MPG (UK)
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Equivalent fuel economy
Accurate conversion between L/100km and miles per gallon (imperial)
Convert litres per 100km to UK MPG instantly with precise calculations for 2026. Includes reverse MPG (UK) to L/100km conversion, US MPG, km per litre, full formula reference, and fuel economy reference tables for common vehicles.
Professional fuel economy conversion for drivers, fleet managers, and automotive engineers in the UK, Europe, and Australia
Convert litres per 100km to UK miles per gallon using the exact conversion factor: MPG (UK) = 282.481 ÷ L/100km. This factor is derived from the precise relationship between the imperial gallon (4.54609 litres) and the mile (1.609344 km). Our tool outputs UK MPG, US MPG, km per litre, miles per litre, and litres per mile simultaneously for a complete fuel economy breakdown.
Switch seamlessly between L/100km → MPG (UK) and MPG (UK) → L/100km conversion modes. Whether you are reading a European car specification sheet in L/100km and need UK MPG for comparison, converting fleet fuel data, checking WLTP test results, or comparing vehicles across markets, both directions are handled instantly from a single input with no manual calculation required.
Essential for UK car buyers comparing European spec sheets, fleet managers converting fuel consumption reports, automotive journalists reviewing international models, driving abroad with metric fuel readings, calculating running costs, checking MOT advisory fuel efficiency data, and understanding WLTP and NEDC fuel economy figures published by manufacturers in 2026.
Select conversion direction and enter your fuel economy value below
Litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km) is the standard metric measure of fuel consumption — it tells you how many litres of fuel a vehicle uses to travel exactly 100 kilometres. It is the official fuel economy unit used across continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and most countries that have adopted the metric system. A lower L/100km value means better fuel economy: a car using 4.0 L/100km is more economical than one using 8.0 L/100km. Typical modern petrol cars range from about 4.5 to 9.0 L/100km under real-world conditions, with efficient hybrids and diesels achieving 3.5–5.5 L/100km.
Miles per gallon (UK MPG) uses the imperial gallon (4.54609 litres), which is about 20% larger than the US gallon (3.78541 litres). UK MPG is the traditional fuel economy measure used in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A higher MPG (UK) means better fuel economy — the inverse of L/100km. The relationship between the two units is a reciprocal formula: MPG (UK) = 282.481 ÷ L/100km. This conversion factor of 282.481 is derived from multiplying 100 km (in miles: 62.1371) by the imperial gallon size (4.54609 litres), giving 62.1371 × 4.54609 = 282.481. For related speed unit conversions used in UK motoring, see our km/h to m/s converter.
MPG (UK) = 282.481 ÷ L/100km | Imperial gallon = 4.54609 L (exact)
| L/100km | MPG (UK) | MPG (US) | km per Litre | Miles per Litre | Typical Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L/100km | 141.24 MPG | 117.61 MPG | 50.00 km/L | 31.07 mi/L | Plug-in hybrid (electric mode) |
| 3.0 L/100km | 94.16 MPG | 78.40 MPG | 33.33 km/L | 20.71 mi/L | Toyota Prius hybrid |
| 3.5 L/100km | 80.71 MPG | 67.20 MPG | 28.57 km/L | 17.75 mi/L | Very efficient diesel |
| 4.0 L/100km | 70.62 MPG | 58.80 MPG | 25.00 km/L | 15.53 mi/L | Small diesel hatchback |
| 4.5 L/100km | 62.77 MPG | 52.27 MPG | 22.22 km/L | 13.81 mi/L | Efficient diesel (e.g., VW Golf TDI) |
| 5.0 L/100km | 56.50 MPG | 47.04 MPG | 20.00 km/L | 12.43 mi/L | Small petrol/mild hybrid |
| 5.5 L/100km | 51.36 MPG | 42.77 MPG | 18.18 km/L | 11.30 mi/L | Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost |
| 6.0 L/100km | 47.08 MPG | 39.20 MPG | 16.67 km/L | 10.36 mi/L | Typical family petrol car |
| 6.5 L/100km | 43.46 MPG | 36.19 MPG | 15.38 km/L | 9.560 mi/L | VW Golf 1.5 TSI |
| 7.0 L/100km | 40.35 MPG | 33.60 MPG | 14.29 km/L | 8.877 mi/L | Mid-size petrol saloon |
| 7.5 L/100km | 37.66 MPG | 31.36 MPG | 13.33 km/L | 8.285 mi/L | BMW 3 Series petrol |
| 8.0 L/100km | 35.31 MPG | 29.40 MPG | 12.50 km/L | 7.767 mi/L | Large SUV (e.g., Land Rover Discovery) |
| 9.0 L/100km | 31.39 MPG | 26.13 MPG | 11.11 km/L | 6.904 mi/L | Performance saloon |
| 10.0 L/100km | 28.25 MPG | 23.52 MPG | 10.00 km/L | 6.214 mi/L | V6 SUV / large 4×4 |
| 12.0 L/100km | 23.54 MPG | 19.60 MPG | 8.333 km/L | 5.178 mi/L | Sports car / large V8 |
| 15.0 L/100km | 18.83 MPG | 15.68 MPG | 6.667 km/L | 4.143 mi/L | High-performance V8 |
| 20.0 L/100km | 14.12 MPG | 11.76 MPG | 5.000 km/L | 3.107 mi/L | Supercar / heavy truck |
L/100km and MPG (UK) are inversely proportional — you cannot simply multiply or divide by a fixed number. Because L/100km measures fuel per distance and MPG measures distance per fuel, the relationship is: MPG (UK) = 282.481 ÷ L/100km. Doubling L/100km halves the MPG, and vice versa. This reciprocal nature means that equal percentage improvements in L/100km do not equal equal percentage improvements in MPG.
