Trip fuel cost calculator: what this run burns before you say yes
Enter the trip miles (deadhead included), your fuel economy and the diesel price. The trip fuel cost calculator shows gallons, fuel cost, cost per mile and where you'll stop for fuel, with reefer fuel if you need it.
Trip fuel cost calculator
EXAMPLE VALUES, REPLACE WITH YOURSTHIS TRIP
$1,097
fuel for the trip
177
gallons
- Truck fuel
- 176.9 gal
- Fuel cost per mile
- $0.95/mi
- Range per fill-up
- 1,170 mi
- Fuel stops on the way
- 0
This trip burns $1,097 in fuel. Is the rate worth it?
By Edwin Horton · Updated
How the trip fuel calculator works
Fuel is the biggest variable cost on most loads, and it's the easiest to estimate before you commit.
- Truck gallons = trip miles ÷ mpg
- Reefer gallons = reefer hours × gallons per hour (if running)
- Trip fuel cost = (truck gallons + reefer gallons) × diesel price
- Fuel cost per mile = trip fuel cost ÷ trip miles
- Range per fill-up = usable gallons × mpg
- Fuel stops = trip miles ÷ range, rounded up, minus one
EXAMPLE A 1,150 mile run including deadhead at 6.5 mpg, with diesel at the U.S. average of $6.199/gal (week of Oct 5, 2026)U.S. on-highway diesel, average$6.199/gal (week of Oct 5, 2026)EIA weekly retail on-highway diesel price, U.S. average, week of October 5, 2026: $6.199 per gallon, down $0.183 from the prior week and up $2.488 from a year earlier. Updated every Monday.EIA, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, 2026Checked Oct 2026. That's about 177 gallons and $1,097 in fuel, about $0.95 a mile. With 180 usable gallons between fill-ups, the truck has about 1,170 miles of range, so the whole run fits inside one tank's usable range with no planned stop, though most drivers will still top off where fuel is cheap. Add a reefer running 20 hours at 0.8 gallons an hour and it's 16 more gallons, about $99.
The trip line shows where each fuel stop falls by mileage. It's a planning aid; your driver picks the actual stop by price, parking and hours.
How much of the rate fuel eats
Fuel cost per mile is a third or more of the offered rate: the load leaves little for everything else. Check the full picture with the trucking cost per mile calculator.
Reefer fuel is a big share: price it in. Reefer loads should pay for the extra burn, especially in summer heat or with many door openings.
Lots of stops: each one costs time. On tight delivery windows, fewer, fuller stops can matter more than a few cents a gallon. A fuel card can lower the price itself; see the fuel card savings calculator.
Benchmarks and planning
The fleet benchmark report tracks published fuel costs per mile by year. If you're building a startup budget, our guide to how much it costs to start a trucking company shows how much working capital fuel ties up before the first broker pays. On our small fleet dispatch desk, deadhead to pickup is on every offer, because empty miles burn the same fuel as loaded ones.
Compare the trip fuel cost with the fuel surcharge on the rate con. On many loads the surcharge is meant to cover fuel above a base price; if your fuel cost is far above the surcharge plus what you planned for in the linehaul, the load is thinner than it looks. That comparison takes a minute and catches loads that only look good on the board.
Count every mile, including deadhead
- Include deadhead in the trip miles
- Use mpg from recent fuel receipts, not the spec sheet
- Price fuel at the stops you'll use
- Add reefer hours for pre-cooling and waiting
Trip fuel cost questions
01How do you calculate fuel cost for a truck trip?
Divide the trip miles by your truck's miles per gallon to get gallons, then multiply by the price per gallon. Count the empty miles to the pickup too. For reefers, add the unit's fuel burn per hour times the hours it runs.
02What mpg does a semi truck get?
It depends on the truck, load, terrain, speed and weather. Use your own average from fuel receipts and odometer readings over a few weeks. Loaded runs in hills and winter will be worse than your average.
03How much fuel does a reefer unit use?
It depends on the unit, setpoint, outside temperature and how often doors open. Use the burn rate from your unit's records or manufacturer; continuous mode burns more than cycle-sentry.
04Which diesel price should I use?
The price you'll pay along the route, after any fuel card discount. The default is the U.S. weekly average from EIA as of the date shown, which is a starting point, not your price.
05Does weight change fuel economy much?
Yes. A heavy load in hills burns noticeably more than an empty trailer on flat ground. If you know a run is heavy or mountainous, use a lower mpg than your average.
06Should I fuel before or after a long climb?
Fuel weight is small compared with the load, so plan stops by price, parking and hours rather than terrain. Just don't run tight on fuel in mountains or winter.
Is the rate worth the fuel?
We put the all-in rate and deadhead on every offer. You decide.
4% for 2+ trucks, 5% for one, 7% while your MC is new