Fuel Cost Calculator UK
Last updated: February 2026
Calculate petrol and diesel costs for any UK journey. Work out fuel expenses based on distance, vehicle MPG, and current fuel prices.
UK Fuel Cost Calculator
Petrol vs Diesel Comparison
Compare running costs between petrol and diesel vehicles for your annual mileage.
UK Fuel Prices 2025
| Fuel Type | Average Price | Supermarket | Motorway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unleaded Petrol | 140-150p/L | 138-145p/L | 160-175p/L |
| Diesel | 145-155p/L | 143-150p/L | 165-180p/L |
| Premium Petrol | 160-170p/L | 155-165p/L | 180-195p/L |
| LPG | 70-80p/L | 68-75p/L | 85-95p/L |
Fuel Price Tip
Supermarket fuel stations (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons) are typically 3-8p/litre cheaper than branded stations. Motorway services charge 15-25p/litre premium - always fuel up before joining motorway!
Average UK Vehicle MPG Guide
| Vehicle Type | Petrol MPG | Diesel MPG | Cost/Mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Car (Fiesta, Polo) | 50-60 MPG | 60-70 MPG | 11-14p |
| Medium Car (Golf, Focus) | 42-52 MPG | 55-65 MPG | 13-17p |
| Large Car (Mondeo, Passat) | 35-45 MPG | 50-60 MPG | 15-20p |
| Small SUV (Qashqai, Tucson) | 38-48 MPG | 50-58 MPG | 14-18p |
| Large SUV (Range Rover, X5) | 25-35 MPG | 35-45 MPG | 20-28p |
| Hybrid (Prius, Yaris Hybrid) | 55-70 MPG | - | 9-13p |
7 UK Fuel Saving Strategies
Use Supermarket Fuel Stations
Save 3-8p/litre at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons. Use PetrolPrices.com app to find cheapest local station. Annual saving: £100-250/year.
Drive Smoothly
Gentle acceleration, anticipate traffic, ease off early for junctions. Aggressive driving wastes 20-30% fuel. Annual saving: £300-600/year.
Optimal Motorway Speed
60-65mph is fuel-efficient sweet spot. 70mph uses 9% more than 60mph, 80mph uses 25% more. Use cruise control. Annual saving: £80-150/year.
Maintain Tire Pressure
Under-inflated tires (20% low) waste 3-5% fuel. Check monthly when cold. Add 2 PSI for motorway driving. Annual saving: £60-120/year.
Remove Unnecessary Weight
Every 50kg costs 1-2% fuel. Clear out boot junk, remove roof rack/box when not in use. Roof box at motorway speeds costs 10-25% more fuel.
Plan Routes Efficiently
Use Google Maps/Waze with live traffic. Combine errands into single trip. Avoid rush hour. Cold engine uses 50% more fuel first 5 miles.
Regular Vehicle Maintenance
Dirty air filter costs 7% MPG. Worn spark plugs cost 5%. Annual service (£200) pays for itself in fuel savings. Keep engine oil topped up.
Combined Fuel Savings Potential
Implementing all 7 strategies can save £500-1,500/year for typical UK driver doing 12,000-15,000 miles/year. Even 3-4 strategies saves £300-600/year.
Common UK Journey Fuel Costs
| Journey | Miles | Petrol (45MPG) | Diesel (55MPG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| London to Birmingham | 120 | £17.48 | £14.87 |
| London to Manchester | 200 | £29.14 | £24.79 |
| London to Edinburgh | 403 | £58.71 | £49.95 |
| Manchester to Leeds | 44 | £6.41 | £5.46 |
| Birmingham to Bristol | 85 | £12.38 | £10.54 |
| Daily Commute (30mi round) | 30 | £4.37 | £3.72 |
* Calculations based on 145p/L petrol, 150p/L diesel. January 2025 average prices.
How the Fuel Cost Calculator Works
This calculator provides estimates based on current UK property market data and 2025/26 tax rules. The UK property market involves multiple costs beyond the purchase price, including stamp duty, solicitor fees, surveys, and ongoing costs like council tax and insurance.
Property transactions in England and Northern Ireland are subject to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), while Scotland uses LBTT and Wales uses LTT. First-time buyers benefit from relief on properties up to £500,000, paying no stamp duty on the first £300,000.
Key Information for 2025/26
SDLT rates for residential property are: 0% up to £125,000, 2% from £125,001 to £250,000, 5% from £250,001 to £925,000, 10% from £925,001 to £1,500,000, and 12% above £1,500,000. The additional property surcharge is 5% (increased from 3% in October 2024). Average UK mortgage rates sit around 4.5% for a 5-year fixed deal.
Example Calculation
Purchasing a £300,000 property with a 10% deposit (£30,000) means a £270,000 mortgage. At 4.5% over 25 years, monthly repayments would be approximately £1,502. Stamp duty for a standard buyer is £5,000, while first-time buyers pay £0. Total upfront costs including fees typically range from £36,500 to £39,000.
