Fuel Cost per KM Calculator
Calculate fuel cost per kilometre by dividing your fuel price per litre by your vehicle's fuel efficiency (km/L). This driving cost calculator helps commuters, rideshare drivers, fleet managers, and business travelers estimate the true per-kilometre fuel expense for budgeting, reimbursement claims, and comparing vehicles. Supports petrol, diesel, and LPG fuel types.
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Formula
How it works: Divides the price you pay for one litre of fuel by the number of kilometres your vehicle travels on that litre. A lower cost per km means better fuel efficiency or cheaper fuel. This is the simplest and most direct measure of driving cost.
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Understanding Your Fuel Cost per Kilometre
Knowing your exact fuel cost per kilometre is essential for accurate budgeting, vehicle comparison, and business reimbursement claims. It is the single most useful metric for understanding your true driving expenses.
- Small efficient cars (14-18 km/L) cost $0.10 to $0.13 per km at $1.80/L fuel, making them the cheapest to run for daily commuting
- SUVs and trucks (6-10 km/L) cost $0.18 to $0.30 per km, more than double the cost of a small car over the same distance
- Electric vehicles cost approximately $0.03 to $0.05 per km when charged at home rates, roughly one-third the cost of petrol
- Rideshare drivers should subtract their fuel cost per km from their per-km earnings to find their true profit margin
- The ATO allows 85 cents per km for business travel claims (2024-25), while the IRS allows $0.67 per mile ($0.42/km). If your actual cost is lower, the standard rate provides a tax benefit
Use this calculator alongside our Trip Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate total fuel costs for specific journeys, or the Petrol vs Diesel Calculator to compare fuel types over your annual driving distance.
You can also calculate changes using our Trip Fuel Cost Calculator, Fuel Cost Increase Calculator, Petrol vs Diesel Cost Calculator or Commuting Cost Calculator.
Fuel Cost per KM by Vehicle Type
Typical fuel costs per kilometre for different vehicle categories at $1.80/L petrol. Your actual cost depends on your specific vehicle, driving conditions, and local fuel price.
| Vehicle Type | Typical km/L | Cost per km ($1.80/L) | Cost per 100 km | Annual Cost (15,000 km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small hatchback | 16-20 | $0.09-$0.11 | $9-$11 | $1,350-$1,688 |
| Medium sedan | 12-15 | $0.12-$0.15 | $12-$15 | $1,800-$2,250 |
| Large sedan | 9-12 | $0.15-$0.20 | $15-$20 | $2,250-$3,000 |
| Compact SUV | 10-14 | $0.13-$0.18 | $13-$18 | $1,929-$2,700 |
| Large SUV | 7-10 | $0.18-$0.26 | $18-$26 | $2,700-$3,857 |
| Ute/Pickup truck | 6-9 | $0.20-$0.30 | $20-$30 | $3,000-$4,500 |
| Diesel (medium) | 14-18 | $0.11-$0.14 | $11-$14 | $1,667-$2,143 |
| Hybrid | 20-25 | $0.07-$0.09 | $7-$9 | $1,080-$1,350 |
| Electric (home charge) | N/A | $0.03-$0.05 | $3-$5 | $450-$750 |
Note: Costs based on $1.80/L petrol and $1.95/L diesel. Electric costs assume $0.30/kWh home charging with average efficiency of 6 km/kWh. Hybrid costs assume 50% electric and 50% petrol driving. Actual costs vary with driving style, traffic conditions, terrain, and vehicle condition. Aggressive driving can increase fuel consumption by 15-30%. For reference only.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my fuel cost per km?
Divide your fuel price per litre by your vehicle's fuel efficiency in km/L. For example, if petrol costs $1.80/L and your car gets 12 km/L, your cost per km is $1.80 / 12 = $0.15 per km. To find your km/L, divide the kilometres driven between fill-ups by the litres used.
What is the average fuel cost per km in Australia?
With petrol averaging around $1.80 to $2.00/L in 2026, the average Australian car costs approximately $0.12 to $0.18 per km in fuel. A small car averaging 15 km/L at $1.85/L costs $0.12/km. A medium SUV averaging 10 km/L costs $0.19/km. The ATO standard rate for business travel claims is 85 cents per km (2024-25), which covers fuel plus all other running costs.
How much does it cost to drive 100 km?
At the average fuel efficiency of 12 km/L and petrol at $1.80/L, driving 100 km costs approximately $15 in fuel. A fuel-efficient small car (16 km/L) costs about $11 per 100 km. A large SUV (8 km/L) costs about $23 per 100 km. An electric vehicle costs just $3 to $5 per 100 km when charged at home rates.
Is diesel or petrol cheaper per km?
Diesel is typically cheaper per km despite costing more per litre. Diesel engines are 15-25% more fuel-efficient than equivalent petrol engines. For example, a diesel sedan getting 17 km/L at $1.95/L costs $0.115/km, while the same car in petrol getting 13 km/L at $1.80/L costs $0.138/km. The diesel saves $0.023/km or about $345 per year over 15,000 km.
How do I calculate fuel cost for an Uber or rideshare driver?
First find your cost per km using this calculator. Then compare it to your per-km earnings from the rideshare platform. For example, if you earn $1.10/km and your fuel cost is $0.15/km, fuel takes 13.6% of your gross earnings. Add maintenance ($0.05-$0.10/km), insurance, and depreciation to find your true profit margin. Most rideshare drivers find total vehicle costs of $0.25-$0.40/km.
How do driving habits affect fuel cost per km?
Aggressive driving (rapid acceleration, hard braking, speeding) increases fuel consumption by 15-30% compared to smooth, steady driving. Maintaining 90-100 km/h on highways instead of 120+ km/h can improve fuel economy by 10-15%. Other factors: tyre pressure (under-inflated tyres increase consumption by 3%), air conditioning (adds 5-10%), and excess weight (every 50 kg adds approximately 1-2% to fuel consumption).
Can I use this Fuel Cost per KM Calculator on my own web page?
You can. Look for the "Embed" button near the top of this calculator. It lets you pick a size, border style, and color palette, then gives you an iframe tag to paste into any webpage. The widget is responsive, loads fast, and costs nothing. More details at calculory.com/services/embed-calculators.
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