Fuel Cost Calculator

Calculate fuel cost for a trip or commute. Compare gas vs EV costs side by side.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration — Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update

miles
MPG
$/gal
Trip Type

Fuel Needed

1.0 gal

Trip Cost

$4.10

Annual Cost

$1,066.00

Fuel Cost Breakdown

Total Distance30.0 miles
Fuel Needed1.00 gallons
One-Way Cost$4.10
Trip Cost$4.10
Weekly Cost$20.50
Monthly Cost$88.83
Annual Cost$1,066.00

Use the Fuel Cost Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and the assumptions described on this page.

How It Works

Whether you are pricing a daily commute or mapping out a long road trip, an upfront estimate of what the trip will cost makes budgeting far easier. The tool covers both gasoline and electric vehicles and lays the two side by side, so you can see where an EV pulls ahead and where a fuel-efficient gas car still holds its own.

The math behind it is simple: distance divided by the vehicle's fuel efficiency, multiplied by the price per unit of fuel. Gas cars use miles per gallon and dollars per gallon, while electric vehicles use miles per kilowatt-hour and dollars per kWh. The EV comparison under Advanced options starts at $0.14 per kWh, so set it to your own rate; the U.S. residential average was 18.34 cents in June 2026, according to EIA.

Driving style moves these numbers more than most people expect, since hard acceleration and heavy braking push consumption up quickly. For EVs, public charging fees can run well above what you pay at home, so factor those in rather than assuming a single rate. Plugging in current local prices for your region will always give you the sharpest estimate.

Example: 200-Mile Trip - Gas Car vs. EV

  1. 1 Input: Trip Distance: 200 miles. Gas Car: 30 MPG at $4.10/gallon (U.S. regular averaged $4.48 in late September 2026, per EIA). EV: 3.5 mi/kWh charged at home at $0.16/kWh.
  2. 2 Calculate: Gas Cost = (200 miles / 30 MPG) * $4.10/gallon = $27.33. EV Cost = (200 miles / 3.5 mi/kWh) * $0.16/kWh = $9.14.
  3. 3 Result: The gasoline car will cost $27.33 for the trip, while the electric vehicle will cost $9.14.
  4. 4 Context: This example demonstrates a cost saving of $18.19 for the EV on a 200-mile trip, highlighting the long-term financial advantages of electric vehicles even with current fuel prices.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration — Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate fuel cost for a road trip?
Divide the trip distance by your vehicle's MPG to get gallons needed, then multiply by the price per gallon. A 500-mile trip at 25 MPG with $3.50/gallon gas costs $70.
What is the average fuel cost per mile in the US?
At $4.48 a gallon (EIA's U.S. regular average for the week of September 21, 2026) and 27.2 MPG, the EPA's real-world average for new model-year 2024 vehicles, fuel alone costs about $0.16 a mile. Depreciation, insurance and maintenance come on top; for comparison, the IRS business standard mileage rate is 76 cents a mile from July 1, 2026 (72.5 cents for January through June).
Is it cheaper to drive an EV or a gas car?
At 18.34 cents per kWh (EIA's U.S. residential average for June 2026) and 3.5 miles per kWh, an EV costs about $0.05 a mile to charge at home, against about $0.16 a mile for a 27.2 MPG car at $4.48 a gallon. Over 12,000 miles that is about $630 versus $1,980, a saving of roughly $1,350 a year; local electricity rates, gas prices and how often you pay for fast charging will move it.

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