How it’s calculated
Litres = distance (km) × fuel use (L/100 km) ÷ 100Fuel cost = litres × price per litre (A$/L)Cost per km = fuel cost ÷ distance
The calculator rounds litres to one decimal place and money to the cent. Nothing else is added: tolls, oil and tyre wear are separate lines in a budget.
Worked example
A 1,000 km drive in a vehicle using 12 L/100 km at A$2.08 a litre, the petrol average across the five largest cities in Fuel Plan data for 5 August 2026.
1,000 × 12 ÷ 100 = 120 litres. 120 × A$2.08 = A$249.60. A$249.60 ÷ 1,000 km = about A$0.25 a kilometre.
The same drive in a diesel vehicle at that day’s diesel average of A$2.47 a litre costs 120 × A$2.47 = A$296.40.
Assumptions
- Fuel use is the loaded figure. A campervan, a roof load or a caravan on the back burns more than the brochure number, so measure your own if you can.
- City averages are a starting point. Remote roadhouses usually charge more, so raise the price for outback legs.
- Distance is the whole route, including the detours to campgrounds, lookouts and towns off the highway.
Cost and planning guides
Sources
Common questions
How do I find my vehicle’s real fuel use?+
Fill the tank, reset the trip meter and drive as you normally would. At the next fill, divide the litres added by the kilometres driven and multiply by 100. That is your L/100 km for the vehicle as loaded, which is the number this calculator needs.
How do I work out fuel cost per km?+
Divide L/100 km by 100 and multiply by the price per litre. At 12 L/100 km and A$2.08 a litre that is 0.12 × 2.08, about A$0.25 a kilometre.
Which fuel price should I use?+
Use the fuel your vehicle takes and the most recent price you can find for the region. Fuel Plan’s five-city averages for 5 August 2026 were A$2.08 a litre for petrol and A$2.47 for diesel; expect more in remote areas.
In the app
Plan the stops between fill-ups.
AussieCamps maps 5,552 rest areas and 1,393 dump points across Australia and turns saved places into a multi-stop route with distances.
AussieCamps is free to download. Bookable stays and tours are free to browse; campgrounds, rest areas, dump points, water, toilets and the trip planner need the Pass. AussieCamps is an iPhone app.
