Fuel Cost Calculator: Ultimate Tool for Touring Australia

Last Updated on June 30, 2025 by Felecia at Road Trips Australia

Planning a road trip across Australia? Our Fuel Cost Calculator takes the guesswork out of budgeting for fuel. Simply enter your trip details to estimate fuel expenses based on your vehicle type, load, terrain, and towing needs—helping you hit the road with confidence and control. Travel made easy with Road Trips Australia!

Average Fuel Cost Calculator:

Test fuel calc 1

Choose your type of vehicle and it’s average fuel consumption

Average fuel consumption is the amount of fuel your vehicle uses every 100 kilometers (L/100km).

Estimated trip distance (km)

Fuel price (AUD/litre)

Terrain type

Use the drop down to choose the terrain type you’ll travel on most

Towing a trailer or caravan?

Yes

Vehicle load

Use the drop down to choose your load

Let’s see how much fuel you will use and how much it will cost.

Base fuel consumption

Your trip’s total fuel consumption (L/100km)

We’ve taken your base fuel consumption, worked out how much extra you may need for load and road condition, to estimate how much fuel you will use every 100 kms.

Total fuel required (Litres) for this trip

We estimate you will need at least this much fuel for your trip.

Estimated fuel cost (AUD)

The estimated total cost of fuel for your trip – based on your distance, load, road conditions and cost of fuel.

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Summary

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Know Your Fuel Consumption? Fuel Cost Calculator Here

A special fuel calculator just for your exact vehicle

How much fuel does your vehicle use for every 100 kms?

All vehicles have an average fuel use for every 100 km, but this can vary from factory settings (???) if you’ve got a mod kit, a lifted 4WD or have a big toolbox screwed on! Add your average here and answer a couple of other questions about your trip so we can estimate total cost and total litres required.

Distance of trip in kms

How many kms will travel on your trip?

Cost of fuel – on average, how many dollarydoos per litre?

Fuel Price (AUD/Litre)

What type of country will you travelling through mostly?

Choose most common terrain type your’re travelling

Are you towing a caravan or trailer?

Yes

How loaded are you?

How loaded you are makes a big difference to fuel consumption. Choose how loaded you are to help us estimate your trip’s consumption.

Let’s see how much fuel you need for trip and what it will cost!

Your trip’s total fuel consumption (L/100km)

You need this much fuel in litres for your trip

Estimated Total Fuel Cost (AUD) for your trip

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How to Calculate Fuel Consumption:

Okay, here is the mathematical breakdown for calculating fuel consumption and then using that to determine the fuel volume and cost for a trip. We will express fuel consumption in the standard Australian unit of Litres per 100 Kilometres (L/100km).

Calculating Fuel Consumption (litres per 100 km)

To calculate your vehicle’s average fuel consumption, you need to track the amount of fuel used over a known distance.

Volume of fuel used (in Litres)
Distance travelled (in Kilometres)

Fill your fuel tank completely and note the odometer reading (or reset your trip meter)
Drive as you normally would until you need to refuel.
Note the new odometer reading and the amount of fuel it takes to fill the tank completely again. The amount of fuel added is the amount used since the last fill-up. The distance travelled is the difference between the two odometer readings (or the reading on your trip meter).

Maths for Calculating Fuel Usage:

Fuel Consumption (L/100km)=Kilometres Travelled Litres Used×100

Example: If you used 60 litres of fuel to travel 500 kilometres, the fuel consumption is:

500 km60 L×100=0.12×100=12 L/100km

This means your vehicle consumed 12 litres of fuel for every 100 kilometres travelled during that period. For greater accuracy, it’s best to calculate this average over several fill-ups and varied driving conditions. You can use your vehicle’s fuel consumption rate in our Fuel Cost Calculator!

Factors That Affect the Fuel Cost Calculator

Several key factors can affect your vehicle’s fuel consumption, as reflected in our Fuel Cost Calculator. Terrain plays a major role – driving off-road, sandy tracks, or hilly terrain puts extra strain on your vehicle, increasing fuel use. Load is another critical factor, the heavier your vehicle is, the more fuel it requires to move it. If towing a trailer or caravan, expect even higher fuel consumption, due to weight and increased wind resistance.

Other factors that can affect fuel consumption include:

Wind – Environmental factors, such as strong winds, can significantly increase fuel consumption.
Driving Style – Aggressive acceleration and braking consume more fuel.
Speed – Higher speeds typically result in increased fuel consumption due to wind resistance.
Tyre Pressure – Underinflated tyres increase rolling resistance and fuel use.
Vehicle Maintenance – A poorly maintained engine can be less fuel-efficient.
Aerodynamics – Roof racks, bull bars, and other accessories can impact aerodynamics, potentially increasing fuel consumption.

Tips for Saving Fuel Consumption and Fuel Cost:

Here are some innovative ways to save on fuel consumption when road tripping:

Find the Best Price: Use a fuel app like FuelMap, to locate the best fuel price. Also use Woolworths or Coles fuel discount vouchers.

Pack Smart: Excess weight increases fuel consumption, so avoid overpacking. Bring lightweight items, dual-purpose items and leave behind what is not essential for the trip.

Drive Steady: Avoid rapid acceleration, hard braking and speeding. Maintain a consistent speed, helping your vehicle’s engine run more efficiently.

Plan the Road Trip: A good navigation app is an essential tool to avoid backtracking, road closures and taking the correct turn! Sticking to well-maintained roads can also help reduce fuel usage – however, that’s no fun!

Fuel Cost Calculator: Planning Smart for Road Trips Australia!

Planning a road trip is an exciting adventure, but knowing how much your fuel will cost is a smart way to travel. Keeping in mind that factors such as terrain, load, and towing can affect fuel usage, you can still calculate an approximate value of your fuel cost. By using our Fuel Cost Calculator, you can enjoy the journey knowing your budget can accommodate the adventure! Start planning your next adventure right here with Road Trips Australia, as a calculated distance accompanies every road trip!