Fuel Distance Calculator

Understanding Your Range Per Tank

Knowing how far you can go on a full tank takes the guesswork out of road trips and daily commutes. It's the product of two numbers: your fuel efficiency (MPG) and your tank size.

Miles per tank = MPG × Tank size (gallons)

A sedan getting 30 MPG with a 13-gallon tank has a range of about 390 miles. A pickup truck at 18 MPG with a 26-gallon tank covers roughly 468 miles — more range despite lower efficiency, thanks to the larger tank.

Planning Trips Around Your Range

On a road trip, it's smart to plan fuel stops before your tank hits empty. A practical rule: plan to refuel at the three-quarter mark — when you've used about 75% of your range. This gives you a comfortable buffer for detours, traffic, or unexpected gas station closures.

Keep in mind that your actual range depends on driving conditions:

• Highway cruising at 60 mph usually gives the best range — close to or better than your EPA-rated MPG.
• City driving with frequent stops can cut range by 20–30% compared to highway numbers.
• Mountain routes consume more fuel going up, and while you gain some back going down, the net effect is lower range.
• Headwinds and heavy rain increase aerodynamic drag, which lowers efficiency by 5–10%.
• Cold weather reduces range noticeably — a 20°F day can cut fuel economy by 15–25% compared to 70°F.
• A full car with luggage weighs more and pushes through more air, reducing range by roughly 1% per extra 100 lbs.

Range in Metric (Kilometers per Tank)

If your car's consumption is rated in L/100km, the formula works a little differently:

Range (km) = (Tank size in liters ÷ L/100km) × 100

For example, a car that uses 6 L/100km with a 50-liter tank: (50 ÷ 6) × 100 = 833 km of range.

The calculator above handles both imperial and metric units — enter your efficiency and tank size, and it shows your estimated range instantly.