Big Rig Daily · Free Driver Tools

Truck Fuel Cost Calculator

Enter your trip miles, your truck's miles per gallon and the price of diesel to see how much fuel a run will take and what it will cost. Everything runs in your browser.

How the fuel cost calculator works

The calculator divides your miles by your miles per gallon to find the gallons you need. It multiplies those gallons by the price per gallon to get the total fuel cost. Fuel cost per mile is the price per gallon divided by your miles per gallon.

For example, a 1,000 mile run in a truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon needs about 153.8 gallons. At $3.75 a gallon, that is about $576.92 in fuel, or about 58 cents a mile.

Getting good numbers to plug in

• Use your own average MPG from fuel receipts and odometer readings. Load weight, terrain, wind, speed and idling all change it.
• Use the price you actually pay at the pump after any fuel card discount.
• The U.S. Energy Information Administration posts weekly average diesel prices by region, which can help when you plan a run through another part of the country.
• For a round trip, enter the total miles both ways.

Fuel is one of the biggest costs for anyone running their own truck. The owner-operator vs company driver guide covers who pays for fuel and other costs on each path.

To track your actual gallons, fuel cost and miles per gallon over a week, print the free weekly trip log and keep it in the cab.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate fuel cost for a truck trip?

Divide the trip miles by your truck's miles per gallon to get gallons, then multiply by the price per gallon. A 600 mile trip at 6 miles per gallon needs 100 gallons, which costs $400 at $4.00 a gallon.

How do I figure fuel cost per mile?

Divide the price per gallon by your miles per gallon. At $4.00 a gallon and 6.5 miles per gallon, fuel costs about 62 cents a mile.

Does this include DEF, tolls or reefer fuel?

No. The calculator covers diesel for the truck only. Diesel exhaust fluid, tolls, reefer fuel and idling are not included, so add those separately if they apply to your run.

Why does my real fuel cost differ from the estimate?

Your miles per gallon changes with weight, weather, hills, traffic and speed, and fuel prices change from stop to stop. The estimate is only as close as the numbers you enter.