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Equivalent fuel economy
Accurate conversion between km/L and mpg for vehicles, fuel economy ratings, and cost comparisons
Convert kilometres per litre to miles per gallon instantly with precise calculations in 2026. Includes reverse mpg to km/L conversion, US and UK gallon options, formula reference, full conversion table, and real-world vehicle fuel economy examples.
Professional fuel economy conversion for vehicles, fleet management, environmental reporting, and cost analysis
Convert kilometres per litre to miles per gallon using the exact factor: 1 km/L = 2.35215 mpg (US) or 1 km/L = 2.82481 mpg (UK). The US gallon is 3.78541 litres while the Imperial (UK) gallon is 4.54609 litres — so always confirm which gallon standard applies. Our tool supports both US and UK gallon options for complete accuracy in 2026.
Switch seamlessly between km/L to mpg and mpg to km/L conversion. Whether you are comparing a Japanese or European vehicle specification (given in km/L or L/100km) against a US or UK fuel economy rating in mpg, or converting your own measured fuel consumption between unit systems, both directions are handled instantly from a single input value.
Essential for car buyers comparing international vehicle specifications, fleet managers calculating operating costs, environmentalists converting CO₂ emission ratings, and travellers estimating fuel costs across different countries in 2026. Correct fuel economy conversion prevents costly errors in fuel budgeting, import/export vehicle documentation, and emissions compliance reporting.
Select conversion direction, gallon type, and enter your fuel economy value below
Kilometres per litre (km/L) and miles per gallon (mpg) are both measures of fuel economy — how far a vehicle travels on a given amount of fuel. Kilometres per litre is widely used in Japan, Australia, parts of Asia, and other metric countries. It expresses the number of kilometres a vehicle can travel using one litre of fuel. A higher km/L value means better fuel efficiency. The closely related unit litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km) is the preferred standard in Europe, Canada, and many other metric countries.
Miles per gallon (mpg) is the standard fuel economy unit in the United States and the United Kingdom. The US uses the US liquid gallon (3.78541 L) while the UK uses the Imperial gallon (4.54609 L), which means UK mpg figures are always numerically higher than US mpg for the same vehicle. This difference of approximately 20% is a common source of confusion when comparing international vehicle specifications. For related unit conversions used in vehicle engineering, see the atmospheres to pascals converter on ConcreteMetric for pressure and tyre inflation work.
Derivation: km/L × (gallon in litres) ÷ (km per mile) = mpg. E.g., 15 km/L × 3.78541 ÷ 1.60934 = 35.28 mpg US.
Bar lengths are proportional to illustrate relative fuel economy. Use the calculator above for exact conversions.
Use this reference table to quickly look up common kilometres per litre to miles per gallon conversions. Both US and UK mpg values are shown alongside L/100km for complete international reference.
| km/L | mpg (US) | mpg (UK) | L/100km | miles/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km/L | 2.352 mpg | 2.825 mpg | 100.0 L/100km | 0.6214 mi/L |
| 3 km/L | 7.056 mpg | 8.474 mpg | 33.33 L/100km | 1.864 mi/L |
| 5 km/L | 11.761 mpg | 14.124 mpg | 20.00 L/100km | 3.107 mi/L |
| 8 km/L | 18.817 mpg | 22.598 mpg | 12.50 L/100km | 4.971 mi/L |
| 10 km/L | 23.521 mpg | 28.248 mpg | 10.00 L/100km | 6.214 mi/L |
| 12 km/L | 28.225 mpg | 33.897 mpg | 8.333 L/100km | 7.457 mi/L |
| 15 km/L | 35.282 mpg | 42.371 mpg | 6.667 L/100km | 9.321 mi/L |
| 18 km/L | 42.338 mpg | 50.845 mpg | 5.556 L/100km | 11.185 mi/L |
| 20 km/L | 47.043 mpg | 56.496 mpg | 5.000 L/100km | 12.427 mi/L |
| 22 km/L | 51.747 mpg | 62.145 mpg | 4.545 L/100km | 13.670 mi/L |
| 25 km/L | 58.804 mpg | 70.619 mpg | 4.000 L/100km | 15.534 mi/L |
| 30 km/L | 70.564 mpg | 84.743 mpg | 3.333 L/100km | 18.641 mi/L |
| 40 km/L | 94.086 mpg | 112.991 mpg | 2.500 L/100km | 24.855 mi/L |
| 50 km/L | 117.607 mpg | 141.239 mpg | 2.000 L/100km | 31.069 mi/L |
Converting kilometres per litre to miles per gallon requires applying the correct factor for either the US or UK gallon standard. Follow these steps carefully for any fuel economy value:
Multiply km/L by 2.35215 for US mpg, or by 2.82481 for UK mpg. For example, 15 km/L × 2.35215 = 35.28 mpg (US). To convert back from US mpg to km/L, multiply by 0.425144. Always confirm whether a quoted mpg figure is US or UK — the same car will show about 20% higher mpg in UK figures than US figures.
