Calculate fuel costs for any trip using Australian fuel prices and your vehicle fuel efficiency.
Calculate fuel costs for any trip using Australian fuel prices and your vehicle fuel efficiency. MyCalcTools calculators are designed for quick everyday estimates with clear inputs, instant results and no account required. Results are provided for general information and planning, not as professional financial, medical, legal or trade advice.
This fuel cost calculator estimates the cost of a road trip or regular commute based on distance, your vehicle's fuel consumption rating, and the current price of fuel. It helps you budget for travel and compare the cost of driving different vehicles on the same route.
Australian fuel prices vary significantly by day of week and location. In most capital cities, prices follow a weekly cycle — typically cheapest on Monday or Tuesday and most expensive on Thursday or Friday in many markets, though this varies. Regional and remote areas often pay a significant premium over metropolitan prices due to transport costs. For long-distance driving, planning fuel stops at major towns rather than remote roadhouses can save meaningful amounts. Maintaining correct tyre pressure (under-inflation increases fuel consumption by up to 3%), removing roof racks when not in use, and driving at highway speed limits rather than above them are the most impactful fuel-saving measures for most drivers.
For petrol passenger cars in Australia, under 7 L/100km is considered efficient, 7–10 L/100km is average, and over 10 L/100km is high consumption. Modern hybrid vehicles typically achieve 4–6 L/100km, while electric vehicles have zero fuel consumption (but have charging costs). SUVs and 4WDs typically consume 10–14 L/100km on combined cycles.