Fuel Cost Calculator: Plan Your Travel Budget
Planning any car journey includes calculating fuel expenses. This is especially relevant for long trips — a road trip across Europe or a weekend getaway. The Fuel Cost Calculator on Tuble.net helps you precisely calculate how much petrol or diesel you'll need and what it will cost.
How Does the Calculator Work?
Enter three parameters:
- Distance — the route length in kilometres. You can use data from your satnav or online maps.
- Fuel consumption — your car's average consumption in litres per 100 km. Usually listed in the vehicle's specifications.
- Fuel price — the cost per litre of petrol or diesel at filling stations.
The calculator instantly shows total fuel consumption in litres and cost in euros.
How to Find Your Car's Real Consumption?
Manufacturers state official fuel consumption, but real-world figures are usually 10-20% higher and depend on driving style, road conditions, vehicle load, and air conditioning use. To find your car's actual consumption:
- Fill the tank completely at a petrol station
- Reset the trip meter or note the odometer reading
- Drive your usual route (ideally at least 100 km)
- Fill up again to full
- Divide litres filled by kilometres driven, multiply by 100
Example: filled 45 litres, drove 500 km. Consumption = 45 / 500 × 100 = 9 l/100 km.
Typical Consumption for Different Vehicles
- Small cars (VW Polo, Ford Fiesta) — 5-7 l/100 km
- Medium sedans (VW Passat, BMW 3 Series) — 6-9 l/100 km
- SUVs and crossovers — 8-12 l/100 km
- Diesel vehicles are typically 15-25% more economical than petrol
- Electric vehicles — cost per kWh varies, roughly €3-5 per 100 km
Use the Fuel Cost Calculator for journey planning.
Related Calculators
The Import Duty Calculator helps with importing vehicles from abroad. The Car Loan Calculator assists with purchase financing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate the fuel cost for a road trip in Europe?
The Fuel Cost Calculator uses distance, your car's fuel consumption, and current fuel prices to estimate your journey cost.
How can I reduce fuel consumption on European road trips?
Drive at optimal speeds (90-110 km/h), check tyre pressure, avoid harsh acceleration, service your engine regularly, and remove unnecessary weight.
Is diesel or petrol cheaper for driving in Europe?
Diesel is generally cheaper per litre in most European countries and offers better fuel economy, but petrol cars have lower purchase prices.
What other car-related calculators are available for free?
The Import Duty Calculator for importing cars and the Car Loan Calculator for financing.
