Fuel Cost Calculator
Enter distance, consumption and fuel price – get your costs instantly
- Updated
Costs are split evenly
Fuel costs
€63.00
€63.00500 km at 7 L/100 km cost you €63.00 – you need 35 L of fuel.
- Amount of fuel
- 35 L
- Cost per kilometre
- 12.6 ct
How this was calculated
RZ-26 · headon.pro
Calculating fuel costs: formula and practice
How to reliably determine your fuel costs
The fuel costs for a trip can be calculated with a simple formula: fuel costs = distance (km) / 100 × consumption (L/100 km) × fuel price (€/L). For 500 km, a consumption of 7 L/100 km and a gas price of €1.80/L, that comes to exactly €63. The calculator performs this calculation instantly and automatically – no calculator app needed.
For carpools, the calculator offers a practical split feature. Simply enter the number of passengers, and the calculator shows each person's share. With 2 people and €63 in total costs, each person pays €31.50. This makes settling up much easier – especially on longer shared trips or regular commutes.
The fuel price fluctuates daily and by region in Germany. Regular gasoline (E10) typically ranges between €1.55 and €1.90/L in 2025, with diesel usually somewhat cheaper. Motorway service stations are typically 15–25 cents more expensive than regular filling stations. So try to refuel in towns or at regular stations to lower your fuel costs. With our calculator, you can quickly run through different scenarios.
For the tax deductibility of travel costs, different rules apply: employees in Germany can claim the commuter allowance (a flat €0.38 per kilometer of a one-way commute, from the first kilometer), regardless of actual fuel consumption. Self-employed people, on the other hand, may deduct actual fuel costs as a business expense. In both cases, keeping an accurate logbook or collecting receipts is recommended.
Reference values for consumption and costs
Typical consumption by vehicle class
- Small car: 5–7 L
- e.g. VW Polo, Renault Clio – efficient in city driving
- Compact class: 6–8 L
- e.g. VW Golf, Toyota Corolla – well-balanced
- Mid-size class: 7–9 L
- e.g. BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class – comfort-focused
- SUV: 8–12 L
- depending on size and engine; all-wheel drive increases consumption
- Diesel: -1 to -2 L
- diesel engines typically use 1–2 L/100 km less
- Motorway driving: +1–3 L
- higher speeds noticeably increase consumption
Calculation examples
- Distance
- 500 km
- Consumption
- 7.0 L/100 km
- Fuel price
- €1.80/L
- Total fuel costs
- €63.00
- Per person (2 people)
- €31.50
- Daily distance
- 100 km
- Diesel consumption
- 6.0 L/100 km
- Diesel price
- €1.65/L
- Total fuel costs
- €9.90
- Per person (4 people)
- €2.48
Frequently asked questions about the fuel cost calculator
Everything about fuel costs, carpools and tax deductibility
How do I calculate fuel costs for a trip?
The formula is: fuel costs = (distance in km / 100) × consumption in L/100 km × fuel price in €/L. For a 500 km trip, 7 L/100 km consumption and a fuel price of €1.80/L, that comes to: 500 / 100 × 7 × 1.80 = €63. Our calculator performs this calculation automatically.
How do I split fuel costs fairly among passengers?
Enter the total distance, consumption and fuel price, then enter the number of people (including the driver). The calculator splits the total costs evenly among everyone. With €63 and 2 people, each person pays €31.50. This is the fairest method for carpools with commuters or leisure trips.
What fuel price currently applies in Germany?
The gasoline price (E10) in Germany in 2025 ranges between €1.55 and €1.90/L depending on region and time of day. Diesel is usually 5–15 cents cheaper. Motorway service stations are noticeably more expensive than regular filling stations. Apps like Clever Tanken or the ADAC fuel station checker show current prices near you. As a rule of thumb, you can calculate with about €1.75–1.85/L for gasoline and €1.60–1.75/L for diesel.
How does fuel cost differ from cost per kilometer?
The price per kilometer is calculated as: fuel costs ÷ distance. Example: €63 ÷ 500 km = €0.126/km. For the commute to work, the German tax office allows a flat commuter allowance of €0.38/km (one-way distance, from the first kilometer). The actual cost per kilometer is significantly higher than pure fuel costs due to wear, insurance and repairs.
Is a carpool financially worthwhile?
Yes, significantly. With 4 people in a carpool, each person pays only a quarter of the fuel costs. For a 60 km commute (120 km daily) at 7 L/100 km and €1.80/L, driving alone costs €15.12 per day – in a carpool of four, only €3.78 per person. That saves €11.34 per day compared to driving alone, adding up to around €2,500 per person over 220 working days a year. Savings on wear and parking costs add to that as well.