L/100km Calculator. Find Your Car’s Fuel Consumption

You just filled up your tank and you want to know your car’s fuel consumption the way most of the world measures it, in litres per 100 kilometers, not miles per gallon. If you drive in Europe, Canada,Australia, or almost anywhere outside the US, L/100km is the number that actually matters to you.

We built this L/100km calculator so you get your exact fuel consumption in seconds. Enter the distance you drove and the fuel it took to refill your tank, or convert directly from an MPG figure you already know. The calculator shows your L/100km, your MPG equivalent, and how your number compares to typical vehicles. No math. No guessing.

L/100KM CALCULATOR

Find your real-world fuel consumption from your last fill-up

Since your last fill-up
km
Amount it took to fill the tank
L
Price per litre, any currency
per L
Lower Is Better
—L/100km

Your L/100km Results

Your Results

How Your Fuel Consumption Compares

Lower bars are better. Category averages are general benchmarks, not specific to your exact vehicle make or model.
Want to know your fuel cost? Try our Fuel Cost Calculator  |  Planning a trip? Use our Trip Fuel Calculator
From a US spec sheet or manufacturer rating
MPG
Lower Is Better
—L/100km

Quick Answer

MPG = Distance Driven / Gallons of Fuel Used

Example: 350 miles / 12.5 gallons = 28 MPG

Vehicle Type Typical L/100km
Compact car6.2 to 7.3 L/100km
Mid-size sedan7.3 to 8.4 L/100km
SUV / Crossover8.4 to 10.7 L/100km
Pickup truck10.7 to 13.8 L/100km
Hybrid sedan4.3 to 5.2 L/100km

How This L/100km Calculator Works

This calculator turns two simple numbers into your real fuel consumption. Enter the distance you drove since your last fill-up and the amount of fuel it took to fill the tank back up. Click Calculate, and the tool works out your L/100km instantly, along with the MPG and KM/L equivalents for comparison against other rating systems. If you already know your car’s MPG from a US source or a manufacturer’s spec sheet, switch to the Convert From MPG tab to get your L/100km figure directly without needing a fresh fill-up calculation.

Formula Used

The calculation follows the standard European and international fuel
consumption formula: L/100km = (Litres of Fuel Used / Distance Driven in KM) x 100

To convert a known MPG figure to L/100km:

L/100km = 235.214 / MPG

Example Calculation

Trip Distance: 560 km Fuel Used to Refill: 47 litres Step 1, Calculate L/100km:(47 / 560) x 100 = 8.4 L/100km Step 2, Convert to MPG for reference: 235.214 / 8.4 = 28.0 MPGThis is the exact calculation the tool above runs the moment you click Calculate, using your own trip numbers instead of this example.

How to Use This L/100km Calculator

Record your odometer reading when you fill your tank completely, then drive normally until your next fill-up. Record the new odometer reading,fill the tank again, and enter the distance driven and fuel used into the calculator above for your real L/100km.

Record Your Starting Odometer Reading

Fill your tank completely at a station, then write down your odometer reading immediately. This is your starting point for measuring the distance you actually drive on this tank of fuel.

Fill Your Tank Completely

Always fill to the same point, ideally the pump’s automatic shutoff rather than stopping early. Partial fills introduce error into your calculation since you cannot be certain how much fuel is actually in the tank.

Record Your Ending Odometer Reading

Drive normally until you need to refuel again. Record your odometer reading at the pump before you start fueling, not after.

Enter Your Fuel Used

Subtract your starting odometer reading from your ending reading to get the distance driven in kilometers. Note how many litres it took to fill the tank back up. Enter both numbers into the calculator above. If you want your cost as well, our fuel cost calculator gives you a detailed cost breakdown using the consumption figure you just calculated.

L/100km Formula Explained

L/100km equals litres of fuel used divided by distance driven in kilometers, multiplied by 100. This single calculation gives you your real-world fuel consumption in the format used across most of the world outside the US.

The Basic Formula

L/100km = (Litres of Fuel Used / Distance Driven in KM) x 100 This is the standard formula used across Europe, Canada, Australia, and most international fuel economy labels, just applied to your own real driving instead of a manufacturer lab test.

