Fuel cost calculator
Estimate gas cost for a trip.
Enter trip miles, vehicle MPG, fuel price, and number of people to estimate gallons needed, total gas cost, and fuel cost per person.
Calculator
Fuel Cost Calculator
Use this for road trips, work commutes, delivery driving, rides with friends, or quick comparisons between vehicles.
- Total miles
- 0 miles
- Fuel needed
- 0 gallons
- Cost per person
- $0.00
How to use it
Plan trip fuel cost before you drive
This fuel cost calculator estimates how much gas a trip may use and what that fuel may cost. Enter the one-way distance, choose whether to calculate one way or round trip, add your vehicle's MPG, and enter the local gas price.
For shared rides, the cost per person divides the total fuel cost by the number of people. This is useful for weekend trips, airport rides, commuting carpools, or deciding whether to drive one vehicle or split into multiple cars.
Use the result as a planning estimate. Real fuel use changes with traffic, hills, weather, tire pressure, cargo weight, driving speed, and whether the vehicle uses city or highway miles.
If you are comparing two vehicles, run the same trip distance and fuel price with each MPG rating. The difference shows how much fuel economy affects the trip cost.
Formula
How fuel cost is calculated
Total miles = trip distance x trip type multiplier
Gallons needed = total miles / miles per gallon
Total fuel cost = gallons needed x fuel price per gallon
Cost per person = total fuel cost / people sharing cost
The calculator uses miles and US gallons. For metric travel planning, use the conversion calculator to convert kilometers to miles first.
Fuel cost notes
Common trip cost questions
Should I use city MPG or highway MPG?
Use the number that best matches the trip. Highway MPG is usually better for steady highway driving. City MPG is more realistic for stop-and-go traffic.
Does this include tolls or parking?
No. This calculator only estimates fuel cost. Add tolls, parking, maintenance, and other trip costs separately if you need a full travel budget.
Why is my real cost different?
Fuel economy changes with speed, traffic, road grade, tire pressure, weather, vehicle condition, cargo, and driving style.
Can this help split gas money?
Yes. Enter the number of people sharing fuel cost to estimate a simple even split per person.