Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate petrol or diesel cost for any trip based on distance, mileage and fuel price
Trip Details
Distance (km)
km
Fuel Efficiency (km/L)
km/L
Fuel Price (₹/L)
₹
Number of Trips
×
Enter 2 for a round trip, or more for multiple trips
Quick Reference — Fuel Prices (approx.)
Petrol (Delhi): ~₹94–96/L
Diesel (Delhi): ~₹87–89/L
CNG (Delhi): ~₹74–76/kg
Prices vary by city and date. Check local fuel station for current rates.
Total Fuel Cost
—
Fuel needed: —
Cost per km—
Total Distance—
Trips—
Fuel Efficiency—
Fuel Price—
What is a Fuel Cost Calculator?
A fuel cost calculator helps you estimate the petrol or diesel expense for any road trip or daily commute. By entering the distance, your vehicle's mileage (fuel efficiency in km/L), and the current fuel price, you can instantly know how much you'll spend on fuel.
This is useful for planning road trips, budgeting monthly car expenses, comparing fuel cost of different vehicles, and calculating reimbursement amounts for official travel.
lightbulb Example Calculation
Scenario: Priya is driving from Delhi to Agra (230 km) in her car that gives 16 km/L. Petrol price is ₹95/L.
1Fuel needed = 230 ÷ 16 = 14.38 L
2Fuel cost = 14.38 × ₹95 = ₹1,366
3Round trip (×2): ₹2,732 total
✓ Cost per km = ₹5.94/km
help_outlineHow to Use the Fuel Cost Calculator
- Enter the Distance — total one-way distance of your trip in kilometres.
- Enter your vehicle's Fuel Efficiency in km/L (check your car manual or use our Mileage Calculator to find yours).
- Enter the current Fuel Price in ₹ per litre for petrol or diesel (check local fuel station or government portal).
- Set Number of Trips — enter 2 for a round trip, or higher for multiple journeys.
- Results update instantly showing total cost, fuel needed, and cost per km.
Tips to Reduce Fuel Cost
- Maintain correct tyre pressure — under-inflation increases fuel consumption by up to 3%
- Drive at steady speeds between 60–80 km/h on highways — optimal fuel efficiency zone for most cars
- Avoid unnecessary idling — idling for 10 minutes burns ~0.4–0.8 L of fuel for no movement
- Service your car regularly — a clogged air filter can reduce fuel efficiency by 10%
- Use cruise control on long highway stretches to maintain consistent speed
- Plan routes to avoid peak traffic — stop-and-go driving is the most fuel-inefficient pattern
Key Terms
- Fuel Efficiency (km/L)
- Also called mileage — kilometres your vehicle travels on one litre of fuel. Typical petrol cars: 12–20 km/L; SUVs: 10–15 km/L; motorcycles: 40–60 km/L.
- Cost per km
- Total fuel cost divided by total distance. Useful for comparing travel modes (car vs train vs bus) and calculating official travel reimbursements.
- Round Trip
- Enter 2 in the "Number of Trips" field to calculate fuel for going and returning the same distance.
- Fuel Grades
- Regular petrol (87 octane) vs premium (91–95 octane) — most Indian passenger cars run fine on regular petrol. Diesel engines are typically 15–20% more fuel efficient than equivalent petrol engines.
quizFrequently Asked Questions
How do I find my car's fuel efficiency (mileage)?
Fill your tank completely. Drive normally until you've used a significant amount of fuel (ideally 200–400 km). Fill up again, note the litres added and the distance driven. Mileage = Distance ÷ Fuel added. For example, if you drove 300 km and refuelled with 22 L: mileage = 300 ÷ 22 = 13.6 km/L. You can also use our Mileage Calculator for this. Manufacturer's quoted mileage is often 15–25% higher than real-world figures because testing is done under ideal controlled conditions.
Why does actual fuel cost differ from the calculator's estimate?
Real-world mileage varies due to: traffic conditions (city driving reduces mileage by 20–30% vs highway), AC usage (reduces efficiency by 5–15%), vehicle load (extra passengers and luggage), road gradient (hills increase fuel consumption), tyre pressure, engine health, and driving style (aggressive acceleration is the biggest factor). The calculator uses your entered mileage — for best accuracy, use your real-world measured mileage rather than the manufacturer's claimed figure.
How do I calculate fuel cost for CNG vehicles?
CNG mileage is measured in km/kg (not km/L). Enter your car's km/kg figure in the "Fuel Efficiency" field and use the current CNG price per kg in the "Fuel Price" field. For example, if your CNG car gives 28 km/kg and CNG costs ₹75/kg: a 300 km trip needs 300 ÷ 28 = 10.7 kg × ₹75 = ₹803. CNG vehicles typically have 40–50% lower fuel cost compared to petrol for the same distance.
Can I use this calculator for two-wheelers?
Yes — just enter your bike's mileage (typically 40–60 km/L for 100–150cc bikes, 25–40 km/L for 200–400cc bikes) and petrol price. Two-wheelers are significantly more fuel-efficient than cars: a bike averaging 50 km/L costs only ₹1.88/km at ₹94/L petrol, versus a car at 15 km/L costing ₹6.27/km — over 3× cheaper per kilometre.
How do I calculate fuel reimbursement for office travel?
Most companies reimburse at a fixed rate per km (e.g., ₹5–8/km for two-wheelers, ₹8–15/km for cars) rather than actual fuel cost. However, if your employer reimburses actual fuel cost, use this calculator: enter the distance, your vehicle's actual mileage, and the fuel price on the date of travel. The total cost shown is your reimbursable amount. Keep fuel receipts as supporting documentation.