Fuel Cost Calculator – Gas vs Hybrid Savings (USA)
Use this free fuel cost calculator to see how much a car costs you in gas each year, or compare a gas car with a hybrid to see your yearly and 5-year savings. Enter your annual miles, the gas price and the car's MPG. Add a second MPG to compare two vehicles side by side. Updated September 2026.
Fuel Cost Calculator
How to Use the Fuel Cost Calculator
- Enter the miles you drive per year and your local gas price per gallon.
- Enter the car's combined MPG to see its yearly and monthly fuel cost.
- To compare a gas car with a hybrid, fill in the second MPG field and read the estimated savings. To compare with an electric car, fill in the optional EV fields instead.
How Annual Fuel Cost Is Calculated
Annual fuel cost = (miles per year ÷ MPG) × price per gallon
For example, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.50 per gallon, a 30 MPG car uses 400 gallons and costs $1,400 a year. A 50 MPG hybrid uses 240 gallons and costs $840, a saving of $560 a year, or $2,800 over 5 years.
For an electric car: Annual cost = (miles ÷ 100) × kWh per 100 miles × price per kWh
Yearly Fuel Cost by MPG
Quick reference at 12,000 miles a year and $3.50 per gallon.
| Combined MPG | Cost per year | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| 20 MPG | $2,100 | $175 |
| 25 MPG | $1,680 | $140 |
| 30 MPG | $1,400 | $117 |
| 40 MPG | $1,050 | $88 |
| 50 MPG | $840 | $70 |
| 60 MPG | $700 | $58 |
Gas vs Hybrid: How Long to Break Even?
Divide the hybrid's extra price by the yearly fuel savings. If a hybrid trim costs $2,000 more and saves $560 a year, it pays back in about 3.6 years. Keep the car longer than that and the hybrid comes out ahead on fuel.
Simple Ways to Cut Fuel Costs
- Keep tires properly inflated.
- Accelerate and brake smoothly.
- Remove roof racks and extra weight when not needed.
- Choose a higher-MPG trim or a hybrid if you drive a lot of miles.
Fuel Cost Calculator FAQ
Where do I find a car's MPG?
Use the EPA combined MPG rating, which you can look up for any model on fueleconomy.gov. Real-world MPG can be higher or lower depending on how and where you drive.
Is a hybrid worth the extra price?
Divide the hybrid's extra purchase price by the yearly fuel savings shown by the calculator. The result is the number of years to break even. If you keep the car longer than that, the hybrid comes out ahead on fuel cost.
What gas price should I use?
Use the price you usually pay locally. Gas prices vary by state and change often, so try a couple of values to see how sensitive your savings are.
How many miles a year should I enter?
Use your own figure if you know it. If not, 12,000 miles is a reasonable starting estimate for many US drivers.
Does this include electricity for plug-in hybrids?
You can compare against an all-electric car by entering its kWh per 100 miles and your electricity price. Plug-in hybrids that use both gas and electricity are not covered.
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