MPG Calculator
Calculate your vehicle's miles per gallon from odometer readings or total miles driven. See your fuel efficiency rating, cost per mile, and metric L/100km equivalent — all updated in real time.
Enter Your Trip Data
📍 Distance
Enter odometer readings or total distance directly. If both odometer fields are filled, the distance is calculated automatically.
⛽ Fuel Used
Results
Average MPG by Vehicle Type
Reference table based on EPA data for model year 2024. Compare your result to your vehicle category.
| Vehicle Type | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Car / Sedan | 30 | 38 | 33 |
| Midsize Sedan | 28 | 36 | 31 |
| Full-size Sedan | 23 | 32 | 27 |
| Small SUV / Crossover | 26 | 32 | 28 |
| Midsize SUV | 22 | 28 | 25 |
| Full-size SUV | 16 | 22 | 18 |
| Pickup Truck | 18 | 24 | 21 |
| Minivan | 22 | 28 | 25 |
| Sports Car | 20 | 28 | 24 |
| Hybrid | 48 | 46 | 47 |
🛠 How to Improve Your Fuel Economy
1. Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance and can reduce fuel economy by 3% or more. Check tire pressure monthly when tires are cold. The correct PSI is on the driver's door jamb sticker, not the tire sidewall.
2. Drive Smoothly — Avoid Jackrabbit Starts
Aggressive acceleration and hard braking can lower MPG by 15–30% on the highway and 10–40% in city traffic. Accelerate gently, maintain steady speeds, and coast to red lights instead of braking hard at the last moment.
3. Slow Down on the Highway
Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially with speed. Driving 65 mph instead of 75 mph can improve fuel economy by 10–15%. Use cruise control on flat highways to maintain a consistent speed.
4. Reduce Excess Weight & Drag
Every 100 lbs of extra weight reduces MPG by about 1%. Remove roof racks, cargo carriers, and heavy items you don't need. An empty roof rack alone can decrease fuel economy by up to 5%.
5. Stay on Top of Maintenance
Replace dirty air filters, use the recommended motor oil grade, keep your engine tuned, and fix any check-engine lights promptly. A faulty oxygen sensor alone can reduce MPG by up to 40%.
6. Minimize Idling
Idling gets 0 MPG. If you'll be stopped for more than 60 seconds (not in traffic), turn off the engine. Modern engines use less fuel restarting than idling for extended periods. Use remote start sparingly.
Recommended Gear for Tracking Fuel Economy
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my car's MPG?
Fill your tank completely, reset your trip odometer (or note your current mileage), then drive normally until you need fuel again. Fill up completely and note how many gallons it took. Divide the miles driven by the gallons used: MPG = Miles Driven ÷ Gallons Used. For example, if you drove 350 miles and used 12.5 gallons, your MPG is 350 ÷ 12.5 = 28 MPG. For the most accurate result, fill up at the same pump and stop at the first click.
What is a good MPG for a car?
For a gasoline-powered vehicle, 25–30 MPG combined is considered good, and anything above 30 MPG is excellent. Compact cars and hybrids often achieve 35–55+ MPG. Full-size trucks and SUVs typically get 15–22 MPG. The best comparison is against the EPA estimate for your specific vehicle — you can look it up at fueleconomy.gov.
How do I convert MPG to L/100km?
To convert US miles per gallon to liters per 100 kilometers, divide 235.215 by your MPG value: L/100km = 235.215 ÷ MPG. For example, 30 MPG = 235.215 ÷ 30 = 7.84 L/100km. Note that a lower L/100km number means better fuel economy — the opposite of MPG where higher is better. This calculator does the conversion automatically when you toggle to metric.
Why is my actual MPG lower than the EPA estimate?
EPA estimates are measured under controlled lab conditions that don't reflect real-world driving. Factors that reduce your actual MPG include: stop-and-go traffic, cold starts (especially in winter), aggressive acceleration, highway speeds above 60 mph, running A/C, carrying extra weight, underinflated tires, and short trips where the engine never fully warms up. Most drivers get 10–20% less than the EPA combined rating.
Does driving speed affect MPG?
Yes, significantly. Most vehicles reach peak fuel efficiency between 35–55 mph. Above 50 mph, aerodynamic drag increases rapidly with the square of speed. Every 5 mph over 50 is roughly equivalent to paying an extra $0.20–$0.30 per gallon. Driving at 70 mph vs. 55 mph can reduce your fuel economy by 15–25%. Use cruise control on the highway to maintain steady, efficient speeds.
How often should I check my MPG?
Track your MPG every fill-up for the most accurate picture. A sudden drop in fuel economy — more than 10–15% below your normal average — can indicate problems like underinflated tires, a dirty air filter, failing oxygen sensor, dragging brakes, or engine issues. Consistent tracking helps you catch maintenance problems early before they become expensive repairs.