How to calculate your vehicle's fuel consumption
Use the calculator on this page or let Drivvo do the math at every fill-up: the average, the cost per km and the expected date of the next one.
- Average from full tank to full tank, including the partial fill-ups in between
- The fuel cost per km at every fill-up
- For cars, motorcycles, trucks, natural gas and electric vehicles
Rated 4.8 on Google Play, with more than 5 million downloads
Fuel consumption calculator
Fill up the tank, note the odometer and drive as usual. The next time you fill up, enter the numbers below.
Result
- Fuel efficiency
- 11.25 Km/Liter
- The same consumption in the other format
- 8.89 Liter/100Km
- Distance driven
- 450 km
This is an estimate based on the numbers you entered. In Drivvo, the average comes out on its own at every fill-up, from your history.
How to calculate fuel efficiency
The most reliable way is the full-tank method. It measures how much fuel the vehicle really used over a stretch.
- Fill up the tank and note the odometer.
- Drive as usual, for as long as you like.
- Fill up the tank again and note the odometer and the amount added.
- Divide the distance driven by the amount added the second time.
Example: the odometer went up by 450 km and you added 40 L to fill the tank. The average is 11.25 Km/Liter.
Partial fill-ups and full tanks
Without filling the tank, there is no way to know how much fuel was left in it. That is why the average only closes between two full tanks. The partial fill-ups in between count toward the next full tank.
- In the app, check Are you filling up the tank? only when you fill the tank.
- Forgot to log a fill-up? Check Missed previous refueling? on the next one, and the count starts over without errors.
- If you usually add only a little at a time, fill the tank every three to five fill-ups. That is enough for the average to show up.
How Drivvo calculates fuel consumption
You log the fill-up and the app does the rest, on Android, iPhone and the Web.
Log the fill-up
Enter the odometer and two of these three values: the price, the total cost or the amount. The app works out the third. Check Are you filling up the tank? when you fill up.
See the average for the stretch
The fill-up shows the average, the distance driven and the cost per km. Right after you save, the app compares this average with your last five.
Follow it month by month
In History, each month's summary shows spending, distance and average. That makes it easy to notice when consumption changes.
Reports
Fuel report
In Reports, on the Refueling tab, you see the consumption for the period you choose.
- Overall average, 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 one fill-up and the next, and how often you fill up
- How much you paid at each gas station and how much you could have saved
- Charts of spending by month, by fuel and by gas station
Fuel cost per km
The cost per km shows how much you spend on fuel for each km driven. The simple math is the price divided by the fuel efficiency.
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 part of what you added is still in the tank.
Next fill-up forecast
Using your latest fill-ups, the app works out how much you drive per day and estimates the date and odometer of the next one. The Next refueling card shows up at the top of History.
On Android and iPhone, a notification reminds you on that date, with your latest average. It is an estimate: the more regular your driving, the more accurate it gets.
Each fuel with its own average
The app keeps a separate average for each type of fuel and handles the cases that usually throw the math off.
More than one fuel
Up to three fuels in the same fill-up, under More options. Gasoline and ethanol in the same tank count together in the average.
Two tanks
A vehicle with natural gas and gasoline? In the vehicle settings, choose Two tanks and enter the fuel and capacity of each one.
Electric
When charging, you enter the kWh and the Battery level at the start and at the end. The average comes out 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 worse average than usual often has a simple cause. The most common ones:
- Low tire 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 the type of fuel
In the app, the average for each stretch shows up next to the lowest and the highest, and the report has a chart of the averages. If it gets worse, you 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 gas station and the payment method. Managers see every vehicle on the Web, with the average, the highest, the lowest and the cost per km of each one, and can filter by driver.
See Drivvo fleet managementPay less at every fill-up
The app's Where to refuel shows fuel prices at the gas stations near you on a map.
See how Where to refuel worksFrequently asked questions
How do I calculate my car's fuel efficiency?
Fill up the tank, note the odometer and drive. When you fill up again, divide the distance driven by the amount added. The calculator on this page does the math, and Drivvo does it on its own at every fill-up.
What does fuel efficiency mean?
It is how far the vehicle goes on each unit of fuel, or how much it uses every 100 of distance. Comparing one month's average with another's shows whether the vehicle started using more fuel.
How do I calculate consumption per 100 km?
Divide 100 by the fuel efficiency. A vehicle that goes 12.5 on each unit of fuel uses 8 every 100.
What is good fuel efficiency?
It depends on the vehicle, the engine, the fuel and how you drive. The best reference is your own vehicle's average: the app shows the lowest, the highest and compares each stretch with the last five.
How do I calculate the fuel cost per km?
Divide the fuel price by the fuel efficiency. In the app, each fill-up shows the cost per km for that stretch, with the discount already applied.
How much fuel does a given amount of money buy?
Divide the amount by the price per unit. In the app, just enter the price and the total cost: the quantity fills itself in.
Can I calculate fuel efficiency without filling the tank?
Not accurately, because there is no way to know how much is left in the tank. Partial fill-ups count toward the next full tank. For electric cars, the battery level solves it: 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 shows up when you fill the tank again. In Where to show the fuel efficiency, you choose whether it goes on the fill-up that opens the stretch or the one that closes it.
Which app calculates fuel consumption and fuel spending?
Drivvo calculates the average, the cost per km and the forecast for the next fill-up. It is free, works on Android, iPhone and the Web, and logs entries even offline.
How do I track fuel for a fleet?
Drivers log each fill-up in the app and the manager follows every vehicle on the Web, with the average and the cost of each one. The Fleet plan has a 15-day free trial.
Does Drivvo calculate consumption for electric and natural gas vehicles?
Yes. When charging, the average comes from the kWh and the battery level. For natural gas, the vehicle settings have the Two tanks option, with the fuel and capacity of each tank.
Does the app tell me when I'll need to fill up?
Yes. The app estimates the date and odometer of the next fill-up and shows it in History. On Android and iPhone, a notification also arrives.
Find out your vehicle's real fuel efficiency
Download Drivvo, log your next fill-ups and see the average and the cost of each stretch.
Want to see all your spending, not just fuel? Discover the car expense tracker