This calculator helps you understand two key metrics related to your vehicle's fuel efficiency and the cost of your travel: Miles Per Gallon (MPG) and the cost of fuel per mile.
How it Works:
Miles Per Gallon (MPG)
MPG is a standard measure of a vehicle's fuel efficiency. It tells you how many miles your vehicle can travel on one gallon of fuel. A higher MPG generally indicates better fuel economy.
The formula is straightforward:
MPG = Total Distance Driven / Fuel Used
For example, if you drive 300 miles and use 10 gallons of fuel, your MPG is:
300 miles / 10 gallons = 30 MPG
Cost Per Mile
Understanding the cost per mile helps you budget for your transportation expenses. It quantifies how much each mile you drive costs in terms of fuel.
To calculate this, we first need to know the total cost of the fuel used, and then divide that by the total distance driven.
First, calculate the Total Fuel Cost:
Total Fuel Cost = Fuel Used × Fuel Price per Gallon
Then, calculate the Cost Per Mile:
Cost Per Mile = Total Fuel Cost / Total Distance Driven
Alternatively, you can combine these into a single formula:
Cost Per Mile = (Fuel Used × Fuel Price per Gallon) / Total Distance Driven
Using our previous example, with a fuel price of $3.50 per gallon:
Total Fuel Cost = 10 gallons × $3.50/gallon = $35.00
Cost Per Mile = $35.00 / 300 miles = $0.1167 per mile (approximately 11.7 cents per mile)
Use Cases:
Budgeting: Estimate your fuel expenses for daily commutes, road trips, or business travel.
Vehicle Comparison: Compare the fuel efficiency and running costs of different vehicles you are considering purchasing.
Driving Habits: Understand how your driving style (e.g., aggressive acceleration, speeding) might be affecting your MPG.
Cost Optimization: Identify potential savings by driving more efficiently or choosing vehicles with better MPG.
By regularly using this calculator, you gain valuable insights into your vehicle's performance and your transportation spending, empowering you to make more informed decisions.
function calculateMileage() {
var distanceInput = document.getElementById("distance");
var fuelUsedInput = document.getElementById("fuelUsed");
var fuelPriceInput = document.getElementById("fuelPrice");
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
var distance = parseFloat(distanceInput.value);
var fuelUsed = parseFloat(fuelUsedInput.value);
var fuelPrice = parseFloat(fuelPriceInput.value);
var mpgResult = "";
var costPerMileResult = "";
var errorMessage = "";
if (isNaN(distance) || distance <= 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid distance driven (greater than 0). ";
}
if (isNaN(fuelUsed) || fuelUsed <= 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid amount of fuel used (greater than 0). ";
}
if (isNaN(fuelPrice) || fuelPrice < 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid fuel price (0 or greater). ";
}
if (errorMessage) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "" + errorMessage.trim() + "";
return;
}
// Calculate MPG
var mpg = distance / fuelUsed;
mpgResult = "MPG: " + mpg.toFixed(2);
// Calculate Cost Per Mile
var totalFuelCost = fuelUsed * fuelPrice;
var costPerMile = totalFuelCost / distance;
costPerMileResult = "Cost Per Mile: $" + costPerMile.toFixed(2);
resultDiv.innerHTML = "" + mpgResult + "" + costPerMileResult + "";
}