Tool
UK fuel cost calculator
A straight conversion of miles to pounds. Choose your fuel (petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric), enter your typical MPG or kWh efficiency, and we estimate the real cost of a UK road trip.
Reference fuel and electricity prices last reviewed against RAC Fuel Watch and Zap-Map public-charging averages, 2025. Real-world MPG varies by 15–25% from the official figure.
What this solves
A road trip's fuel cost is a quick calculation, but most online tools either assume the wrong MPG or use the wrong fuel price. We let you set both, and we flag the per-mile figure so you can compare against train or coach costs on the same route.
How to read the result
- Total is what you would spend at today's price for the distance set.
- Per mile is the key comparison figure — it stays roughly true at any distance.
- Fuel used is the litres (consumption) needed to cover the distance.
- EV per mile depends heavily on whether you charge at home or use the public rapid network.
What it doesn't cover
- Motorway tolls, ULEZ and Clean Air Zone charges (use the ULEZ tool for that).
- Real MPG swings of 15–25% based on speed, terrain and traffic.
- Hybrid cars' actual mix — battery-only city driving is far cheaper than motorway cruise.
- EV battery degradation over time.
FAQ
Is petrol cheaper than diesel for one trip?
Petrol is cheaper per litre, but diesel cars use less fuel per mile. For short trips under 100 miles a petrol car is usually cheaper overall; over 200 miles diesel typically catches and beats petrol.
Where is the cheapest petrol in the UK?
Supermarket forecourts (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons) are typically 5–10p/L cheaper than standalone branded sites. The RAC publishes a monthly fuel-price report that compares supermarket, branded and motorway prices by region.
What's the real cost of public EV charging?
Public rapid chargers cost 25–45p/mile depending on network (InstaVolt, Gridserve, Tesla Supercharger). Slow destination chargers (GeniePoint, Pod Point) typically cost around 15p/mile. Home charging on an off-peak tariff is 5–7p/mile. A full rapid-charge stop can cost £15–£25 for 200 miles of range.
Are hybrids worth it for UK road trips?
For mostly-town driving, yes — a self-charging hybrid returns 55–65 mpg. For long motorway stretches the battery rarely helps and you'll see 45–50 mpg, similar to a small diesel. Plug-in hybrids only deliver their headline MPG if you actually plug them in nightly.
Sources
- RAC Fuel Watch — UK average petrol and diesel prices, 2025.
- Zap-Map — public EV charging price benchmarks, 2025.
- Energy Saving Trust — EV cost-per-mile reference figures.