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Fuel Cost Calculator

Estimate the fuel cost of a trip or the total annual fuel bill for a vehicle — including round trips, tolls, repeated commutes and a gas-vs-EV comparison.

Instant results Private — runs in your browser Updated October 2026

Inputs

Trip distance (one-way)

Round trip (doubles distance and tolls)

Vehicle MPG

mpg

Fuel price$/gallon

Tolls (one-way)Optional — enter what you expect to pay in tolls one-way

Passengers (split cost)

Number of tripsFor a commute, enter the trips in a week, month or year to see that period's cost

Annual miles driven

mi/yr

Compare with an EV

Trip fuel cost

$150.00

42.9 gal @ $3.50/gal

Total trip cost

$150.00

Fuel only — no tolls entered

Per person

$150.00

Gallons used

42.9 gal

Annual fuel cost

$1,875.00

15,000 mi/yr

How it works

Gallons needed = distance ÷ MPG. Multiply by fuel price to get the trip fuel cost. Annual cost uses your yearly mileage estimate separately, at the same MPG and price.

Round trip doubles the one-way distance you entered, and doubles the one-way toll amount with it, before any of the maths runs. Tolls are kept out of the fuel figure and added only into Total trip cost, so both numbers stay visible. Passengers split the total trip cost, not just the fuel.

Number of trips multiplies the per-trip total (fuel + tolls) — set it to your commuting days to get a weekly, monthly or annual commute cost. The EV comparison uses (distance ÷ 100) × kWh per 100 miles × price per kWh on exactly the same distance, so the two figures are directly comparable.

Frequently asked questions

How is trip cost calculated?

Trip cost = (distance ÷ MPG) × price per gallon.

Should I double my distance for a round trip?

Only if you enter the one-way figure, which is what most people have from a map. Turning on the Round trip toggle here doubles the distance (and your tolls) for you, and shows both the one-way and round-trip mileage so you can see exactly what was used.

How do I include tolls in my trip cost?

Enter what you expect to pay one-way in the Tolls field. With Round trip on, that amount is doubled. Tolls never change the 'Trip fuel cost' figure — they're added into 'Total trip cost' so you can see the fuel-only and all-in numbers side by side.

Is an EV actually cheaper to drive than a gas car?

Usually, at home charging rates. A typical EV uses about 30 kWh per 100 miles, so at $0.13/kWh that's roughly $0.039 per mile, versus about $0.125 per mile for a 28 mpg car at $3.50/gal. Public DC fast charging at $0.40–0.60/kWh can erase most of that advantage, which is why the electricity price here is editable.

How do I calculate my commute cost for the month/year?

Enter your one-way commute distance, turn on Round trip, then set Number of trips to your commuting days — about 21 for a month or 240 for a year. The 'Total cost for X trips' figure is your commute cost for that period, tolls included.

How can I lower fuel cost?

Drive at highway speeds under 65 mph, keep tires inflated, remove roof racks, and avoid aggressive acceleration.

Does gas quality matter?

Top-tier gas has more detergents but the same energy content. Only use premium if your engine requires it.

How much do I actually spend per year?

Use the 'Annual miles' field. US average is 12,000–15,000 miles/year.