Calculate fuel consumption and trip costs for your vehicle.This calculator is metric-only (L/100 km). Does not support MPG/miles conversions.
Last updated: March 2026 | By Patchworkr Team
Fuel consumption is a measure of how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, typically expressed in liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) in metric countries. This measurement tells you how many liters of fuel your vehicle consumes to travel 100 kilometers under specific conditions.
Lower consumption numbers indicate better fuel efficiency. For example, a car with 5 L/100km consumption is more fuel-efficient than one with 10 L/100km. Modern compact cars typically range from 5-8 L/100km, while larger vehicles like SUVs or trucks may consume 10-15 L/100km or more.
Actual fuel consumption varies based on driving conditions, speed, terrain, vehicle load, tire pressure, and driving style. Highway driving is typically more efficient than city driving due to consistent speeds and less stop-and-go traffic.
Trip fuel consumption and costs are calculated using these formulas:
The L/100km metric represents fuel volume consumed per distance traveled:
Road trip: 500 km in a compact sedan
Check your vehicle's specifications in the owner's manual, manufacturer's website, or government fuel economy databases. You can also calculate it manually by filling your tank, recording the odometer, driving normally, refilling, and dividing liters used by kilometers driven, then multiplying by 100.
No, they're inverse measurements. L/100km (metric) shows fuel used per distance, while MPG (imperial) shows distance per fuel. Lower L/100km is better, but higher MPG is better. To convert: MPG ≈ 235 ÷ L/100km.
Manufacturer ratings are based on standardized tests. Real-world consumption varies based on driving style (aggressive acceleration uses more fuel), traffic conditions, terrain (hills increase consumption), weather (AC and heating use fuel), vehicle load, and tire pressure.
Maintain steady speeds, avoid rapid acceleration and braking, keep tires properly inflated, remove unnecessary weight, use cruise control on highways, combine trips to avoid cold starts, and maintain your vehicle regularly (clean air filters, fresh oil).
City driving typically uses 20-40% more fuel than highway driving due to frequent stops, acceleration, and idling. Highway driving maintains efficient, steady speeds. Your vehicle's rating will show both separately.
EVs use kWh/100km instead of L/100km. The concept is similar—energy consumed per distance. Typical EVs use 15-20 kWh/100km. Calculate cost by multiplying kWh/100km by your electricity rate and distance.
This calculator provides exact results based on the inputs you provide. Accuracy depends on having accurate consumption data. Use your vehicle's trip computer average or calculate it manually over several fill-ups for best results.
Yes, for round trips double your one-way distance. If driving 250 km each way, enter 500 km total distance. This gives you the total fuel and cost for the entire journey.