L/100km
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Equivalent fuel economy
Accurate fuel economy conversion between US miles per gallon and L/100km
Convert MPG (US) to litres per 100km instantly with precise calculations. Includes bidirectional conversion, km/L output, full formula breakdown, and reference tables for 2026.
Professional fuel economy conversion for drivers, engineers, and fleet managers
Convert US MPG to L/100km using the exact formula: L/100km = 235.2145 ÷ MPG. This constant is derived from the US gallon (3.785411784 L) and the mile-to-kilometre ratio (1.609344 km), ensuring precise results every time for any fuel economy value.
Switch seamlessly between MPG (US) to L/100km and L/100km to MPG (US) conversion modes. Each result also displays the equivalent fuel economy in km/L — the unit widely used across Asia and Latin America — giving you a complete global picture.
Essential for comparing vehicle fuel efficiency across countries, evaluating car purchases, fleet management, travel cost estimation, and understanding international automotive specifications. Particularly useful for US drivers travelling abroad or buying imported vehicles in 2026.
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Miles per gallon (MPG) is the standard fuel economy measurement used in the United States, expressing how many miles a vehicle can travel on one US gallon of fuel. The higher the MPG, the more fuel-efficient the vehicle. In contrast, litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km) is the metric measurement used in Australia, Europe, Canada, and most of the world, expressing how many litres of fuel are consumed for every 100 km travelled. With L/100km, a lower number means better fuel efficiency — the opposite of MPG.
Because MPG and L/100km have an inverse relationship, a simple multiplication or division cannot convert between them — you must divide a constant by the input value. The conversion constant for US MPG is 235.2145, derived from the US gallon volume (3.785411784 L) and the mile-to-kilometre ratio (1.609344 km/mile). This is why understanding the formula is important — you can explore the official US gallon and metric definitions from the NIST SI Units reference.
30 MPG (US) equals 7.84 L/100km, 12.74 km/L, and 36.04 MPG (UK) — the same fuel economy expressed in four different unit systems.
The table below provides quick reference values covering the most common fuel economy ratings for passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, and hybrid vehicles in 2026. For energy-related unit conversions used in automotive and engineering contexts, see our BTU to Joules Converter.
| MPG (US) | L/100km | km/L | MPG (UK) | Fuel Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 MPG | 23.52 L/100km | 4.25 km/L | 12.01 MPG | Very Poor |
| 15 MPG | 15.68 L/100km | 6.38 km/L | 18.01 MPG | Poor |
| 20 MPG | 11.76 L/100km | 8.50 km/L | 24.02 MPG | Below Average |
| 25 MPG | 9.41 L/100km | 10.63 km/L | 30.02 MPG | Average |
| 30 MPG | 7.84 L/100km | 12.75 km/L | 36.02 MPG | Good |
| 35 MPG | 6.72 L/100km | 14.88 km/L | 42.03 MPG | Very Good |
| 40 MPG | 5.88 L/100km | 17.01 km/L | 48.03 MPG | Excellent |
| 45 MPG | 5.23 L/100km | 19.13 km/L | 54.03 MPG | Excellent |
| 50 MPG | 4.70 L/100km | 21.26 km/L | 60.04 MPG | Hybrid Class |
| 55 MPG | 4.28 L/100km | 23.38 km/L | 66.04 MPG | Hybrid Class |
| 60 MPG | 3.92 L/100km | 25.51 km/L | 72.05 MPG | Hybrid Class |
Use this reverse reference table when reading metric fuel economy specs from European, Australian, or Canadian vehicle manufacturers and needing to understand them in US MPG terms.