Worked Example From a Real Fill-Up

A driver fills their tank, then drives 663 km before the next fill-up.Refilling takes 53 litres.L/100km = (53 / 663) x 100 = 8.0 L/100km If that same driver plans a 900 km road trip at this consumption rate, our trip fuel calculator [LINK: /trip-fuel-calculator/] uses this exact figure to estimate the fuel needed and total cost for the trip.

Converting Between L/100km and MPG

L/100km and MPG measure the same thing in opposite directions. Use 235.214 divided by your MPG to get L/100km, or 235.214 divided by your L/100km to get back to MPG. If you prefer working in MPG directly, our MPG calculator [LINK: /mpg-calculator/] runs the same fill-up data the other way. If you want a third format, our km/l calculator [LINK:/km-l-calculator/] shows kilometers per litre instead, which is common in parts of Asia and the Middle East.

What Is a Good L/100km for a Car

A good L/100km depends on vehicle type, and lower numbers are always better. Compact cars and sedans average 6.2 to 8.4 L/100km, SUVs average 8.4 to 10.7 L/100km, trucks average 10.7 to 13.8 L/100km, and hybrids commonly fall below 5.2 L/100km. Compare your result to your specific vehicle category rather than a single universal number.

Compact and Sedan Vehicles

Compact cars and mid-size sedans typically achieve 6.2 to 8.4 L/100km combined. A result above 9.0 L/100km in this category suggests checking tyre pressure, driving style, or scheduling a maintenance check.

SUVs and Crossovers

Most SUVs and crossovers average 8.4 to 10.7 L/100km combined, depending on engine size and whether they are 2-wheel or all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive systems typically add 0.3 to 1.0 L/100km compared to the same model in 2-wheel drive.

Trucks and Large SUVs

Full-size trucks and large SUVs average 10.7 to 13.8 L/100km combined under normal driving. Towing or hauling heavy loads can raise this further by 20 to 30 percent. Use our cost per mile calculator [LINK:/cost-per-mile/] to see the full running cost impact of higher consumption vehicles in this category.


Hybrid and Efficient Vehicles

Hybrid sedans commonly achieve 4.3 to 5.2 L/100km combined, with some models falling below 4.3 L/100km in mostly city driving where the electric motor handles more of the load. Plug-in hybrids can show even lower L/100km figures when much of the driving happens on battery power alone.


Why L/100km Is Lower-Is-Better, Unlike MPG

L/100km and MPG run in opposite directions, which trips up a lot of drivers switching between the two systems. With MPG, a higher number means better fuel economy, since you are traveling more miles per gallon.With L/100km, a lower number means better fuel economy, since you are using less fuel to cover a fixed 100-kilometer distance. This distinction matters when comparing vehicles. A car with 6 L/100km is more efficient than one with 9 L/100km, the opposite relationship you would see if comparing 35 MPG against 25 MPG, where the higher number wins. Our fuel consumption calculator shows both figures side by side, so you do not need to mentally flip the comparison every time.

Average L/100km by Vehicle Type

The table below shows real combined L/100km figures for several of the most common vehicles sold internationally, converted from EPA and manufacturer combined ratings. Use this as a reference point alongside the broader category averages above.

VehicleAverage Combined L/100km
Toyota Corolla6.7 L/100km
Honda Civic6.9 L/100km
Toyota RAV48.1 L/100km
Honda CR-V7.8 L/100km
Ford F-15011.8 L/100km
Chevrolet Silverado12.4 L/100km
Toyota Prius4.3 L/100km
Honda Accord Hybrid4.9 L/100km

Figures represent combined ratings for recent model years and can vary by trim level, engine option, and drivetrain.

