⛽ Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate trip gas costs, annual fuel expenses, and cost per mile
How This Calculator Works
Calculates fuel costs using: (Distance ÷ MPG) × Price per gallon = Total fuel cost. For trips, enter one-way distance and it calculates round-trip. For annual costs, multiply daily commute by work days. Accounts for city vs highway MPG differences and current gas prices.
Example Calculation
Example: Annual Commute Cost
Scenario: 30-mile round-trip commute, 250 work days/year, 25 MPG, $3.50/gallon
Calculation: 30 miles ÷ 25 MPG = 1.2 gallons per day. 1.2 × $3.50 = $4.20/day. $4.20 × 250 days = $1,050/year in fuel costs
Impact: Improving to 35 MPG saves $300/year. Moving 10 miles closer saves $350/year. These add up over a decade.
Common Questions
How can I reduce fuel costs?
Five strategies: (1) Buy fuel-efficient vehicle (40+ MPG vs 20 MPG cuts costs in half), (2) Maintain vehicle (proper tire pressure alone improves 3-5%), (3) Drive smoothly (aggressive driving reduces MPG 15-30%), (4) Combine trips (cold starts use more fuel), (5) Consider hybrid/EV for high-mileage driving. A $30k hybrid at 50 MPG vs $25k SUV at 20 MPG: The hybrid saves $2,000/year in fuel at 15k miles - pays for itself in 2.5 years.