Monthly Fuel Cost Calculator

Work out how much you spend on fuel over any period — a week, a month or a full year. Enter the miles you expect to cover, your real-world MPG and the current price per litre. For the most accurate result, use our MPG calculator to measure your true fuel economy rather than the manufacturer's figure. Need the current fuel price? Check our fuel station finder.

Calculate your fuel cost per week, month or year

Enter your figures above and click Calculate to see your result.

How the fuel cost calculation works

The calculator converts your mileage and fuel economy into a cost:

Fuel cost = (mileage ÷ MPG) × 4.54609 × price per litre ÷ 100

It divides miles by MPG to get imperial gallons, converts to litres, then multiplies by the price per litre to give you the total cost in pounds. Enter your weekly miles for a weekly figure, monthly miles for a monthly figure, or annual miles for a yearly total.

How to estimate your annual mileage

If you're not sure how many miles you drive, try one of these methods:

  • MOT history — check your MOT history online (free on gov.uk). It records the odometer at each test — subtract last year's reading from this year's.
  • Commute calculation — multiply your daily round-trip commute by 230 (average working days). Add an estimate for weekend and leisure driving.
  • Trip meter method — note your mileage today, check again in a month, and multiply by 12.

The average UK driver covers around 7,000–8,000 miles per year. High-mileage commuters may do 12,000–15,000 or more.

Tips to reduce your monthly fuel bill

  • Fill up at supermarkets — Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons are consistently cheaper than branded forecourts. Use our fuel station finder to compare prices near you.
  • Avoid short trips — a cold engine uses significantly more fuel for the first few miles. Combining errands into one trip saves more than you'd expect.
  • Check tyre pressures monthly — underinflation increases rolling resistance. Correct pressures can save 2–3 MPG.
  • Smooth driving — gentle acceleration, early gear changes and anticipating braking can reduce fuel use by 15–30%.
  • Reduce speed — cruising at 60 mph instead of 70 mph on the motorway improves fuel economy by 10–15%.
  • Remove drag — roof racks, bike carriers and roof boxes add wind resistance. Remove them when not in use.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The average UK driver covers around 8,000 miles per year. At typical fuel economy and current prices, that works out to roughly £70–90 per month — but this varies hugely with mileage, car type and driving style. Enter your own figures above for a personalised result.

Check your MOT history online — it records the odometer at each test. Subtract last year's reading from this year's to get your annual mileage. Alternatively, note your mileage today and again in a month, then multiply by 12.

Keep tyres at the correct pressure, drive smoothly, avoid unnecessary short trips (cold engines use significantly more fuel), remove roof racks when not in use, and fill up at supermarket forecourts rather than motorway service stations.

Enter whatever distance you want to budget for. For a weekly cost, enter your typical weekly miles. For a monthly figure, enter your monthly miles. For an annual overview, enter your yearly mileage. The calculator gives you the fuel cost for the distance you provide.

Today's price gives you a useful baseline. Fuel prices fluctuate, so for longer-term budgeting consider running the calculator at a slightly higher price to build in a margin. You can check current prices on our fuel station finder.

Diesel cars typically achieve 15–20% better MPG than petrol equivalents, but diesel fuel costs more per litre. At average mileages the monthly cost is often similar. At higher mileages (12,000+ miles per year) diesel is usually cheaper. Use our car comparison calculator to see the full picture.