Fuel and trip cost calculator
Use this fuel cost calculator to work out what a drive costs in fuel and tolls, per trip, per week and per year. Enter the distance, your car's fuel consumption and the price per litre to see the cost of each shift, and how much of your pay the commute takes. It is useful for comparing jobs that are further away.
Updated 12 November 2026 · Uses 2026-27 figures
Work out your trip and commute cost
Enter the one-way distance, fuel use, fuel price, tolls and shifts per week.
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.
Looking for steady shifts or a permanent role? TQN Personnel places casual, contract and permanent staff across Australia.
Find workHow to use the fuel cost calculator
- Enter the one-way distance in kilometres. The calculator doubles it for the return trip.
- Enter your car's fuel use in litres per 100 km. It is in your owner's manual or on the Green Vehicle Guide. Small cars use about 6, utes and 4WDs 10 to 12.
- Enter the fuel price per litre and the tolls per one-way trip for your route.
- Enter your shifts per week and, if you like, your pay per shift to see what share of it goes on travel.
How fuel cost is calculated
The calculator uses the standard fuel consumption formula:
- Litres used = return distance × fuel use ÷ 100
- Fuel cost = litres used × price per litre
- Trip cost = fuel cost + tolls both ways
- Weekly cost = trip cost × shifts per week, and yearly cost over 48 working weeks
| Vehicle | Typical fuel use | 70 km return at $1.95/L |
|---|---|---|
| Small hatchback | 6.0 L/100 km | $8.19 |
| Medium car or SUV | 8.5 L/100 km | $11.60 |
| Ute or 4WD | 11.0 L/100 km | $15.02 |
Real fuel use is usually higher than the label figure in stop-start city traffic, so use your own figure if you track it.
Worked example
Ben drives 35 km each way to a warehouse shift in a car that uses 8.5 L/100 km. Fuel is $1.95 a litre and the route has $6.50 in tolls each way. He works 5 shifts a week and earns $260 a shift.
Fuel per return trip: 70 km × 8.5 ÷ 100 × $1.95 = $11.60. Tolls: $13.00. Travel cost per shift: $24.60.
That is $123.01 a week and about $5,905 a year over 48 weeks, or 9.5% of his shift pay.
A job 15 km closer without tolls would save Ben about $20 a shift, which is worth weighing against a small difference in hourly rate.
Is the shift worth the drive?
When you compare two jobs, compare what you keep after travel, not just the hourly rate. A role paying $1 an hour more but 40 km further away can leave you worse off once fuel, tolls and travel time are counted. A useful test is to divide the travel cost per shift by the hours in the shift: that is how much the commute takes off your hourly rate.
For casual and labour hire workers who move between sites, ask about the location before you accept a booking. TQN Personnel tries to match workers with sites near where they live. Register for work near you.
Can you claim car expenses for work travel?
Driving from home to your usual workplace is a private commute, so you generally can't claim it as a tax deduction, even if the site is far away. You can usually claim car expenses when you drive between two workplaces, from your usual workplace to an alternative site, or carry bulky tools you need for work and have nowhere secure to store them.
If you can claim, the ATO cents per kilometre method lets you claim 91 cents per km in 2026-27, up to 5,000 business kilometres, without receipts. For more than that you need a logbook. Check the ATO's rules before you claim.
How do I reduce my commuting cost?
- Fill up on the cheaper days of the fuel price cycle in your city.
- Check whether a toll-free route adds much time.
- Car-pool with workmates on the same shift.
- Ask whether your award pays a travel or vehicle allowance for remote sites.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate fuel cost for a trip?
Multiply the distance by your car's fuel use in litres per 100 km, divide by 100 to get litres, then multiply by the fuel price. For a 70 km trip in a car using 8.5 L/100 km at $1.95 a litre, that is 5.95 litres, or $11.60. Add tolls for the total trip cost.
How do I find my car's fuel consumption?
Check your owner's manual or the federal Green Vehicle Guide for the official figure. For a real-world figure, fill the tank, reset the trip meter, drive normally, then refill and divide the litres used by the kilometres driven and multiply by 100.
Can I claim my commute to work on tax?
Usually not. Travel between home and your regular workplace is private. You may be able to claim trips between workplaces, to alternative work sites or when carrying bulky equipment. The ATO cents per kilometre rate is 91c per km for 2026-27, up to 5,000 km.
How much does it cost to drive 100 km?
A car using 8.5 litres per 100 km costs about $16.58 in fuel to drive 100 km at $1.95 a litre. A small car using 6 litres costs about $11.70, and a ute using 11 litres about $21.45. Tolls, servicing and tyres are extra.
Does the calculator include tolls?
Yes. Enter the toll cost for one direction of your route and the calculator doubles it for the return trip. It doesn't look up tolls automatically, so check your toll provider's trip calculator or your account statement for the amount.
What other car costs should I consider?
Fuel and tolls are the costs that change with each trip. Servicing, tyres, registration, insurance, parking and depreciation also rise the more you drive. Motoring clubs estimate these running costs for common cars if you want a fuller picture.
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Sources and assumptions
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.