Car & Vehicle

Trip Fuel Cost Calculator

What the fuel for a particular trip will cost, one way or there and back, at today's pump price.

6 inputs Free, no sign-up

Your figures

The one-way distance. Tick the box below for the return leg.

Use the figure you actually get, not the showroom one. City driving commonly lands 20-30% below a rated number, and the mileage calculator works yours out from a tank.

The price you actually paid. Pump prices move daily and differ by several rupees between states, so the round number here is a placeholder, not a quote.

Tick to count the journey twice.

Try an example

Result

Your result

Enter your figures and the result appears here.

Estimates only. Rates, fees and specifications change. Confirm against the official source before you rely on a figure — see our disclaimer.

About this calculator

Before a trip, the question is usually "what will the fuel cost me". Three figures answer it: how far, what the vehicle returns, and what the pump is charging today.

The result also shows your cost per kilometre, which is the number to keep if you are being reimbursed for travel or splitting the cost with anyone.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the one-way distance. A maps app will give it; this page does not need one.
  2. Enter the mileage you actually get on this kind of route — highway figures are usually better than your overall average.
  3. Enter today's pump price.
  4. Tick "there and back" if you are returning the same way.

The formula

Fuel needed = Distance / Mileage
Fuel cost   = Fuel needed x Price per litre
Cost per km = Price per litre / Mileage

A return trip doubles the distance before anything else happens, which is why the result names it rather than leaving you to check whether you remembered.

SymbolMeaningUnit
Distance One-way trip distance km or mi
Mileage What the vehicle returns km/L or mpg
Fuel price Today's pump price ₹/L

Worked example

A 300 km drive at 18 km/L with diesel at ₹92:

Fuel needed = 300 / 18      = 16.67 litres
Fuel cost   = 16.67 x 92    = 1,533.33
Cost per km = 92 / 18       = 5.11

There and back, ₹3,066.67.

Notes and limits

  • Fuel is usually the smaller half of a long trip. Tolls on a national highway can add a third again, and the road trip cost calculator takes them and everything else.
  • Pump prices differ by several rupees between states. On a trip that crosses a border, the cheaper side is worth filling on.
  • A loaded car with a roof box and the air conditioning running will not deliver the mileage it does empty on a cool morning.
  • Splitting the cost with passengers? The carpool cost calculator divides it and handles the tolls.

What this calculation assumes

  • Mileage is constant over the whole trip.
  • Fuel only. Tolls, parking, food and wear are not included.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the fuel cost of a trip?

Divide the distance by your mileage to get the litres, then multiply by the pump price. For 300 km at 18 km/L and ₹92 a litre, that is 16.67 litres and ₹1,533.

Does the calculator include tolls?

No. This is fuel only. Tolls are a large part of a highway trip in India and are not assumed here because they depend entirely on the route - add them with the road trip cost calculator.

Which mileage should I use for a long drive?

The highway figure you have actually seen, not your overall average. Most vehicles do noticeably better at a steady speed than in city traffic, and using the city average will overstate the cost.

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