Example: Daily Commuter

Here is how L/100km translates into real fuel use over time for a typical commuter. A driver travels 64 km per day and averages 8.4 L/100km. Daily fuel use: (64 / 100) x 8.4 = 5.4 litres per day Weekly fuel use (5 driving days): 5.4 x 5 = 27 litres per week Monthly fuel use (22 driving days): 5.4 x 22 = 118.8 litres per month Annual fuel use (260 driving days): 5.4 x 260 = 1,404 litres per year If that same driver improved their consumption from 8.4 to 7.3 L/100km, a realistic gain from better tyre pressure and smoother driving, annual fuel use would drop to roughly 1,220 litres, a saving of about 184 litres per year. At $1.60 per litre, that is a meaningful annual saving from consumption alone, with no change to how much the driver actually drives. Use our monthly fuel cost calculator to turn your own L/100km and commute distance into an exact figure in your local currency.

Common Reasons Your L/100km Is Higher Than Expected

Cold weather, underinflated tyres, aggressive driving, and extra vehicle weight are the most common reasons real-world L/100km runs higher than the expected rating. Each factor can raise consumption independently, and they often combine on a single tank.

Cold Weather and Short Trips

Engines run less efficiently before they reach normal operating temperature, and short trips never give the engine enough time to warm up fully. Cold weather alone can raise L/100km by 10 to 20 percent on short trips compared to the same trips in warm weather.

Underinflated Tyres

Driving on underinflated tyres increases rolling resistance, which forces the engine to work harder to maintain speed. Tyres that are significantly below the recommended pressure can raise L/100km by roughly 3 percent.

Aggressive Driving

Hard acceleration and hard braking burn noticeably more fuel than smooth, gradual driving. Aggressive driving habits can raise real-world L/100km by 15 to 30 percent compared to calm, steady driving on the same route.

Vehicle Load and Roof Racks

Every extra 45 kg of cargo raises consumption by roughly 1 percent. Roof racks and cargo boxes add aerodynamic drag that can raise highway L/100km by another 5 to 15 percent depending on size and driving speed.

How to Improve Your Fuel Consumption

Keep tyres inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, checked monthly when tyres are cold. Service your vehicle on schedule, including air filter changes and using the recommended motor oil grade

Drive smoothly with gradual acceleration and early, gentle braking rather than reacting at the last moment. Use cruise control on the highway to hold a steady speed instead of constantly adjusting your pace.

Remove unused roof racks, cargo boxes, and excess weight from your boot when not actively needed for a trip. Combine short errands into a single trip rather than several cold starts, since a cold engine uses significantly more fuel per kilometer than a warmed-up one.

Track your L/100km over several fill-ups rather than judging from a single tank, since weather, traffic, and route mix can swing any individual result.

Methodology

L/100km on this page is calculated using the standard formula: L/100km = (Litres of Fuel Used / Distance Driven in KM) x 100. MPG conversion uses the standard formula: MPG = 235.214 / L/100km.

Typical L/100km ranges by vehicle category and the specific vehicle figures referenced are converted from EPA and manufacturer combined fuel economy ratings. Real-world L/100km will vary from these figures based on driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, weather, terrain, and individual driving style.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Fill your tank completely and record your odometer reading at that exact moment. Drive normally for the next several days or weeks, then return to a station and fill the tank completely again. Record your new odometer reading and note exactly how many litres it took to refill the tank to the same full point as before. Subtract your starting reading from your ending reading to get the distance driven in kilometers on that tank, then divide the litres used by that distance and multiply by 100. A car that drives 560 km and uses 47 litres to refill gets (47 / 560) x 100, which equals 8.4 L/100km. Repeating this over several fill-ups gives you a more reliable average than a single tank, since weather, traffic, and route mix can shift any one result up or down.

There is no single number that applies to every vehicle, since fuel consumption depends heavily on vehicle size, weight, and engine type.Compact cars and sedans typically average 6.2 to 8.4 L/100km combined, and anything in the lower half of that range is considered strong for the category, since lower is better with this unit. SUVs and crossovers average 8.4 to 10.7 L/100km, with all-wheel drive versions usually running slightly higher than their 2-wheel drive counterparts. Full-size trucks and large SUVs average 10.7 to 13.8 L/100km, and this can rise further when towing or hauling. Hybrid sedans commonly fall below 5.2 L/100km,with some models reaching below 4.3 L/100km in mostly city driving. The most useful comparison is against your own vehicle’s rated figure and similar vehicles in its category, not against a single universal benchmark that ignores vehicle size and type entirely.

