Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate your fuel costs for any trip. Quick presets for common distances and MPG comparisons by truck type.
Trip Details
Quick Distance Presets
Estimated Fuel Cost
Enter your trip details and click Calculate to see fuel costs.
Average MPG by Truck Type
Use these averages as a starting point if you are not sure about your truck's fuel efficiency.
| Truck Type | Avg MPG | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Van | 6.5 | Most common, aerodynamic trailer |
| Reefer | 5.5 | Refrigeration unit adds fuel drag |
| Flatbed | 6 | Varies with load shape and tarping |
| Tanker | 5 | Liquid surge + heavy GVWR |
| Box Truck (26ft) | 8 | Lighter, better city MPG |
| Bobtail (no trailer) | 10 | Deadheading, no load |
Calculate Your Full Operating Costs
Fuel is your biggest expense. See how it fits into your total cost per mile.
What does this calculator actually work out?
It turns a trip distance and your truck's fuel economy into the fuel bill for that run, at the national on-highway diesel price of $5.26 a gallon.
It is for owner-operators and lease drivers who pay for their own fuel, and for company drivers checking whether a fuel surcharge covers what a lane actually costs to run.
Without it you either take the broker's fuel surcharge on trust or work the arithmetic out on a phone in a truck stop car park. This does the same sum, with the current diesel price already in the box.
How is the number worked out?
gallons = miles ÷ MPG · fuel cost = gallons × $/gallon · fuel cost per mile = fuel cost ÷ miles
The arithmetic is shown so you can check the answer against your own settlement statement rather than take it on trust.
What does the result leave out?
- One flat price per gallon. Real fuel spend varies by state — diesel tax alone swings the pump price by more than a dollar between California and Texas.
- Your average MPG, not your best. Loaded weight, terrain, idle time and headwinds all pull it down, and a figure taken from a good week will understate the bill.
- Fuel only. Tolls, scales, DEF, and out-of-route miles are not in this number — the cost-per-mile calculator is where those belong.
- No fuel card discount. If you buy on a network card, your real cost per gallon is lower than the retail price shown.
What MPG should I put in if I do not know mine?
Use the table above as a starting point, then replace it as soon as you have real numbers. Divide the miles between two fills by the gallons you put in on the second one. Do that three or four times and average it — a single fill can be off by a mile per gallon depending on where you stopped and how full the tank was.
Does a fuel surcharge actually cover my fuel?
Not automatically. A fuel surcharge is normally paid per mile and set against a base diesel price, so it moves with the gap between the current price and that base — not with the price itself. Work out the fuel cost per mile here, compare it with the surcharge per mile you are being offered, and the difference is what you are absorbing.
Why is my fuel bill higher than this figure?
The three usual reasons are idle time, out-of-route miles and weight. Idling burns roughly three quarters of a gallon an hour and does not show up in trip miles at all, so a long reefer night can cost real money the calculator never sees. Deadhead and reroute miles are fuel you burn without revenue, and a heavy load costs MPG on every grade.