Fuel Cost Calculator — Trip Cost, Gallons & Cost per Mile
Estimate fuel cost for a trip or multiple trips using distance, vehicle MPG, and the price per gallon. See gallons needed, cost per trip, cost per mile, and total cost for repeated trips.
Trip Details
Estimate fuel cost from distance, MPG, and gas price.
Fuel Cost
Gallons needed and total cost.
Trip Cost
$37.50
10.71 gallons · $0.13/mile
Methodology and limitations
Last reviewed:
Methodology
Gallons = distance ÷ MPG; cost = gallons × price per gallon.
Limitations
Real-world MPG varies. Excludes tolls, parking, and non-fuel trip costs.
How Fuel Trip Cost Is Calculated
Estimate fuel cost for a trip or multiple trips using distance, vehicle MPG, and the price per gallon. See gallons needed, cost per trip, cost per mile, and total cost for repeated trips.
Method used
The calculator divides trip distance by vehicle fuel economy (MPG) to get gallons needed, then multiplies by price per gallon for total fuel cost.
Gallons = distance ÷ MPG; cost = gallons × price per gallon
Practical example
A 300-mile trip in a car averaging 28 MPG at $3.75 per gallon uses about 10.7 gallons and costs roughly $40.18 in fuel.
- Trip distance in miles
- Vehicle MPG
- Fuel price per gallon
The result shows gallons needed, total fuel cost, and cost per mile.
Assumptions
- MPG is the average fuel economy for the trip conditions entered.
- Fuel price is uniform along the route.
- Distance is one-way unless you double it manually for round trips.
What this includes
- Gallons consumed, total fuel cost, and cost per mile.
What this excludes
- Tolls, parking, vehicle wear, insurance per mile, electric-vehicle kWh costs, and regional fuel tax variations mid-route.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is fuel cost calculated?
Gallons needed equals distance divided by MPG. Trip cost equals gallons needed times price per gallon. For multiple trips, multiply the per-trip cost by the number of trips.
What MPG should I use?
Use your vehicle's actual or EPA-estimated MPG. Real-world MPG varies with driving style, traffic, terrain, and vehicle load. Highway and city MPG differ, so use a blended estimate for mixed driving.
Can I calculate cost for a round trip?
Yes. Either double the one-way distance or enter the full round-trip miles as the distance. You can also set the number of trips to 2 for repeated one-way legs.
What is cost per mile?
Cost per mile equals total trip fuel cost divided by distance. It helps compare vehicles or routes. Lower MPG and higher gas prices both increase cost per mile.
Does this include tolls or vehicle wear?
No. This calculator covers fuel cost only. Total trip cost may also include tolls, parking, maintenance, depreciation, and insurance, which are not included here.