Fuel Cost Calculator - Compare Petrol, Diesel & Electric Prices
Fuel Cost Calculator: Petrol, Diesel & Electric
Enter the current pump price for petrol or diesel, adjust for your monthly mileage and our calculator will show you the cost per mile, monthly fuel spend, and - crucially - how that would compare to driving an electric vehicle.
The Brent crude price shown in the header is pulled live, if the information is unavailable it will revert to the last known price. Please note that this figure does not affect the calculations - adjusting the sliders updates your pricing accordingly.
Fuel prices are updated using RAC Fuel Watch data. Electricity rates reflect the Ofgem Q2 2026 price cap of 24.67p/kWh.
What our fuel cost calculator shows you
Most fuel cost calculators tell you one thing: how much a journey costs. Ours goes further.
- Petrol and diesel cost per mile — based on your MPG and current pump prices
- EV home charging cost per mile — using the Ofgem price cap rate
- EV public charging cost per mile — including the saving available with the loveelectric Charge Card (up to 60% off)
- Monthly and annual fuel spend — across all fuel types, at your actual mileage
- Annual saving vs petrol — so you can see the real-world financial case for switching to electric
How much does it cost to fill up a car in the UK?
With petrol prices due to hit 140p per litre and diesel around 160p per litre — driven in part by the impact of the Iran conflict on global crude oil markets — filling a typical 55-litre petrol tank costs approximately £77, and a 60-litre diesel tank around £96.
Prices are sourced daily from RAC Fuel Watch and vary by region and forecourt type. Supermarket forecourts typically undercut the national average by 3–5p per litre.
Could you save money by switching to an electric car?
For most UK drivers who charge primarily at home, the answer is yes - often significantly.
At 1,000 miles per month and current fuel prices, the typical saving from switching a petrol car to a home-charged EV is over £1,000 per year. Adjust the calculator above to your own mileage to see your personal figure.
The case becomes even stronger when you factor in salary sacrifice. Through an EV salary sacrifice scheme, you lease an electric car from your gross salary - before income tax and National Insurance are calculated. This typically reduces the effective monthly cost by 30–60% compared to a personal lease, depending on your tax bracket.
With loveelectric's Charge Card, you could save up to 60% on charging costs.
Frequently Asked Questions: Fuel Costs UK
How is fuel cost per mile calculated?
Divide the fuel price per litre by your car's fuel efficiency. For a petrol car doing 38 mpg at 140p/litre: convert 38 mpg to litres per mile (4.546 ÷ 38 = 0.1196 litres/mile), then multiply by the price (0.1196 × 140p = 16.7p per mile). Our calculator does this automatically.
What is the cheapest way to fuel a car in the UK right now?
Home-charged electric is currently the cheapest option at around 7p per mile, compared to approximately 16–18p per mile for petrol and diesel. Public rapid charging can exceed petrol costs without a discount card - which is why the loveelectric Charge Card is worth considering for drivers without home charging.
Do fuel prices affect EV running costs?
Not directly. EV running costs are tied to electricity prices, which are regulated by the Ofgem price cap and change quarterly — rather than fluctuating with crude oil markets. This makes EV running costs considerably more predictable than petrol or diesel.
How often are the prices in this calculator updated?
The Brent crude indicator updates live. We review and update the default petrol, diesel and electricity prices regularly in line with RAC Fuel Watch data and Ofgem price cap changes, but they can be adjusted accordingly to match the prices you're seeing at the pump.
