Free tool · South Africa

Fuel Cost Calculator for South Africa

Enter the distance you plan to drive, your car's real fuel consumption and the price you pay at the pump. You'll see the litres you'll burn, what the trip costs you and what every kilometre costs.

How the calculation works

Worked example with example numbers: a 120 km trip in a car that uses 7.5 L/100 km, with fuel at R23.50/L. Fuel required: 120 × 7.5 ÷ 100 = 9 litres. Cost: 9 × R23.50 = R211.50. Cost per kilometre: R211.50 ÷ 120 = R1.76/km.

Example cost per 100 km at different consumption levels

The table below uses an example price of R23.50/L to show how consumption changes cost. It is not the current fuel price, recalculate with today's pump price above.

Why your real consumption is often higher than the brochure

Manufacturer figures are measured in ideal conditions. In everyday South African driving, consumption usually climbs because of:

• Stop-start traffic, constant accelerating from a standstill uses more fuel than steady cruising.
• Idling, a standing car with the engine running covers zero kilometres while still burning fuel, which pushes L/100 km up.
• Air conditioning, meaningful extra load in summer.
• Load, passengers, luggage and roof racks all add weight and drag.
• Short trips, the engine runs rich while cold.
• Under-inflated tyres, more rolling resistance.

The most reliable number is your own: fill the tank, note the odometer or trip meter, and at the next fill-up divide litres pumped by kilometres driven, then multiply by 100. That's your real L/100 km, use it in the calculator above.