuel price. For example, a 300 km trip with a consumption of 7.5 L/100 km and a fuel price of 7.8 CNY/L needs 22.5 liters of fuel, costing about 175.5 CNY.
For "Fuel Consumption (L/100 km)", it is best to use your car's real-world figures: the average consumption shown on the dashboard, or a value measured with the fill-up method (fuel added ÷ distance driven × 100). Actual consumption fluctuates with road conditions, driving habits, air conditioning use, and more.
Want to budget your monthly commuting fuel cost? Add up your daily round-trip distance and enter it under "Distance (km)"; for the annual cost, simply enter your total distance for the year.
How to Use
- Enter the distance of your trip in kilometers — a navigation app can tell you the mileage.
- Fill in your car's fuel consumption (L/100 km) and the current fuel price (CNY/L).
- Click "Calculate Fuel Cost" to see the estimated fuel needed and cost.
FAQ
Where can I find my car's fuel consumption (L/100 km)?
Most cars display the average consumption on the trip computer. A more accurate way is to record two consecutive fill-ups: fuel added (L) ÷ distance driven between the two fill-ups × 100 gives your real consumption per 100 km.
Where can I check fuel prices?
Prices vary slightly between gas stations. Check the latest local prices through map apps, fuel apps, or the price boards at stations. 92-octane, 95-octane gasoline, and 0# diesel are priced differently, so make sure you pick the right fuel type.
Is fuel consumption the same on the highway and in the city?
No. Stop-and-go city traffic with frequent acceleration and braking typically consumes noticeably more fuel than steady highway driving. If your trip mixes both kinds of roads, estimate with a weighted average consumption.
Why does the actual fuel cost differ from the calculated result?
Real-world consumption fluctuates with driving habits, congestion, air conditioning, load, tire pressure, weather, and more; fuel prices can also differ between stations. This tool provides an estimate based on ideal inputs.
Can electric vehicles use this tool?
The same idea applies: replace "Fuel Consumption (L/100 km)" with energy consumption per 100 km (kWh/100km), and "fuel price" with the price per kWh, to estimate charging costs.