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Fuel Cost Calculator Australia 2026-27

The fuel for a trip, and what it really costs once tolls, running costs and the people in the car are counted — with a grid showing the same trip at other consumption figures and pump prices.

Fuel used is distance times consumption over 100, and the cost is that times the pump price.

Results update as you type
Results
Total Fuel Cost
$258.25
Litres—
Per person—
Cost per km—
Distance—
Fuel needed—
Fuel cost—
Tolls—
Running costs—
Total trip cost—
ATO rate (88¢/km)—
Reviewed September 2026. Management accounting arithmetic: the same formulas in every market, in your own currency. ASIC has repeatedly warned about non-IFRS measures such as EBITDA being presented more prominently than statutory profit. Maintained by Adam Formosa.
No account required · Google Analytics off unless allowedCalculator arithmetic runs in your browserResults update as you type
What the trip is made of
What the trip is made of
Fuel$152.89
Running$105.36
All calculations run 100% in your browser. The calculator code does not submit your figures to GlobalCalc to obtain a result.
About fuel cost calculator australia 2026-27

How the fuel cost calculator australia 2026-27 works

Fuel used is distance times consumption over 100, and the cost is that times the pump price. Two things move the answer more than people expect. The first is that consumption is not one number: a car uses less on the highway than in traffic, so the highway share you enter adjusts the figure you give by up to a tenth either way. The second is that fuel is not the cost of driving — tyres, servicing, depreciation and insurance are, and the running-cost field is where they go. At twelve cents a kilometre a long trip costs more in wear than in petrol, which is the arithmetic behind every cents-per-kilometre reimbursement scheme. The ATO line is that comparison: 88 cents per kilometre is the 2026-27 rate for claiming car expenses without a logbook, capped at 5,000 business kilometres, and if your real cost per kilometre is below it the rate is working in your favour. Splitting between passengers divides the total, not the fuel — the tolls and the wear are shared too.

Formula: litres = distance × consumption ÷ 100 · fuel = litres × price · total = fuel + tolls + (distance × running cost)

How annual fuel costs are calculated

The fuel cost formula

Annual fuel cost = (Annual km ÷ 100) × Fuel consumption (L/100km) × Fuel price ($/L). For a car using 8.5L/100km, driven 15,000km/year at $2.00/L: (15,000 ÷ 100) × 8.5 × $2.00 = $2,550/year.

Annual kmFuel use (L/100km)Price/LAnnual costWeekly cost
10,0007.0$2.00$1,400$27
15,0008.5$2.00$2,550$49
20,0008.5$2.00$3,400$65
15,00011.0$2.00$3,300$63
20,00011.0$2.10$4,620$89
Reference data Examples

Fuel cost examples by vehicle type — Australia 2025

Based on average fuel prices of $1.90–$2.10/L for ULP and $2.10–$2.30/L for diesel in 2025.

Vehicle typeTypical L/100km15,000km/yr cost20,000km/yr cost
Small car (e.g. Toyota Yaris)5.5–7.0$1,568–$2,100$2,090–$2,800
Medium sedan (e.g. Toyota Camry)7.5–9.5$2,138–$2,850$2,850–$3,800
SUV medium (e.g. RAV4 petrol)8.5–10.5$2,423–$3,150$3,230–$4,200
Large SUV/4WD11.0–14.0$3,135–$4,200$4,180–$5,600
Hybrid (e.g. Prius)4.0–5.5$1,140–$1,650$1,520–$2,200
EV (e.g. Tesla Model 3)15–20 kWh/100km$450–$900*$600–$1,200*

*EV cost at $0.30/kWh home charging rate. Public fast charging is 2–4× more expensive.

EV vs petrol