Source: Based on official HMRC SDLT rates and current market data. Last updated March 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
UK fuel prices January 2025:
- Unleaded petrol: 140-150p/litre (supermarkets 138-145p)
- Diesel: 145-155p/litre (supermarkets 143-150p)
- Premium unleaded: 160-170p/litre
- LPG: 70-80p/litre
Motorway services typically charge 15-25p/litre more. Fuel duty is 52.95p/litre plus 20% VAT on the total.
Calculate journey fuel cost in 3 steps:
- Litres needed: (Distance / MPG) x 4.546
- Cost: Litres x Price per litre
Example: 200 miles at 45 MPG, fuel at 145p/L
Litres = (200 / 45) x 4.546 = 20.2 litres
Cost = 20.2 x £1.45 = £29.29
Diesel typically costs less per mile due to 20-30% better fuel economy, despite higher pump prices:
- Petrol: 145p/L at 45 MPG = 14.6p per mile
- Diesel: 150p/L at 55 MPG = 12.4p per mile (15% cheaper per mile)
For 12,000 miles/year, diesel saves approximately £260/year in fuel costs. However, diesel cars typically cost £1,000-2,000 more to purchase, so break-even is around 12,000+ annual miles.
Petrol cars:
- Excellent: 55+ MPG (hybrids, small economical cars)
- Good: 45-55 MPG (small to medium cars)
- Average: 35-45 MPG (medium to large cars)
- Below average: Under 35 MPG (SUVs, performance cars)
Diesel cars: Typically 10-20% better than equivalent petrol. A "good" diesel achieves 55-70 MPG.
Real-world tip: City driving typically achieves 20-30% lower MPG than manufacturer figures. Motorway driving is closer to rated MPG.
Seven proven strategies to cut UK fuel costs:
- Shop around: Use PetrolPrices app - save 5-10p/L at supermarkets
- Drive smoothly: Gentle acceleration, anticipate traffic - improves MPG 20-30%
- Optimal speed: 60-65mph uses 15-25% less fuel than 80mph
- Tire pressure: Check monthly - under-inflation costs 3-5% fuel
- Remove weight: Clear boot, remove roof rack when not in use
- Use cruise control: Maintains steady speed - 5-10% motorway saving
- Regular servicing: Dirty filters, worn plugs reduce economy 5-10%
Combined potential savings: £500-1,500/year for 12,000-15,000 mile/year driver.
EV running costs vs petrol (2025):
- Home charging (off-peak): 7-10p/kWh = 2-3p per mile
- Petrol at 145p/L, 45 MPG = 14.6p per mile
- Savings: 80% cheaper per mile on home charging
For 12,000 miles/year: EV costs ~£400-600, petrol costs ~£1,750. However, EVs cost £5,000-15,000 more to buy, so break-even takes 4-10 years.
Best for: High-mileage drivers, those with home charging, company car users (2% BIK tax).
Motorway services typically charge 15-25p/litre more than supermarkets or local stations due to:
- Captive market - you can't easily leave motorway
- Higher operating costs for 24/7 operation
- Prime location rental costs
Cost impact: Filling 50L tank at motorway services (165p/L) vs supermarket (145p/L) = £10 extra per fill. For 20 long trips/year, that's £200 wasted.
Solution: Always fuel up before joining motorway, or just after exiting at local station.
Formula: Cost per mile = (Fuel price in pence / MPG) x 4.546 / 100
Example at 145p/L and 45 MPG:
Cost per mile = (145 / 45) x 4.546 / 100 = 14.65p per mile
Quick reference (at 145p/L petrol):
- 35 MPG = 18.8p/mile
- 45 MPG = 14.6p/mile
- 55 MPG = 12.0p/mile
Pro Tips for Accurate Results
- Double-check your input values before calculating
- Use the correct unit format (metric or imperial)
- For complex calculations, break them into smaller steps
- Bookmark this page for quick future access
Understanding Your Results
Our Fuel Cost Calculator provides:
- Instant calculations - Results appear immediately
- Accurate formulas - Based on official UK standards
- Clear explanations - Understand how results are derived
- 2025/26 updated - Using current rates and regulations
Common Questions
Is this calculator free?
Yes, all our calculators are 100% free to use with no registration required.
Are the results accurate?
Our calculators use verified formulas and are regularly updated for accuracy.
Can I use this on mobile?
Yes, all calculators are fully responsive and work on any device.
People Also Ask
Did You Know? UK Fuel Duty Facts
Fuel duty makes up a significant portion of what you pay at the pump. In the UK, fuel duty is currently set at 52.95 pence per litre, and VAT at 20 percent is then applied on top of both the fuel cost and the duty itself. This means that for every litre of unleaded petrol at 145 pence, approximately 89 pence goes to the government in duty and VAT combined.
The temporary 5 pence per litre cut introduced in March 2022 was extended through the Spring Budget and remains in effect, keeping the rate at 52.95p rather than the previous 57.95p. Interestingly, the UK has not increased fuel duty since 2011, making it one of the longest freezes in modern tax history. When planning long journeys, remember that fuel prices can vary by as much as 20 pence per litre between regions, with rural areas and motorway services typically charging the most.