Fuel Stops Calculator (Range and Refuels)
Enter the trip distance, tank size and fuel consumption to plan your fuel stops.
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Fuel Stops Calculator (Range and Refuels) by TheCalcTools
How the Fuel Stops Calculator (Range and Refuels) works
Usable range = tank size × (1 − reserve) ÷ consumption. Keeping 10% to 20% in reserve avoids running dry where stations are far apart.
Starting with a full tank, each stop refills you for another leg, so the number of stops is the number of legs minus one.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Trip distance (km) | 1200 |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank size (litres) | 55 |
| Fuel consumption (L/100 km) | 7.5 |
| Reserve to keep in the tank | 15 % |
| Fuel price per litre | $1.6 |
- A 55 L tank at 7.5 L/100 km with 15% reserve gives 623 km per tank.
- 1,200 km needs 1 fuel stop and 90.0 litres ($144.00).
Result:
| Usable range per tank (km) | 623 |
|---|---|
| Fuel stops needed (starting full) | 1 |
| Fuel used (litres) | 90.0 |
| Fuel cost | $144.00 |
| Typical leg between stops (km) | 600 |
Frequently asked questions
My car shows mpg. How do I convert?
L/100 km = 235.21 ÷ US mpg (282.48 ÷ UK mpg). 30 US mpg is about 7.8 L/100 km.
Why is my real range lower?
High speed, air conditioning, roof boxes, towing and hills raise consumption. Use your highway figure, not the official combined figure.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.