Fuel Savings Calculator
Fuel savings calculator: how much you save on gas per year by switching to a car with better MPG.
Editorial review: Farrow (pseudonym; identity and professional credentials are not disclosed). This page is for educational purposes, not professional advice.
Your inputs
Results update as you type. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
Results
- Savings over 5 years
- $3,533
- Current car fuel / yr
- $1,902
- New car fuel / yr
- $1,196
- Gallons saved / yr
- 228
Example with the starting values
These results use the calculator's initial inputs. Change the values above to calculate your own estimate.
Inputs
- Miles per year
- 13500 mi
- Current car
- 22 MPG
- New car
- 35 MPG
- Gas price
- 3.1 $/gal
- Years
- 5
Results
- Savings per year
- $707
- Savings over 5 years
- $3,533
- Current car fuel / yr
- $1,902
- New car fuel / yr
- $1,196
- Gallons saved / yr
- 228
How does the Fuel Savings Calculator work?
Fuel savings are the money you keep each year by driving a vehicle that burns fewer gallons for the same miles.
Annual fuel cost for each car = miles per year ÷ MPG × gas price. The savings are the difference, multiplied by how many years you keep the car.
For example, driving 13,500 miles a year at $3.10 per gallon costs about $1,902 in a 22-MPG car and $1,196 in a 35-MPG car, a fuel-cost difference of roughly $707 per year. This excludes purchase price, maintenance and changes in fuel price.
Default gas price is an estimate of the recent US average for regular. Enter your local price from a station or AAA.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How much do I save going from 22 to 35 MPG?
About $705 a year at 13,500 miles and $3.10 a gallon, because you burn roughly 228 fewer gallons.
Where can I compare MPG between cars?
FuelEconomy.gov, run by the Department of Energy and EPA, lists official city, highway and combined MPG for new and used models.
How many miles do Americans drive per year?
The FHWA average is roughly 13,500 miles per driver per year. Use your own odometer readings if you can.
Why do MPG gains shrink at higher numbers?
Fuel use depends on gallons per mile. Going from 15 to 20 MPG saves more gas than going from 40 to 50 MPG.