Fuel Consumption Converter
Convert fuel consumption for every market – US, UK and Asian units
- Updated
You can type in either field.
Result in mpg (US)
33.6mpg (US)
33.67 L/100 km is 33.6 mpg (US).
In all units
Tap to use the unit as the target.
How this was calculated
L/100 km states the amount per distance, mpg and km/l the distance per amount. That is why you divide instead of multiply – always via L/100 km.
Basis: 1 mile = 1.609344 km, 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 l, 1 imperial gallon = 4.54609 l. Results rounded to 4 decimal places.
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Fuel consumption worldwide: units and conversion
L/100km, mpg (US), mpg (UK) and km/l explained
In Germany and across Europe, liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) is the standard. The EU legally mandates this unit for new passenger cars. A value of 7 L/100km means the vehicle consumes 7 liters of fuel over 100 kilometers. The lower the value, the more economical the vehicle. Since the introduction of the WLTP test cycle (2018), official manufacturer figures are closer to real-world driving, but are still stated in L/100km.
The US uses miles per gallon (mpg) – specifically the US gallon (3.785 liters). A higher mpg value means lower consumption. The conversion uses the formula mpg_US = 235.215 ÷ (L/100km). This means: 7 L/100km equals 33.6 mpg, and 10 L/100km equals 23.5 mpg. Since 2011, new vehicles in the US must also state combined consumption as an L/100km equivalent (MPGe for electric vehicles).
The United Kingdom also officially uses mpg, but based on the imperial gallon (4.546 liters). Because the imperial gallon is larger than the US gallon, UK mpg figures for the same vehicle are higher: 7 L/100km → 33.6 mpg (US), but 40.4 mpg (UK). Anyone buying a used car from the UK or reading UK travel reports should keep this difference in mind. Since Brexit, the UK continues to use mpg (UK) alongside L/100km.
In Japan, India and many Asian countries, km/l (kilometers per liter) is common. This is the direct inverse of L/100km: km/l = 100 ÷ (L/100km). A value of 14.3 km/l therefore corresponds to 7 L/100km. For expats, imported vehicles and international vehicle comparisons, knowing all the units matters. The calculator converts all four units into each other with high precision – the formulas are based on the exact NIST definitions for the gallon and the mile.
The non-linearity of the conversion has practical consequences: at low consumption (2–4 L/100km, hybrids, city cars), small savings lead to large mpg improvements. At high consumption (12–15 L/100km, SUVs, vans), mpg jumps are comparatively small. That is why mpg-based fuel-saving comparisons are often misleading – L/100km is the clearer unit for direct consumption comparisons.
Key reference values
Typical consumption values compared
- 5 L/100km
- 47.0 mpg (US) | 56.5 mpg (UK) | 20 km/l – compact car, hybrid
- 7 L/100km
- 33.6 mpg (US) | 40.4 mpg (UK) | 14.3 km/l – mid-size car
- 10 L/100km
- 23.5 mpg (US) | 28.2 mpg (UK) | 10 km/l – SUV, estate car
- 235.215
- Conversion factor L/100km → mpg (US), based on NIST definitions
- 282.481
- Conversion factor L/100km → mpg (UK), using the imperial gallon (4.546 l)
- 100 ÷ L/100km
- Formula for the km/l conversion
Calculation examples
- Formula
- mpg_US = 235.215 ÷ L/100km
- Substitute
- 235.215 ÷ 7
- Result
- ≈ 33.60 mpg (US)
- Formula
- km/l = 100 ÷ L/100km
- Substitute
- 100 ÷ 7
- Result
- ≈ 14.29 km/l
- Formula
- L/100km = 235.215 ÷ mpg_US
- Substitute
- 235.215 ÷ 30
- Result
- ≈ 7.84 L/100km
Frequently asked questions about the fuel consumption converter
L/100km, mpg and km/l explained clearly
How do I convert L/100km to mpg?
For US miles per gallon: mpg_US = 235.215 ÷ (L/100km). Example: 7 L/100km = 235.215 ÷ 7 ≈ 33.6 mpg. For UK mpg (imperial gallon): mpg_UK = 282.481 ÷ (L/100km). The formulas are non-linear – halving consumption doubles the mpg value.
What is the difference between US mpg and UK mpg?
1 US gallon = 3.785 liters, 1 UK (imperial) gallon = 4.546 liters. As a result, a UK car with the same physical consumption shows a higher mpg value than a US car. Example: 7 L/100km → 33.6 mpg (US), but 40.4 mpg (UK). Always check the unit when buying a used car.
What does km/l mean and when is it used?
km/l (kilometers per liter) is the inverse of L/100km and is mainly used in Asia (Japan, India, Korea) and parts of Latin America. A higher km/l value means lower consumption. Conversion: km/l = 100 ÷ (L/100km). Example: 7 L/100km = 100 ÷ 7 ≈ 14.29 km/l.
Why is the conversion non-linear?
Because L/100km is a consumption per distance (the more, the worse), while mpg and km/l are ranges per volume (the more, the better). The conversion involves a division – so the relationship is hyperbolic, not proportional. This means: improving from 5 to 4 L/100km saves a larger percentage of fuel than improving from 10 to 9 L/100km.
Which unit is the standard in Germany and Europe?
In Germany and across Europe, liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) is the legally mandated figure for fuel consumption of new passenger cars (EU regulation). The WLTP cycle (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure) provides official consumption figures in L/100km. The US uses mpg, and since 2011 new vehicles must also state a CO2 equivalent in g/mile.