Fuel Distance Calculator
How far can you go on X fuel? Enter fuel + economy, get maximum range — with reserve warning, round-trip check, and a simple EV mode.
How far can this fuel take me?
Direction: fuel amount + fuel economy → distance. (Fill-up → economy is our separate fuel-mileage tool.)
Can I get there and back?
Round-trip check against the range above.
Simple EV range
Battery energy + efficiency → distance. Distance only — for charging costs see our ev-charging-cost-calculator.
Economy unit converter (helper)
Quick auxiliary conversion. For full car comparisons and trip costs see our fuel-economy-converter.
Methodology & scope boundaries
One direction only. This tool computes distance = fuel × economy — nothing else. It never derives economy from fill-up receipts (that inverse direction is our separate fuel-mileage tool; each tool keeps one direction so the math stays auditable).
- Metric:
range (km) = liters ÷ (L/100km) × 100. Example: 50 L at 6.5 L/100km → 769.2 km (478.0 mi). - Imperial:
range (mi) = gallons × MPG. Example: 15 US gal at 30 MPG → 450 mi (724.2 km). - UK: 12 UK gal at 45 UK MPG → 540 mi (869.0 km). 1 UK gal = 4.54609 L vs 1 US gal = 3.785411784 L.
- Conditions are rational multipliers, not rounded percentages: city ×9/10, highway ×28/25.
- Reserve: safe range uses
(fuel − reserve); reserve-only distance uses the reserve alone. - Round trip needs 2× the one-way distance.
- EV:
range (km) = kWh ÷ (kWh/100km) × 100. Example: 57.5 kWh at 15 kWh/100km → 383.3 km. - Economy constants: 30 US MPG = 7.84 L/100km; 45 UK MPG = 15.93 km/L.
Estimates only — real economy varies with speed, traffic, hills, load, tire pressure, weather, and AC. Never plan to arrive on zero fuel.
Frequently asked questions
How is driving range calculated from fuel?
Range = fuel amount x fuel economy, in consistent units. Metric: distance (km) = liters / (L/100km) x 100. Imperial: distance (miles) = gallons x MPG. A 15-gallon tank at 30 MPG gives 15 x 30 = 450 miles (724.2 km).
How far can I go on a full tank of gas?
Enter your tank size and your car's economy. Example: 50 liters at 6.5 L/100km gives 50 / 6.5 x 100 = 769.2 km (478.0 miles). Tap a tank preset (motorcycle to long-haul truck) to fill in typical sizes.
What does the reserve-fuel warning mean?
Most cars keep 1-2 gallons unusable as reserve. If you enter a 5-liter reserve on a 45-liter tank at 7 L/100km, your safe range is 40 / 7 x 100 = 571.4 km, and the fuel light leaves about 5 / 7 x 100 = 71.4 km to find a station. The tool shows both numbers so you never plan a trip on the last drops.
Can I make a round trip on one tank?
Enter your destination distance and the trip checker compares it against your range. A car with 724.2 km of range reaches a destination 400 km away easily, but the 800 km round trip falls 75.8 km short - you would need a fuel stop on the way back.
How do driving conditions change my range?
City stop-and-go driving uses roughly 10% more fuel per distance, steady highway cruising about 12% less. A car rated at 40 liters and 8 L/100km goes 500 km in mixed driving, about 450.0 km in city traffic, and about 560.0 km on the highway. Real wind, load, AC, and speed change this further - treat the result as a planning estimate.
Does this work with UK gallons and UK MPG?
Yes. Select UK gallons and UK MPG. A UK gallon is 4.54609 liters, larger than the 3.785411784-liter US gallon. Example: 12 UK gallons at 45 UK MPG = 540 miles (869.0 km). Watch the units - the same number in US MPG means a different distance.
How do I convert MPG to L/100km inside the tool?
The small economy converter switches between US MPG, UK MPG, L/100km, and km/L. For example, 30 US MPG = 7.84 L/100km, and 45 UK MPG = 15.93 km/L. For a full comparison of two cars or trip costs, see our fuel-economy-converter.
How does the simple EV range mode work?
Range = battery energy / efficiency. A 57.5 kWh battery at 15 kWh/100km gives 57.5 / 15 x 100 = 383.3 km. Cold weather, speed, and heating can cut 20-40% off that in practice. This mode estimates distance only - for charging costs, home vs public rates, and cost comparisons with gas cars, see our ev-charging-cost-calculator.
Why can't this tool calculate my fuel economy from fill-up data?
Direction boundary: this tool only goes fuel + economy -> distance. Computing economy from odometer readings and fill-up receipts is the inverse direction and belongs to our fuel-mileage tool. Keeping each tool to one direction keeps the math auditable.
How is this different from a road-trip cost calculator?
This tool answers a distance question: how far can the fuel take you. A road-trip cost calculator answers a money question: tolls, hotels, food, and total fuel cost for the whole journey. For the money side, see our road-trip-cost-calculator.
How is this different from a cost-per-mile calculator?
Cost-per-mile estimates operating cost (fuel, maintenance, depreciation) per mile driven, mainly for trucking and business mileage. This tool estimates the maximum distance a given amount of fuel can cover. For operating cost per mile, see our cost-per-mile calculator.
How accurate is the range estimate?
The arithmetic is exact; the inputs are estimates. Your real economy varies with speed, traffic, hills, cargo, tire pressure, weather, and AC use. Use the conditions selector (city/mixed/highway) and leave a margin - never plan to arrive with zero fuel.
What tank sizes do the presets use?
Approximate typical sizes: motorcycle 15 L (4.0 gal), compact car 45 L (11.9 gal), midsize sedan 60 L (15.9 gal), SUV 75 L (19.8 gal), pickup 100 L (26.4 gal), long-haul diesel truck 450 L (118.9 gal). Your exact tank is in the owner's manual or on the fuel door sticker.
Does the calculator send or store my data?
No. Everything runs in your browser in a single file - no account, no network requests, no tracking. Your inputs disappear when you close the tab.
Free tool by NRTechStudio