Travel
Trip fuel cost
Multiply the volume you computed by the pump price. The price unit must match the volume unit, or the result is meaningless.
The Formula
Cost = Litres x Price per litre
Multiply the volume you computed by the pump price. The price unit must match the volume unit, or the result is meaningless.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V | Fuel volume burned | litres | The litres from the first formula. |
| p | Fuel price | currency per litre | Per litre if the volume is in litres; per gallon if it is in gallons. |
| K | Total fuel cost | currency | Excludes tolls, parking and other travel charges. |
What Each Symbol Means
Vlitres
Fuel volume burned
The litres from the first formula.
pcurrency per litre
Fuel price
Per litre if the volume is in litres; per gallon if it is in gallons.
Kcurrency
Total fuel cost
Excludes tolls, parking and other travel charges.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate fuel cost page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Fuel Cost, filed under Everyday Life. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.