Calculator
Trip Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate diesel cost for any single trip by miles, MPG, and price.
Quick answer
Trip fuel cost = (miles ÷ MPG) × diesel price per gallon.
Gallons
184.6
Fuel cost
$711
Formula
Trip Fuel = (Miles ÷ MPG) × Diesel Price
Benchmark: DAT 2026 — long-haul dry van fuel ≈ 28% of total operating cost.
How it works
- 1Enter trip miles
Use practical-mile routing (Trimble/PC*Miler), not shortest distance, since toll-avoid routes add 3–6% miles.
- 2Enter real-world MPG
Pull a 30-day ELD average for this lane/season.
- 3Enter today's diesel price
Use the EIA national average or the actual cost-per-gallon at the truck stop you'll fuel at.
Example: 1,200 mi at 6.5 MPG, $3.85 diesel
| Gallons | 184.6 |
| Fuel cost | $711 |
| Fuel CPM | $0.59 |
Takeaway: Match this against load pay before booking — fuel alone is 25–35% of revenue on long-haul.
Key takeaways
- A 1,000-mi trip at 6.5 MPG burns ~154 gal.
- Fuel is the largest variable cost — 25–35% of revenue.
- Routing matters: toll-avoid can add $40+ fuel per trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much diesel does a semi use on a 1,000-mile trip?+
At 6.5 MPG a Class 8 burns about 154 gallons over 1,000 miles. At $3.85/gal that's roughly $593 in fuel.
Last reviewed June 15, 2026 by the Bonafide Trucking Solutions dispatch team.