⛽ Fuel Consumption Converter

Convert between liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km), kilometers per liter (km/L), miles per gallon (US), miles per gallon (UK), and gallons per 100 miles. Essential for drivers, fleet managers, engineers, and environmental analysts.

Fuel Consumption Converter Tool

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Fuel consumption conversion — global standards explained

Fuel consumption is a critical measure of vehicle efficiency, environmental impact, and cost of ownership. Different regions of the world express fuel economy in different ways: Europe often uses liters per 100 kilometers (L/100 km), Asia may use kilometers per liter (km/L), while the United States uses miles per gallon (mpg US). The United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries use imperial miles per gallon (mpg UK). This converter unifies them.

Understanding the units

  • L/100 km — how many liters of fuel are needed to travel 100 kilometers. Lower values mean better efficiency.
  • km/L — distance traveled per liter. Higher is better.
  • mpg (US) — miles per gallon using US gallons (1 gallon US = 3.78541 L).
  • mpg (UK) — miles per gallon using imperial gallons (1 gallon UK = 4.54609 L).
  • Gallons/100 miles — equivalent to L/100 km but in imperial units.

Conversion formulas

  • km/L = 100 / (L/100 km)
  • L/100 km = 100 / (km/L)
  • mpg (US) = 235.215 / (L/100 km)
  • mpg (UK) = 282.481 / (L/100 km)
  • Gallons/100 mi = (L/100 km) / 23.5215

Worked examples

Example 1: 8 L/100 km → mpg (US) = 235.215 / 8 = 29.4 mpg US.

Example 2: 15 km/L → L/100 km = 100 / 15 = 6.67 L/100 km.

Example 3: 30 mpg (UK) → L/100 km ≈ 282.481 / 30 = 9.42 L/100 km.

Regional practices

Europe, Canada, China, and Australia typically use L/100 km. Japan and India use km/L. The US and Middle East use mpg (US). The UK and older Commonwealth sources may quote mpg (UK). Fleet managers and car reviewers often provide multiple equivalents for clarity.

Fuel economy vs fuel consumption

Fuel consumption (L/100 km, gal/100 mi) measures input fuel for distance. Fuel economy (km/L, mpg) measures distance achieved per unit fuel. They are inversely related.

Improving your fuel consumption

  • Drive smoothly: avoid hard acceleration and braking.
  • Maintain steady highway speeds.
  • Keep tires properly inflated.
  • Reduce extra weight and aerodynamic drag.
  • Service the engine regularly.

FAQ

Why is mpg (UK) higher than mpg (US) for the same car?

Because the imperial gallon is larger (4.546 L vs 3.785 L). Thus, mpg (UK) appears ~20% higher than mpg (US).

How do I convert 10 L/100 km to mpg (US)?

mpg (US) = 235.215 / 10 = 23.5 mpg (US).

What is the best unit to compare cars internationally?

L/100 km is preferred because it is linear (lower is always better). mpg can be misleading because it’s nonlinear.

Conclusion

With this converter, drivers, researchers, and policy makers can quickly convert fuel consumption units and compare vehicles across countries. Bookmark it for everyday car calculations and international comparisons.