How to calculate your vehicle's fuel consumption
Use the calculator on this page or let Drivvo do the maths at every fill-up: the average, the cost per km and when your next fill-up is due.
- Average from one full tank to the next, including partial fill-ups in between
- Fuel cost per km every time you refuel
- For cars, motorcycles, trucks, natural gas and electric vehicles
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Fuel consumption calculator
Fill the tank, note the odometer reading and drive as usual. The next time you fill up, enter the figures below.
Result
- Fuel efficiency
- 11.25 Km/Litre
- The same fuel consumption in the other format
- 8.89 Litre/100Km
- Distance traveled
- 450 km
This is an estimate based on the numbers you entered. Drivvo calculates your average mileage automatically at every fill-up using your history.
How to calculate mileage
The most reliable way is the full-tank method. It measures how much fuel the vehicle actually used over a distance.
- Fill the tank and note the odometer reading.
- Drive as usual, for as long as you like.
- Fill the tank again and note the odometer reading and the amount of fuel added.
- Divide the distance travelled by the amount of fuel added the second time.
Example: the odometer reading increased by 450 km and you added 40 L to fill the tank. The average is 11.25 Km/Litre.
Partial fill-ups and full tanks
If you do not fill the tank, there is no way to know how much fuel was left in it. That is why the average can only be calculated between two full tanks. Partial fill-ups in between count towards the next full tank.
- In the app, tick Are you filling the tank? only when you fill the tank.
- Forgot to log a fill-up? Tick Missed previous refuelling? on the next one, and the calculation starts again without errors.
- If you usually add only a little fuel at a time, fill the tank every three to five fill-ups. That is enough for the average to appear.
How Drivvo calculates fuel consumption
Log the fill-up and the app does the rest, on Android, iPhone and the Web.
Log the fill-up
Enter the odometer reading and two of these three values: the price, the total cost or the amount of fuel. The app calculates the third. Tick Are you filling the tank? when you fill the tank.
See the average for the distance travelled
The fill-up shows the average mileage, distance driven and cost per km. As soon as you save it, the app compares this average with your last five fill-ups.
Track it month by month
In History, each month's summary shows spending, distance and average mileage. This makes it easy to spot changes in fuel consumption.
Reports
Fuel report
In Reports, on the Refuelling tab, you can see fuel consumption for the period you choose.
- Overall average mileage, with the lowest and highest in the period
- Total cost, per day and per km
- Average price paid, with the lowest and highest
- Distance between fill-ups and how often you fill up
- How much you paid at each petrol station and how much you could have saved
- Charts of spending by month, fuel and petrol station
Fuel cost per km
The cost per km shows how much you spend on fuel for each km driven. The calculation is simple: price divided by mileage.
In Drivvo, the cost of each stretch uses the price you paid for that fuel, with the discount already applied. It is not the total paid divided by the distance, because some of the fuel you added is still in the tank.
Next fill-up forecast
Using your latest fill-ups, the app calculates how much you drive per day and estimates the date and odometer reading for your next fill-up. The Next refuelling card appears at the top of History.
On Android and iPhone, a notification reminds you on that date and shows your latest average mileage. It is an estimate: the more regularly you drive, the more accurate it gets.
A separate average for each fuel
The app keeps a separate average for each type of fuel and handles cases that usually affect the calculation.
More than one fuel
Up to three fuels in the same fill-up, under More options. Petrol and ethanol in the same tank are counted together when calculating the average.
Two tanks
A vehicle with natural gas and petrol? In the vehicle settings, choose Two tanks and enter the fuel and capacity of each tank.
Electric
When charging, enter the kWh and the Battery level at the start and end. The average is calculated for each stretch, with no need to charge to 100%.
Diesel and AdBlue
AdBlue has its own average and cost, separate from diesel.
Machines with an hour meter
For machines and vehicles with an hour meter, consumption is shown per hour of use.
Why fuel consumption changes
A lower mileage than usual often has a simple cause. The most common ones:
- Low tyre pressure
- Extra weight in the vehicle or on the roof rack
- Air conditioning on all the time
- Stop-and-go traffic and short trips
- Overdue maintenance, such as a dirty air filter
- A change in fuel type
In the app, the average for each stretch appears alongside the lowest and highest, and the report has a chart of the averages. If it drops, you’ll notice at the next fill-up.
See how to keep track of maintenanceFleet fuel tracking
In a fleet, drivers log each fill-up on their phone, even offline, with the petrol station and payment method. Managers see every vehicle on the Web, with its average, highest, lowest and cost per km, and can filter by driver.
See Drivvo fleet managementPay less at every fill-up
The app's Where to refuel shows fuel prices at petrol stations near you on a map.
See how Where to refuel worksFrequently asked questions
How do I calculate my car's mileage?
Fill the tank, note the odometer reading and drive. When you fill up again, divide the distance driven by the amount of fuel added. The calculator on this page does the maths, and Drivvo calculates it automatically at every fill-up.
What does mileage mean?
It is how far the vehicle goes on each unit of fuel, or how much fuel it uses every 100 units of distance. Comparing one month's average with another's shows whether the vehicle has started using more fuel.
How do I calculate fuel consumption per 100 km?
Divide 100 by the mileage. A vehicle that travels 12.5 per unit of fuel uses 8 per 100.
What is good mileage?
It depends on the vehicle, engine, fuel and how you drive. The best reference is your own vehicle's average: the app shows the lowest and highest values and compares each stretch with the last five.
How do I calculate fuel cost per km?
Divide the fuel price by the mileage. In the app, each fill-up shows the cost per km for that stretch, with any discount already applied.
How much fuel can I buy for a given amount?
Divide the amount by the price per unit. In the app, just enter the price and total cost: the quantity fills in automatically.
Can I calculate mileage without filling the tank?
Not accurately, because there is no way to know how much fuel is left in the tank. Partial fill-ups count towards the next full tank. For electric cars, the battery level takes care of this: there is no need to charge to 100%.
Why doesn't the average show on my last fill-up?
Because that fuel has not been used yet. The average appears when you fill the tank again. In Where to show the mileage, you can choose whether it appears on the fill-up that starts the stretch or the one that ends it.
Which app calculates fuel consumption and fuel expenses?
Drivvo calculates the mileage, the cost per km and when you'll need to refuel next. It's free, works on Android, iPhone and the Web, and records entries even offline.
How do I track fuel for a fleet?
Drivers record each refuelling in the app, and the manager can track every vehicle on the Web, including its mileage and costs. The Fleet plan has a 15-day free trial.
Does Drivvo calculate consumption for electric and natural gas vehicles?
Yes. For charging, it calculates average consumption from the kWh and battery level. For natural gas, the vehicle settings have a Two tanks option for each tank's fuel and capacity.
Does the app tell me when I'll need to refuel?
Yes. The app estimates the date and odometer reading for your next refuelling and shows them in History. You'll also get a notification on Android and iPhone.
Find out your vehicle's actual mileage
Download Drivvo, record your next refuellings and see the mileage and cost for each stretch.
Want to see all your spending, not just fuel? Explore the car expense tracker