How to use the fuel consumption converter
- 1 Type the value you want to convert.
- 2 Choose the unit to convert from and the unit to convert to.
- 3 Press ⇄ to swap the two units.
- 4 Read the result, and see the same fuel economy in every other unit in the table below.
Comparing fuel economy fairly
Convert every car to the same measure before comparing, and use the same gallon: US mpg looks lower than UK mpg for the same car. For fuel volumes, use Liters to Gallons; for trip distances, Miles to KM.
- Lower L/100 km is better; higher km/L and mpg are better.
- Saving 1 L/100 km over 15,000 km a year saves 150 litres of fuel.
- Real-world figures are usually 10% to 20% worse than official tests.
Features
Four measures
L/100 km, km/L, mpg US and mpg UK.
Handles the inverse
L/100 km is converted properly, not with a single factor.
US and UK gallons
Separate mpg figures, as the UK gallon is about 20% larger.
When to use it
Comparing cars
A European car rated 5 L/100 km gives 47 mpg in the US and 56.5 mpg in the UK. For trip distances, use Miles to KM.
Fuel average in Pakistan and India
Drivers usually quote km per litre; 15 km/L is 6.67 L/100 km. Converting litres and gallons? Use Liters to Gallons.
Imported cars
Japanese and US cars may list km/L or mpg; convert to the measure you know.
Fleet records
Keep all vehicles in one measure to compare running costs fairly.
Related Unit tasks
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert L/100 km to mpg?
Divide 235.21 by the L/100 km figure for US mpg, or 282.48 for UK mpg. 7 L/100 km is 33.6 mpg US.
How do I convert km/L to L/100 km?
Divide 100 by the km/L figure. 12.5 km/L is 8 L/100 km.
Why is L/100 km lower for better cars?
It measures fuel used for a fixed distance, so a smaller number is better. mpg and km/L measure distance per unit of fuel, so a larger number is better.
How do I convert mpg to km/L?
Multiply US mpg by 0.4251, or UK mpg by 0.354. 40 mpg US is 17 km/L.
Why does my car's UK mpg look better than in the US?
A UK gallon is 4.546 litres and a US gallon 3.785 litres, so the same car goes further on a UK gallon.
What is good fuel economy?
For a small petrol car, 5 to 6 L/100 km (17 to 20 km/L) is good. Hybrids can reach 4 L/100 km in town.
Why does real economy differ from the brochure?
Official tests use set driving cycles. Traffic, air conditioning, tyre pressure and speed all change real-world economy.
Can I convert electric car efficiency?
Electric cars use kWh per 100 km or miles per kWh, which this tool does not cover.
How can I measure my own fuel average?
Fill the tank, reset the trip meter, drive, then fill again. Divide the kilometres by the litres added for km/L.
Is 10 km/L good?
It is average for a medium car in city traffic, equal to 10 L/100 km or 23.5 mpg US.
Why does the same car have different ratings in different countries?
Countries use different test cycles and units. A car tested in Europe in litres per hundred kilometres can show a different figure in an American test in miles per gallon, even after converting.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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