Global Fuel CalculatorFuel consumption calculator for Australia
Australia is fully metric for fuel: litres at the servo, kilometres on the odometer, and consumption quoted as litres per 100 kilometres. Lower is better on that scale, which catches out anyone used to MPG.
Distances here make the trip estimate genuinely useful rather than a novelty. Planning Sydney to Melbourne or a run across the Nullarbor is a real budgeting exercise, and knowing your true L/100km before you leave is worth more than any manufacturer figure.
Enter the kilometres you covered, the litres you put in, and the price per litre. The calculator returns your consumption, your cost per kilometre, and — if you add a route distance — the fuel and dollars that journey will take. Towing a van or boat will push the real figure well above the estimate, so measure a tank with the van attached if that is how you usually drive.
Work out your numbers
Indicative starting price only, last reviewed 2026-01. Enter your own pump price for an accurate result.
How fuel economy is measured here
Australia works in kilometres for distance and litres for fuel, with economy normally quoted as L/100km. The calculator above is set that way by default, and the unit selectors let you switch if you need a different basis.
| Unit | Typical local figure |
|---|---|
| L/100km | 8.00 |
| km/L | 12.50 |
| MPG (US) | 29.40 |
| MPG (imperial) | 35.31 |
Local context
Petrol is sold by the litre in several grades — 91, 95 and 98 octane plus E10 — and diesel alongside. Prices swing through a well-documented weekly discounting cycle in the larger capitals, so the same servo can differ by twenty cents a litre across a fortnight. Regional and remote pricing runs well above metropolitan rates.
Highway consumption in Australia tends to be closer to official figures than in most markets because so much driving is long-distance at steady speed. Towing a caravan or boat, by contrast, can easily push consumption up by half again.
Common questions
What is a good L/100km figure?
For a small petrol hatchback, something in the sixes or low sevens is respectable. Mid-size SUVs commonly sit in the eights and nines, and large four-wheel drives well above ten. Remember that lower is better on this scale — it is the reverse of MPG.
How much extra fuel does towing use?
A lot. A caravan adds both weight and a large flat frontal area, and the aerodynamic penalty grows sharply with speed. Increases of thirty to fifty percent in L/100km are common, and heavy vans behind large four-wheel drives can go beyond that.
Should I fill up on the cheap day of the cycle?
In capital cities the discount cycle is real and regular enough to plan around, and state fuel-price apps publish live figures. Across a year the saving is meaningful, though it matters less than driving style and tyre pressure for most drivers.
Does E10 affect fuel consumption?
Slightly. Ethanol has lower energy content per litre than straight petrol, so E10 usually gives marginally higher L/100km. It is normally cheaper per litre, so whether it works out ahead depends on the price gap on the day.
How do I budget fuel for a long road trip?
Measure your real L/100km over a recent tank rather than trusting the brochure, enter the current price per litre, then put your route distance in the trip field. Add a margin for detours and for the higher prices you will meet in remote areas.
Why does my SUV use more fuel than the sticker says?
Official figures come from a laboratory cycle. Roof racks, a loaded vehicle, air-conditioning in summer heat, and highway speeds above 100 km/h all add consumption that the test does not capture.