Calculate fuel cost, MPG and mileage

Working out fuel costs shouldn't feel like guesswork. Whether you're planning a family road trip, budgeting for the daily commute, or simply curious about how your car's fuel economy stacks up, our fuel calculators give you a quick, no-nonsense estimate. 

Just pop in a few details and we'll show you roughly how much fuel you'll need, what your trip could cost, and an approximate MPG based on your inputs. 

• Calculate how much your journey will cost 
• Determine how much fuel you will need 
• Work out your vehicle's MPG 

These figures are only approximations. Fuel prices, driving style, and road conditions all play a part. 

Here's how to make the most of the numbers: 

• Estimated trip cost - This figure helps you budget for both everyday driving and longer journeys. If your monthly fuel spend feels higher than expected, our fuel economy guide can help you cut the cost through simple driving changes. 
• Estimated fuel need - This is a handy way to plan ahead, especially for longer routes or family trips where you want to avoid extra stops. It's also useful for splitting fuel costs. 
• Calculated MPG - This lets you compare how your car performs in real-life driving. If your MPG is noticeably lower than expected, it may be a sign to look into a more fuel-efficient option, or even go for a hybrid or electric car. 

To get an accurate estimate of how much you're spending on fuel, you'll need a few key details: 

• The distance you've travelled (or plan to travel) in miles 
• Your car's fuel efficiency, measured in miles per gallon (mpg) 
• How much you paid for fuel (in pounds), or
• The average UK fuel price at the time (pence per litre)

Pop these into the respective calculator and it'll give you a useful estimate of your fuel costs. 

To work out the cost of a trip, enter the distance you’re travelling, your vehicle’s MPG, and the fuel price (in pence per litre) into the journey cost calculator above, then hit “calculate”.

You’ll get a breakdown of your estimated fuel usage, cost per litre, and mileage rate.
If you’re driving for work, it’s also a handy way to understand what you can claim back in business mileage.

The simplest way to work out your total mileage is by using a route planner.

A route planner works like a sat nav: you enter your start and end point, and it suggests the best route based on your preferences, for example the shortest, fastest, or most economical. Many tools will also show you the mileage between destinations.

This is useful not only for budgeting fuel on upcoming trips, but also for claiming business mileage on journeys you’ve already completed. 

We'd recommend using Google Maps. 

Your vehicle’s fuel efficiency is measured in MPG (miles per gallon). MPG stands for miles per gallon and is used to show how far your car can travel for every gallon (or 4.55 litres) of fuel it uses. For example, if you drive a car with an MPG of 50, for every one gallon of petrol or diesel, you should be able to drive 50 miles before the car runs out of fuel.

If you’ve already completed your journey, simply check your fuel receipt or bank statement to find out how much you spent.

If your trip is coming up, use the UK’s average fuel price as a guide. These tools are kept up to date and are a good reference point:

• GOV.UK Weekly Fuel Statistics
• Confused.com Petrol Prices

To estimate how much fuel you’ll need for a specific journey, enter the distance (in miles) and your vehicle’s estimated MPG into the fuel mileage calculator above.

You’ll get a quick estimate of how much fuel your trip will use, which is ideal for budgeting ahead of family holidays, planning long routes, or splitting costs between passengers.

If you want to understand the real-world MPG your car is achieving, enter the cost of fuel (pence per litre), how much you spent (in pounds), and the distance you travelled (in miles) into the MPG calculator above.

This gives you an estimate of your fuel efficiency based on real driving conditions. It’s also helpful for comparing your car’s performance with other vehicles in the same class.

We’ve put together a range of helpful guides on caring for your vehicle, covering tyre safety, fuel economy, car security and winter driving. These tips can help you keep your car running smoothly and your day-to-day costs down.