Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate how much fuel will cost for any trip. Uses live gasoline and diesel prices updated from the EIA and commodity markets.
Live fuel prices • Gasoline & diesel • Fleet mode • No signup required
Fuel Cost Calculator
Trip & fleet fuel cost estimator
Higher MPG = more efficient. Avg car: 25-30 MPG.
Used to estimate your monthly fuel budget
Trip Cost
4.00 gal × $3.12 = $12.48
Fuel prices sourced from EIA and NYMEX via OilPriceAPI. This calculator is for informational purposes only. Actual costs may vary based on driving conditions and local pricing.
How to Calculate Fuel Cost
The Formula
Cost = (Distance ÷ MPG) × Price Per Gallon
Divide your trip distance by your vehicle's fuel efficiency, then multiply by the current fuel price.
Live Prices
Fuel prices are fetched automatically from EIA and NYMEX commodity markets.
Gasoline uses RBOB futures. Diesel uses the DOE weekly retail national average.
Fleet Mode
Add multiple vehicles to calculate fleet-wide fuel costs.
Track monthly and annual fuel budgets for your entire fleet.
Example: Road Trip Fuel Cost
Trip Distance: 500 miles
Vehicle MPG: 25 mpg
Gas Price: $3.20/gallon
Fuel Needed: 500 ÷ 25 = 20 gallons
Total Cost: 20 × $3.20 = $64.00
Cost per mile: $64.00 ÷ 500 = $0.128/mile
Common Trip Fuel Cost Estimates
Quick reference for popular routes (estimated at $3.20/gal gasoline)
New York to Los Angeles
2800 miles @ 28 MPG
Chicago to Dallas
920 miles @ 30 MPG
Daily Commute (30 mi roundtrip)
30 miles @ 25 MPG
Delivery Route (200 mi)
200 miles @ 12 MPG
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate fuel cost for a trip?
Divide your trip distance by your vehicle's miles per gallon (MPG), then multiply by the current price per gallon. For example, a 300-mile trip in a 25 MPG car with gas at $3.20/gallon costs (300 ÷ 25) × $3.20 = $38.40.
Where do the fuel prices come from?
Gasoline prices use NYMEX RBOB futures, the benchmark for US gasoline wholesale pricing. Diesel prices use the DOE (EIA) Weekly Retail On-Highway Diesel Price, the same data used by trucking companies for fuel surcharge calculations.
How accurate are the fuel cost estimates?
These are estimates based on average fuel prices and stated MPG. Actual costs depend on local gas station prices, driving conditions (highway vs. city), vehicle load, weather, and tire pressure. Real-world MPG is typically 10-15% lower than EPA ratings.
What is fleet mode?
Fleet mode lets you add multiple vehicles with different fuel types and efficiencies to calculate your total fleet fuel budget. It shows per-vehicle costs plus fleet-wide monthly and annual projections.
What's the difference between this and a fuel surcharge calculator?
A fuel surcharge calculator computes the per-mile surcharge that carriers add to freight rates based on the DOE diesel index. This fuel cost calculator estimates your actual out-of-pocket fuel expense for any trip or fleet.
How can I reduce my fuel costs?
Key strategies include: maintaining proper tire pressure (improves MPG by 3%), avoiding aggressive driving (saves 15-30% on highway), using cruise control, removing excess weight, planning routes to minimize distance, and comparing gas station prices in your area.
Need Fuel Price Data in Your Application?
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