Fuel cost comparison calculator

Compare the fuel cost of two vehicles, routes or fuels over the same distance.

Quick answer: Trip fuel cost = distance ÷ 100 × litres per 100 km × price per litre. 1,000 km at 8 L/100 km and $1.50 a litre costs $120.

Explore the numbers.

Calculate to update this worksheet from your inputs.

Scenario chart

Price scenario range

Scenarios change one input while holding the others constant. They are calculations, not observed market prices or forecasts.

Detailed calculation table

The table contains the same inputs used for your result. Values are rounded for display; CSV preserves more precision.

Detailed calculator inputs and results
Calculate to load your worksheet.

Compare fuel costs over the same trip

How to use this calculator

Enter the distance in kilometres.
Enter fuel use in litres per 100 km and the price per litre for option A.
Do the same for option B, then compare the total cost of each.

Worked example — illustrative inputs

Over 1,000 km, option A uses 80 litres at $1.50, costing $120. Option B uses 50 litres at $1.70, costing $85. Option B is $35 cheaper even though its fuel costs more per litre.

Lower L/100 km is better

Litres per 100 km shows how much fuel a vehicle burns over a fixed distance, so a lower number means less fuel. It works the opposite way to miles per gallon, where a higher number is better.

Price and efficiency pull in different directions

A fuel can cost more per litre and still be cheaper for a trip if the vehicle uses less of it. The comparison table shows how that gap grows with distance.

What the result leaves out

Only fuel is compared. Maintenance, tolls, taxes, depreciation, charging losses and differences in energy content are not included.

Where to go next

Crude is only one part of the pump price. Follow it on the Brent and WTI pages, and see how a barrel becomes fuel with the refinery yield estimator.

Questions about this calculation

How do I convert miles per gallon to litres per 100 km?

For US gallons, divide 235.2 by the miles-per-gallon figure. For example, 30 mpg is about 7.8 L/100 km.

Does the crude oil price set the pump price?

Only partly. Retail fuel also reflects refining, distribution, retail margins and taxes, which vary by country.

Continue your calculation.

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