Understanding km/L values in mpg terms helps when comparing international vehicle specifications, reading imported car reviews, or cross-checking official fuel economy figures between markets in 2026.
A typical mid-size petrol sedan achieves around 12–14 km/L = 28–33 mpg US in combined city and highway driving. This equates to roughly 7–8.3 L/100km. In Australia and Japan this figure is commonly quoted in km/L, while the same model sold in the US would be advertised using the equivalent mpg figure on its EPA fuel economy label.
A large four-wheel-drive SUV or pickup truck typically achieves 7–9 km/L = 16–21 mpg US. At 8 km/L this equals approximately 11–12.5 L/100km. In 2026 fuel economy remains a key purchase consideration for SUV buyers globally, making km/L to mpg conversion a frequently needed tool for cross-market vehicle comparisons and total cost of ownership calculations.
A popular petrol-electric hybrid achieves approximately 22–26 km/L = 52–61 mpg US in combined driving. The Toyota Prius, for example, is officially rated at around 26 km/L in Japanese JC08 testing, which converts to approximately 61 mpg US. Hybrid vehicle buyers comparing Japanese and American specifications routinely need this conversion to verify equivalent ratings.
A high-performance sports car or supercar may achieve as little as 5–7 km/L = 12–16 mpg US, with some performance-focused vehicles returning even lower figures under hard driving. At 6 km/L (16.67 L/100km = 14.1 mpg US), fuel costs are roughly three times higher per kilometre than a frugal hybrid — a meaningful figure for fleet cost analysis.
A modern long-haul diesel semi-truck typically achieves 3–4 km/L = 7–9 mpg US. While this sounds low, diesel engines produce high torque and pull very heavy loads, making L/100km or mpg per tonne-kilometre more meaningful for commercial transport efficiency analysis. Fleet operators converting between km/L and mpg frequently use this tool for fuel cost projections and carbon reporting.
An average commuter motorcycle achieves approximately 20–30 km/L = 47–71 mpg US, while smaller scooters and mopeds can reach 35–50 km/L = 82–118 mpg US. Motorcycles are among the most fuel-efficient petrol-powered personal transport options. In markets where km/L is not standard, riders use this converter to compare official economy figures across different country markets.
The most important thing to know when converting km/L to mpg is that US mpg and UK mpg are not the same. The US gallon (3.78541 litres) is smaller than the UK Imperial gallon (4.54609 litres) by approximately 20%. This means a car rated at 40 mpg in the UK would only achieve about 33.3 mpg on the US scale — the same physical fuel economy expressed in two different gallon-based units.
For other unit conversions commonly used alongside fuel economy calculations — such as converting pressure for tyre inflation — see the atmospheres to pascals converter on ConcreteMetric. For energy unit conversions relevant to fuel heating values, see the BTU to Joules converter.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes official fuel economy ratings in mpg (US) for all new vehicles sold in the United States. Their fueleconomy.gov database allows comparison of all car models and is the authoritative source for US mpg values used in this converter.
Visit EPA →The UK Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) publishes official fuel consumption data in mpg (UK Imperial) and L/100km for all vehicles approved for sale in Great Britain, providing the authoritative source for UK fuel economy figures and emissions data.
Visit VCA →The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) is the current global fuel economy and emissions testing standard used in Europe, Japan, Australia, and many other countries from 2017 onwards, replacing the older NEDC cycle for more realistic consumption figures.
Visit UNECE →