The UK imperial gallon (4.54609 litres) is approximately 20% larger than the US gallon (3.78541 litres). This means UK MPG figures are always about 20% higher than US MPG for the same car — a vehicle rated at 47 MPG (UK) is only 39 MPG (US). Never compare UK and US MPG figures directly without converting. The conversion factors are: UK MPG = 282.481 ÷ L/100km; US MPG = 235.215 ÷ L/100km.
Since September 2017, all new cars sold in Europe and the UK are tested under the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure), which replaced the older NEDC cycle. WLTP figures are published in both L/100km (for Europe) and MPG (for UK market). WLTP figures are generally 20–25% lower than the old NEDC figures, meaning higher L/100km and lower MPG. Always use WLTP figures when comparing 2026 model year vehicles.
Formula: MPG (UK) = 282.481 ÷ L/100km | L/100km = 282.481 ÷ MPG (UK)
Mental shortcut: For a rough estimate, divide 280 by L/100km to get approximate UK MPG (accurate within 1%). Example: 7 L/100km → 280 ÷ 7 = 40 MPG (exact: 40.35 MPG). Remember: UK MPG is always about 20% higher than US MPG for the same vehicle.
Converting L/100km to UK MPG requires a reciprocal division, not a simple multiplication. Follow these steps for accurate fuel economy conversions:
Toyota Prius (hybrid): ~3.8 L/100km = 74.3 MPG | VW Golf 1.5 eTSI: ~5.2 L/100km = 54.3 MPG | Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost: ~5.5 L/100km = 51.4 MPG | BMW 3 Series 320d: ~4.9 L/100km = 57.6 MPG | Range Rover Sport: ~9.4 L/100km = 30.1 MPG | Porsche 911 (petrol): ~10.2 L/100km = 27.7 MPG
The most frequent error is confusing UK MPG with US MPG — UK figures are always about 20% higher. A European car showing 47 MPG in UK spec equals only 39 MPG in US spec. Another mistake is attempting to linearly interpolate between L/100km values — because the relationship is reciprocal, a 1 L/100km improvement at 5 L/100km (from 5→4) is worth 14.1 MPG, while the same 1 L/100km improvement at 10 L/100km (10→9) is only worth 3.1 MPG. Always convert each value individually rather than applying a linear offset.
In UK car buying and comparison, manufacturer websites and car review sites in the UK quote WLTP fuel economy in both L/100km (as required by EU regulations) and MPG (UK) for British readers. When comparing a European car with a UK-market equivalent, or when reading German, French, or Italian automotive press, the L/100km to MPG (UK) conversion is essential. British drivers instinctively think in MPG — "will it do 50 mpg?" — while the data comes from European sources in L/100km. For related distance conversions useful in journey planning, see our distance converter tools.
In fleet management, many companies operating UK fleets receive telematics and fuel consumption data in L/100km from European-built vehicles, but report to UK management in MPG. Converting between the two is a routine administrative task. In motoring journalism and car reviews, reviewers testing cars in Europe collect fuel consumption data in L/100km but must report UK MPG figures for British audiences. In driving abroad, UK drivers who hire cars in France, Germany, or Spain will see fuel economy displayed in L/100km on the trip computer, requiring conversion to understand performance relative to their UK-specification vehicles. For related power unit conversions used in comparing European and UK engine specs, see our kilowatts to watts converter.
The UK Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) publishes official WLTP fuel economy data for all new cars approved for sale in the UK in 2026, with figures in both L/100km and MPG for every model variant and fuel type.
Visit VCA →The conversion constant 282.481 is derived from: 100 km × (1 mile ÷ 1.609344 km) × (4.54609 litres ÷ 1 imperial gallon). Both the mile-to-km ratio and the imperial gallon size are exact defined values — making the L/100km to MPG (UK) conversion factor exactly 282.4809363. Our tool uses full precision for accurate results.
Our L/100km to MPG Tool →Explore our full library of free unit conversion tools for fuel economy, speed, power, energy, force, weight, area, distance, and time. All tools are updated for 2026 standards and fully optimised for mobile and desktop use.
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