Fuel Cost Calculator

One-Time Trip

Let’s say you’re driving 500 miles round trip in your 2019 Honda Civic, which gets an average of 36 miles per gallon. Our calculator divides the total number of trip miles (500) by your car’s mpg (36) to find the number of gallons you’ll use during the trip — in this example, about 14 gallons.

Next, let’s say you’re driving in Nevada, where the average cost of a gallon of gas is $4.61. The calculator multiplies the number of gallons you’ll use by the cost of fuel, and the result is the cost for your trip: $64.54.

3- or 5-day-per-week trip

Follow a similar process to determine the cost of fuel for your daily commute. Let’s say you commute five days a week and live 20 miles from work; enter 40 miles (the daily round trip total) into the calculator.

Our calculator divides your daily mileage by your vehicle’s mpg. If you drive a 2019 Honda Civic which gets 36 mpg, you’ll use about 1.11 gallons of gas daily.

Finally, it multiplies the gas you use by the cost of fuel. Let’s say you live in Nevada, and the cost of a gallon of gas averages $4.61. That means you’ll spend around $5.12 daily on your commute. If you drive to work five days a week, fifty weeks a year, that’s $25.61 weekly, $102.34 monthly, or $1,279.28 annually.

BUDGETING: The average American household spends $150 to $200 on gas every month. Transportation is usually the second-most expensive budget category, after housing.

Based on average gas prices and fuel efficiency, $10 will currently get you about 2.6 gallons of regular unleaded gas and last you around 65 miles; $20 will get you 5.2 gallons and last about 130 miles. It’s important to note the price of gas has risen significantly the past few weeks, from $2.92 per gallon in January 2026 to $3.84 per gallon in March 2026.

Here’s a breakdown:

• As of March 2026, the national average cost for a gallon of gas is $3.84.¹
• That means that $10 will get you about 2.6 gallons of gas. The average car gets around 25 miles per gallon, so $10 will last you about 65 miles.
• $20 will get you double that: about 5.2 gallons, which will last you around 130 miles.

The table below gives you an idea of how much gas you can get, assuming 25 MPG fuel efficiency and $3.84 cost per gallon.

U.S. gas prices rose from under $1.25 in the 1990s to a record peak of $4.06 in 2022 before easing to the mid-$3 range.

1990s: Gas prices remained stable and low, hovering around $1.00 to $1.25 per gallon.

2000s: In the early 2000s, prices climbed due to global demand, geopolitical tensions, and supply constraints. They peaked in 2008 at over $3.30, then dropped in 2009 and 2010 during the financial crisis.

2010s: Prices were above $3.40 during 2011–2014 amid tight global oil markets. A major shift occurred in 2015–2016 with the shale oil boom, which increased supply and pushed prices down to the low $2 range. Prices then gradually rose through 2018.

2020s: Gas prices lowered in 2020 due to the pandemic, then spiked post-pandemic—reaching an all-time high of $4.06 in 2022. Prices then stabilized in the mid-$3 range by 2024–2025. This has shifted recently: as of March 2026, gas prices have risen to $3.84 due to supply disruptions and geopolitical conflict.

It depends on the car, but on average about 0.04 gallons of gas is used per mile, or one-twenty fifth of a gallon. The exact number of gallons used per mile depends on your car’s fuel efficiency. The average MPG for a car in the US is around 25, which equates to 0.04 gallons per mile.

This infographic visualizes simple and effective methods for drivers to reduce their fuel consumption and save money.

Change Your Driving Habits for Immediate Savings

Lower gas mileage equates to higher fuel costs. Aggressive driving—like rapid acceleration, speeding, and hard braking—can lower your gas mileage by as much as 15 to 30 percent at highway speeds, and 10 to 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic.³ To maximize your savings:

• Accelerate and brake gently.
• Maintain a steady speed whenever possible; use cruise control on highways.
• Avoid excessive idling—it can use up to half a gallon of gas per hour.
• Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle (like unused roof racks or cargo).

Cost of Crude Oil

The primary factor influencing gas prices is the cost of crude oil, often accounting for over 50 percent of price.⁹ Changes in global oil supply and demand, geopolitical events, and decisions by oil-producing nations, especially those in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), can impact crude oil prices. For example, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine increased the cost of crude oil significantly. Government intervention also plays a role; for example, when former President Joe Biden released oil from U.S. strategic reserves to lower costs.

Taxes

Federal, state, and local taxes contribute to the cost of gas. For example, one of the reasons gas is more expensive in California is that its tax on gasoline is higher than those of other states, accounting for about 13 percent of the price of a gallon of gas.¹⁰

Distribution and Marketing Costs

The process of distributing and marketing gasoline involves costs related to transportation, storage, and the operation of gas stations. Distribution costs can vary based on the location and infrastructure.

Market Forces and Speculation

Like other commodities, the price of gas is influenced by market forces and speculation. Factors such as global economic conditions, supply and demand dynamics, and market speculation can contribute to price volatility.