Gas Cost Calculator
Use this gas cost calculator to turn a distance, your fuel economy and the pump price into an exact dollar figure – whether you are pricing a road trip, a daily commute or a full month of driving.
Your fuel cost
How the gas cost calculator works
The math is simple and runs entirely in your browser. First it works out how much fuel the drive needs by dividing the distance by your miles-per-gallon: a 300-mile trip in a car that returns 28 mpg burns about 10.7 gallons. Then it multiplies those gallons by the price you pay at the pump. At $3.40 a gallon that trip costs roughly $36.43.
The tool also divides the total by the distance to give you a cost per mile – here about 12 cents. Cost per mile is the handiest number to remember, because you can multiply it by any future distance to price a trip in seconds without opening the calculator again.
Enter distance in miles and price per gallon, and the result updates as you type. If you track fuel in liters or kilometres, convert first (1 gallon is about 3.785 liters, 1 mile is about 1.609 km) or divide your total fuel bill by distance for the same cost-per-mile figure.
What drives your fuel cost up or down
Three levers move the number: how far you drive, how efficient the vehicle is, and the price of gas. You control the first two more than you might think. Steady speeds, correct tire pressure, a lighter load and gentle acceleration can lift real-world economy noticeably, and the government fuel-economy ratings at fueleconomy.gov let you compare vehicles before you buy.
Pump prices swing with the seasons and by region. The U.S. Energy Information Administration publishes weekly national and regional averages at eia.gov, which is a good reality check on whether the price you just paid was high or low. Plugging a realistic local price into the calculator gives a far more useful estimate than a stale national figure.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the gas cost of a trip?
Divide the trip distance by your vehicle’s miles per gallon to get the gallons needed, then multiply by the price per gallon. This gas cost calculator does both steps instantly and also shows your cost per mile.
What is a good cost per mile for fuel?
It depends on gas prices and your vehicle, but many gas cars land between 10 and 20 cents per mile. Efficient hybrids can drop below 8 cents, while large trucks and SUVs often run above 20 cents.
Can I use this for a monthly or weekly fuel budget?
Yes. Enter the total distance you drive in a week or month instead of a single trip, and the total fuel cost becomes your fuel budget for that period.
Does it work for round trips?
Enter the full round-trip distance. If you only know the one-way distance, double it before entering, or run the calculator once and multiply the result by two.
How can I lower my fuel cost?
Drive at steady speeds, keep tires properly inflated, remove extra weight, combine errands into one trip, and choose a more efficient vehicle. Even a few extra miles per gallon add up over a year.
Planning a longer drive with stops and lodging? Pair this with the road trip cost calculator for the full picture, or browse all of our everyday calculators.