Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate annual fuel costs, cost per mile and compare fuel expenses between two vehicles.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate fuel cost per mile?
Fuel cost per mile = Fuel price per gallon divided by MPG. At $4.47/gallon and 28 MPG: $4.47 / 28 = $0.16 per mile. For 15,000 miles/year that is $2,395 annually. The IRS standard mileage rate of $0.725/mile (2026) covers fuel plus depreciation, insurance and maintenance.
How much do I save by switching to a more fuel efficient car?
Upgrading from 25 MPG to 40 MPG at $4.47/gallon driving 15,000 miles/year saves about $1,006/year in fuel. Over 5 years that is $5,029 in fuel savings. Compare this to the premium price of a more efficient vehicle to calculate your payback period.
How do electric vehicles compare on fuel cost?
EVs cost roughly $0.03-$0.05 per mile in electricity vs $0.11-$0.18 per mile for gasoline cars. At 15,000 miles/year an EV saves $900-$2,250/year in fuel. However higher purchase price (though falling), charging infrastructure and range considerations affect total ownership cost comparison.
Annual fuel cost by mileage, MPG and price
Fuel cost = miles / MPG x price per gallon. Three numbers, and small changes in any of them compound: a car that gets 35 MPG instead of 25 saves 137 gallons a year at 12,000 miles, which at $3.20 is $439.
| Miles per year | MPG | Price per gallon | Gallons | Cost per year | Per month | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12,000 | 25 | $3.20 | 480 | $1,536 | $128 | 12.8c |
| 12,000 | 35 | $3.20 | 343 | $1,097 | $91 | 9.1c |
| 15,000 | 20 | $3.50 | 750 | $2,625 | $219 | 17.5c |
| 15,000 | 45 | $3.50 | 333 | $1,167 | $97 | 7.8c |
| 12,000 | 30 | $4.00 | 400 | $1,600 | $133 | 13.3c |
US gasoline averaged about $3.10 to $3.40 a gallon through 2026 (EIA weekly retail price); California and Hawaii ran $1 or more above the national figure.
Worked example
A commute of 22 miles each way, 240 working days a year, is 10,560 miles. Add 3,000 miles of weekend and errand driving for 13,560 miles. In a 27 MPG sedan at $3.30, that is 502 gallons and $1,657 a year, $138 a month. The same driving in a 50 MPG hybrid costs $895, saving $762 a year. If the hybrid costs $2,500 more to buy, fuel savings alone repay the premium in about 3.3 years.
Trip cost
A 1,200 mile road trip in a 28 MPG car at $3.40 uses 43 gallons and costs $146 in fuel. Four people sharing pay $36 each, which is why driving beats flying for groups on routes under about 800 miles, before counting the car's wear (another 8 to 10 cents a mile for depreciation, tires and maintenance by AAA's estimate).
Electric comparison
An EV using 0.30 kWh per mile at a home electricity rate of 16 cents per kWh costs 4.8 cents a mile, $576 a year at 12,000 miles, against $1,536 for the 25 MPG car above. Public fast charging at 40 to 60 cents per kWh wipes most of that advantage out, so the saving depends on charging at home. VoltFlow's EV charging cost calculator does the electricity side with your own rate.
Ways to cut the bill that actually work
Tire pressure at the door-sticker value (under-inflation by 10 psi costs about 2% to 3%). Removing roof racks and boxes when unused (up to 10% to 25% at highway speed). Driving 65 instead of 75 on the highway (roughly 12% to 15% less fuel). Combining errands into one trip, since a cold engine burns more for the first few miles. Premium fuel in a car that does not require it changes nothing but the price.