| L/100km | MPG (US) | km/L | Typical Vehicle Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 L/100km | 58.81 MPG | 25.00 km/L | Hybrid / EV Range Extender |
| 5.0 L/100km | 47.04 MPG | 20.00 km/L | Small Hybrid |
| 6.0 L/100km | 39.20 MPG | 16.67 km/L | Efficient Small Car |
| 7.0 L/100km | 33.60 MPG | 14.29 km/L | Compact Car |
| 8.0 L/100km | 29.40 MPG | 12.50 km/L | Mid-size Sedan |
| 9.0 L/100km | 26.13 MPG | 11.11 km/L | Mid-size SUV |
| 10.0 L/100km | 23.52 MPG | 10.00 km/L | Large SUV / Pickup |
| 12.0 L/100km | 19.60 MPG | 8.33 km/L | Heavy Truck / 4WD |
| 15.0 L/100km | 15.68 MPG | 6.67 km/L | Large Commercial Vehicle |
| 20.0 L/100km | 11.76 MPG | 5.00 km/L | Heavy-Duty Truck |
Understanding how MPG and L/100km relate to real driving scenarios helps drivers make smarter vehicle choices and accurately estimate fuel costs across countries and vehicle classes.
Modern compact city cars typically achieve 35–45 MPG (US), equivalent to 5.2–6.7 L/100km. In urban stop-start driving, fuel consumption increases — a car rated at 40 MPG highway may only achieve 30–32 MPG in city conditions, or around 7.4–7.8 L/100km.
Popular mid-size SUVs in 2026 typically return 25–32 MPG (US), equal to 7.4–9.4 L/100km. Large SUVs and 4WDs drop to 18–23 MPG (10.2–13.1 L/100km). Choosing an efficient SUV can save hundreds of litres of fuel annually over a less efficient model.
Hybrid vehicles achieve 45–65 MPG (US) in combined driving, equivalent to 3.6–5.2 L/100km. Plug-in hybrids can exceed 80 MPG (US) equivalent (2.9 L/100km) when running on electric power. These figures are crucial for comparing hybrid models against conventional petrol vehicles.
Light-duty pickup trucks average 18–25 MPG (US) or 9.4–13.1 L/100km in combined driving. Heavy-duty commercial trucks and semis operate at 5–8 MPG (US), equivalent to 29.4–47.0 L/100km. Fleet operators use L/100km to benchmark and optimise fuel costs across large vehicle fleets.
When renting vehicles abroad, US travellers encounter L/100km specs on European and Australian car listings. A rental car quoted at 6.5 L/100km equals approximately 36.2 MPG (US) — a good efficiency rating. Using this converter helps travellers accurately budget fuel costs before travelling in 2026.
Fleet managers overseeing international vehicle fleets must convert between MPG and L/100km to standardise reporting. A fleet averaging 8.0 L/100km equals 29.4 MPG (US). Even a 0.5 L/100km improvement across 100 vehicles covering 30,000 km/year saves approximately 1,500 litres of fuel annually.
The US gallon (3.785 L) and the UK imperial gallon (4.546 L) are different volumes. This means a car rated at 40 MPG in the UK is not the same as 40 MPG in the US. The UK figure converts to approximately 33.3 MPG (US) or 7.06 L/100km. Our converter uses the US gallon constant (235.2145) — for UK MPG use the constant 282.48 instead.
Because MPG and L/100km are inversely related, the conversion involves dividing a fixed constant rather than simply multiplying. Here is the method broken down clearly.
Do not confuse US MPG with UK MPG — they use different gallon sizes and are not interchangeable. A common error is applying the US constant (235.2145) to UK MPG figures; always use 282.48 for UK imperial gallons. Also remember: with L/100km, lower is better, while with MPG, higher is better — the inverse relationship trips up many first-time users of this conversion.
MPG and L/100km measure the same thing — fuel efficiency — but from opposite perspectives. MPG tells you how far you travel per unit of fuel; L/100km tells you how much fuel you use per unit of distance. Their inverse relationship means you cannot simply multiply to convert between them.
NIST SI Reference →The United States and a few other countries use MPG as the official fuel economy standard. Most of the world — including the EU, Australia, Canada, and China — uses L/100km. Japan and some Asian markets use km/L. Understanding all three systems is essential for global automotive comparisons in 2026.
Explore Tools →Once you know your L/100km, calculating fuel costs is straightforward: multiply L/100km by the distance you'll travel (in km), divide by 100, then multiply by the fuel price per litre. For example, a car using 7.5 L/100km travelling 500 km at $1.80/L costs 7.5 × 500 ÷ 100 × 1.80 = $67.50 in fuel.
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