Kalkulo

Fuel consumption calculator

Work out your real-world MPG (US gallon) from miles driven and gallons used, plus the cost of a trip at the current pump price.

Result
35 MPG
Trip cost : $28.00

About this tool

Why use this tool

Fuel is one of the largest recurring costs of car ownership in the US. The average American household spends around $2,400 per year on gasoline according to the 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. With regular unleaded around $3.50/gallon and diesel around $3.85/gallon in 2026, knowing your real-world MPG (miles per gallon) helps you budget road trips, compare vehicles before buying, and track fuel-efficient driving habits.

How it works

MPG = Miles driven / Gallons used. Trip cost = Gallons × Price per gallon. Since 2008 the EPA has used a 5-cycle test replacing the older 2-cycle method, providing more realistic city/highway/combined MPG ratings on the window sticker (Monroney label). Real-world MPG is typically within 10-15% of the EPA combined figure. The EPA maintains a public database at fueleconomy.gov listing every vehicle sold in the US since 1984.

Real example

A 600-mile road trip from Chicago to Nashville in a mid-size sedan rated 32 MPG combined uses 18.75 gallons at $3.50 = $65.63 in gasoline. The same trip in a full-size SUV rated 21 MPG uses 28.6 gallons = $100.10. Over a year of similar road trips (10 round-trips), the SUV costs $689 more. An electric vehicle at 3 mi/kWh charging at home ($0.14/kWh average) would cost ~$28 for the same trip — dramatically cheaper per mile.

Practical tips

To improve MPG: keep tires inflated to the door-jamb spec (under-inflation cuts MPG by 0.2% per 1 PSI below spec, per DOE), drive 55-65 mph instead of 75+ (each 5 mph above 50 mph is like paying $0.30 more per gallon, per fueleconomy.gov), remove roof racks when not in use, avoid aggressive acceleration (cuts MPG by up to 40% in city driving). The federal EV tax credit up to $7,500 (Inflation Reduction Act, 2022) still applies in 2026 for qualifying vehicles. Track fuel-ups with apps like Fuelly or GasBuddy for real-world MPG.

Disclaimer

Fuel prices vary daily by state (Hawaii and California are highest; Gulf Coast states are lowest) based on crude oil prices, state fuel taxes (federal $0.184/gal, state $0.09-$0.68/gal), and local competition. Check current prices via AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report or the EIA Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices. EPA MPG estimates may differ from real driving; individual results depend on driving style, load, weather and terrain.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is the EPA MPG rating compared to real-world driving?⌄
Since 2008 the EPA has used a 5-cycle test that better reflects real conditions than the older 2-cycle method, and real-world MPG is typically within 10-15% of the combined figure on the window sticker. Aggressive acceleration, cold weather, heavy loads and frequent short trips all push actual consumption toward the lower end of that range.
Does city or highway driving get better fuel economy?⌄
For a conventional gas engine, highway driving usually delivers better MPG because the engine runs at a steady, efficient speed with less stop-and-go. Hybrids flip this pattern: their electric motor and regenerative braking make city driving comparable or sometimes even better than highway MPG, since there's less benefit from coasting at a constant speed.
How much does under-inflated tyres really affect MPG?⌄
The Department of Energy estimates that fuel economy drops by about 0.2% for every 1 PSI a tyre runs below the manufacturer's recommended pressure, and that low tyres are a surprisingly common and easily fixed cause of wasted fuel. Checking pressure monthly when tyres are cold is one of the cheapest ways to keep MPG close to the rated figure.
Is an EV actually cheaper to run per mile than a gas car?⌄
Usually, yes. At a typical home electricity rate of around $0.14 per kWh, an EV rated at 3 miles per kWh costs roughly a third of what a 30 MPG gas car costs at $3.50 a gallon for the same distance, though public fast-charging narrows that gap. The exact savings depend heavily on your local electricity and gas prices.
Where can I check the official EPA rating for my specific car?⌄
The EPA's fueleconomy.gov database lists official city, highway and combined MPG for every vehicle sold in the US since 1984, along with real-world data submitted by other drivers for many models. Comparing your calculated MPG against that baseline is the quickest way to tell whether your car, or your driving style, is underperforming.

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