Fuel Range & Cost Calculator
Enter your tank size and fuel economy to see how far you can ride between fill-ups, plus the fuel and cost for a planned distance — in whichever economy unit you use.
Planning a tank
A fuel stop is the natural rhythm of a long ride, and knowing your real range takes the guesswork out of route planning. The maths is simple once every economy figure is on the same footing — kilometres per litre — so the calculator handles the unit conversion and then just multiplies by the fuel you are actually willing to use.
Small tanks and thirsty engines make range the limiting factor on a touring day; a wicking base layer and a way to carry that reserve safely matter just as much when the next station is an hour away.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is range calculated?
Range is the usable fuel multiplied by fuel economy. The calculator first converts your economy figure — L/100 km, km per litre, US mpg, or UK mpg — into kilometres per litre, then multiplies by the tank capacity minus any reserve you want to keep. Fifteen litres at 4.5 L/100 km, for example, is about 333 kilometres before reserve.
Why should I subtract a reserve?
Because running a tank bone dry is unpleasant and hard on the fuel pump, and the last litre often sits where the pickup can't reach it. Holding back two to four litres gives you a realistic 'get to the next station' range rather than a theoretical maximum you would never actually ride to.
US mpg and UK mpg give different answers — why?
The two gallons are different sizes. A UK (imperial) gallon is about 4.546 litres while a US gallon is about 3.785 litres, so the same 'miles per gallon' number covers more distance per gallon in the UK. Always pick the unit your figure was quoted in, or the range will be off by roughly 20 percent.
How accurate is the ride cost?
It is exact for the economy and price you enter, but real economy varies with speed, wind, load, and how hard you ride — motorway pace and luggage can easily push consumption up 20 to 30 percent over a gentle back-road figure. Use a realistic economy number for the kind of riding you plan, and treat the cost as a close budget rather than a precise bill.
Educational estimate. Real economy swings with speed, load, wind, and riding style — plan with a margin and never ride your tank completely dry.