Global Fuel CalculatorFuel consumption calculator for Canada
Canada is metric on paper and mixed in conversation. Gas is sold by the litre, distance is in kilometres, and Natural Resources Canada publishes fuel consumption ratings in litres per 100 kilometres — but plenty of drivers, especially near the border, still think in MPG. This calculator defaults to L/100km and shows MPG alongside it.
One thing to watch: when Canadians quote MPG they sometimes mean imperial and sometimes American, depending on where the figure came from. The MPG shown here is the US gallon version, which is the one that matches cross-border comparisons and most vehicle listings.
Enter the kilometres from your trip odometer, the litres you pumped, and the price per litre from the receipt. You get consumption in L/100km, cost per kilometre, and an estimate for a journey you are planning — useful given how long the drives between Canadian cities tend to be.
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
Canada 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 | 8.50 |
| km/L | 11.76 |
| MPG (US) | 27.67 |
| MPG (imperial) | 33.23 |
Local context
Gas is sold by the litre with prices quoted in cents, and provincial taxes plus carbon pricing create wide regional variation — British Columbia typically runs well above Alberta for the same grade on the same day.
Winter matters more here than in most markets. Cold starts, block heaters, winter fuel blends, snow tyres and extended idling all push consumption up, and a ten to twenty percent seasonal increase in L/100km between July and January is entirely normal rather than a sign of a problem.
Common questions
How do I calculate L/100km?
Divide the litres you used by the kilometres you drove, then multiply by one hundred. Forty-two litres over 520 kilometres works out to about 8.1 L/100km. Unlike MPG, a lower number means better economy.
Why is my winter fuel consumption so much worse?
Several effects stack up. A cold engine runs rich until it reaches operating temperature, winter gasoline blends carry slightly less energy, snow tyres add rolling resistance, cold air is denser and increases drag, and idling to warm up burns fuel while covering no distance. Short winter trips are the worst case for all of these.
Is the MPG shown here imperial or US?
US. Canadian listings and cross-border comparisons normally use the US gallon, so that is what the calculator displays. If you need imperial MPG, multiply the US figure by about 1.201.
How do I compare a vehicle rated in L/100km with one rated in MPG?
Convert one to the other rather than comparing directly, because the two scales run in opposite directions. Enter your own numbers here and the calculator will show both at once, which removes the guesswork.
Does the carbon levy show up in the price I enter?
Yes. The price on the pump display is the all-in price including federal and provincial taxes and any carbon charge, so entering the pump price gives you a true cost per kilometre.
How do I estimate fuel cost for a long drive?
Work out your L/100km from a recent fill, enter the current price per litre, then add your route distance in the trip field. The calculator returns the litres required and the dollar cost for that distance.