Divide 235.214 by your L/100km figure to get the equivalent MPG. A car averaging 8.4 L/100km converts to 235.214 divided by 8.4, which equals 28.0 MPG. This formula works in both directions, since the same constant converts MPG back to L/100km as well. The calculator above performs this conversion automatically and shows both figures side by side, so you never need to do the division by hand unless you specifically want to double-check a figure you found elsewhere, such as a manufacturer spec listed only in one unit system.

Divide 235.214 by your MPG figure to get the equivalent L/100km. A car rated at 28 MPG converts to 235.214 divided by 28, which equals 8.4 L/100km. This is the exact reverse of the L/100km to MPG conversion, using the same constant either direction. This conversion is particularly useful if you are buying a vehicle advertised with a US-spec MPG rating but want to understand its consumption in the L/100km format used across most of Europe, Canada, and Australia.

The two systems measure fuel efficiency from opposite starting points.MPG asks how far you can travel on a fixed amount of fuel, so a bigger number means better efficiency. L/100km asks how much fuel you need to cover a fixed distance, so a smaller number means better efficiency. Both are mathematically valid ways to express the same underlying fuel efficiency, and the choice between them is largely a regional convention rather than a meaningful technical difference. The US and UK predominantly use MPG, while most of continental Europe, Canada, Australia, and many other regions use L/100km as the standard fuel economy label.

Yes, 6 L/100km is a strong result for almost any vehicle category. It sits near the efficient end of the compact and sedan range, well below typical SUV and truck consumption, and is achievable mainly by smaller, lighter vehicles, diesel engines, or hybrid models driven efficiently. Most non-hybrid gasoline SUVs and trucks struggle to reach 6 L/100km even under ideal highway conditions, which makes this figure a solid benchmark for efficient everyday driving in a compact or mid-size vehicle.

It depends entirely on vehicle type. For a compact car or sedan, 10 L/100km would be noticeably above average and worth investigating for tyre pressure, driving style, or maintenance issues. For a full-size SUV, pickup truck, or a vehicle towing a load, 10 L/100km is actually within or even below the typical range, making it a perfectly normal result rather than a problem. Context matters more than the raw number, since 10 L/100km means something very different depending on whether you are comparing it against a hatchback or a full-size pickup.

There is no single global average, since it depends heavily on the mix of vehicle types on the road in a given region, but a reasonable mid-size sedan benchmark sits around 7.3 to 8.4 L/100km combined. Markets with more SUVs and trucks on the road, such as the US, tend to have a higher average fleet consumption than markets dominated by smaller cars. Rather than relying on a single average figure, compare your result against the specific vehicle category table above for a more accurate benchmark for your own car.

Yes, for most vehicles. Steady highway speeds between 80 and 105 km/h let an engine operate in its most efficient range without the constant acceleration and braking cycles that city traffic demands. A vehicle rated at 8.4 L/100km combined might realistically see 9.8 L/100km in dense city traffic and 7.0 L/100km on a steady highway stretch, a meaningful difference purely from driving conditions. This advantage does have a limit, since aerodynamic drag increases sharply above roughly 110 to 120 km/h, and fuel consumption starts climbing again even on a flat, open highway at very high speeds.

Related Calculators

MPG Calculator

Calculate your real-world MPG from your last fill-up using odometer readings.

 KM/L Calculator

Find your fuel consumption in kilometers per litre instead of L/100km.

 Fuel Cost Calculator

Use your L/100km figure to calculate exact fuel cost for any trip distance.

 Trip Fuel Calculator

Plan fuel needed and fuel stops for a full road trip using your consumption figure.

 Fuel Unit Converter

Convert between miles, kilometers, gallons and litres in any combination.

 EV vs Petrol Calculator

Compare your current L/100km-based running cost against an electric vehicle.

Disclaimer

This calculator provides estimates only. Actual fuel consumption varies based on driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, weather, and individual driving style. See our full disclaimer page for more details.