Trip Fuel & Energy Cost Calculator
Enter a distance, a consumption figure, and a price per unit to estimate trip cost — works for gasoline, diesel, or EV charging.
Trip cost
One formula, two fuel types
Trip cost is always consumption times distance times price — the same relationship whether you’re buying liters of gasoline or kilowatt-hours of electricity. Switching the fuel-type toggle only changes the labels, not the math, which makes it straightforward to run the same trip twice and directly compare what it would cost in a gas car versus an EV.
Combine this with the Road Trip Day & Route Planner to budget an entire multi-day trip, or the EV Range Calculatorif you’re also trying to work out how many charging stops an EV trip will need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the formula really the same for gas and EVs?
Yes — cost is always (distance ÷ 100) × consumption per 100 km × price per unit. For a gas car that's liters per 100 km and price per liter; for an EV it's kWh per 100 km and price per kWh. The arithmetic doesn't care what the unit represents, only that consumption and price use the same unit.
Where do I find my vehicle's consumption figure?
Your trip computer's average is the most accurate source since it reflects your actual driving. Failing that, the EPA or WLTP rated figure is a starting point, though real consumption on highway trips, in cold weather, or at higher speeds is usually higher than the rated number for both gas and electric vehicles.
How do I compare gas vs. EV cost for the same trip?
Run the calculator twice with each vehicle's own consumption and price — for example a gas car at 7.5 L/100 km and $1.85/L versus an EV at 18 kWh/100 km and $0.16/kWh for the same distance — and compare the two total-cost figures directly. Electricity is very often cheaper per 100 km than gasoline, though the exact gap depends heavily on local fuel and electricity prices.
Does this include tolls, parking, or charging-network membership fees?
No — this tool estimates only fuel or electricity cost from distance and consumption. Tolls, parking, and any public-charging network fees or session costs on top of the per-kWh rate are separate and should be added on top of this estimate for a full trip budget.
Educational estimate using a single flat consumption and price figure. Real trip cost varies with terrain, traffic, speed, and price changes along the route — treat this as a planning estimate, not a quote.