Fuel Economy Converter

Convert fuel economy between liters per 100 km, km per liter and miles per gallon (US and UK).

Kilometers per liter

16.67 km/L

6 L/100 km

Liters per 100 km

6 L/100 km

Miles per gallon (US)

39.2 mpg (US)

Miles per gallon (UK)

47.1 mpg (UK)

Please note: The result is an estimate and has been rounded. Actual costs and values may differ, and no rights can be derived from this calculation.

How this number is calculated

The blocks use your input. Change a value above and they update with it.

Step 1 · Liters per 100 km

Fuel economy6 L/100 km =Liters per 100 km6 L/100 km

Step 2 · Kilometers per liter

Conversion number km/L100 ÷ Fuel economy6 L/100 km =Kilometers per liter16.67 km/L

Step 3 · Miles per gallon (US)

Conversion number mpg (US)235.2146 ÷ Fuel economy6 L/100 km =Miles per gallon (US)39.2 mpg (US)

Step 4 · Miles per gallon (UK)

Conversion number mpg (UK)282.4809 ÷ Fuel economy6 L/100 km =Miles per gallon (UK)47.1 mpg (UK)

How the calculation works

This calculator converts a car's fuel economy. Enter the figure, pick its unit and you instantly see it in liters per 100 km, kilometers per liter and miles per gallon, in both US and UK (imperial) gallons.

Useful when you compare cars from different countries, or when you want to know what 30 mpg means in L/100 km. Want to know what a trip costs in fuel? Use the Fuel Cost Calculator in the same category; it uses the same conversion numbers.

The calculator first converts the figure to liters per 100 km. It then divides a fixed conversion number by that figure. For km/L the number is 100. For US mpg it is 100 × 3.785411784 ÷ 1.609344 ≈ 235.215, because a US gallon is 3.785411784 liters and a mile is 1.609344 km. For UK mpg it is 100 × 4.54609 ÷ 1.609344 ≈ 282.481, because a UK gallon is 4.54609 liters.

km/L and mpg are the inverse of L/100 km: the more efficient the car, the higher the number. That is why a value of 0 is not possible. Results are rounded to two decimals (L/100 km and km/L) or one decimal (mpg).

Formula

km/L = 100 ÷ L/100 km. mpg (US) = 235.215 ÷ L/100 km. mpg (UK) = 282.481 ÷ L/100 km.

Assumptions

A US gallon is 3.785411784 liters, a UK (imperial) gallon 4.54609 liters and a mile 1.609344 km.
The figure you enter is only converted, not checked or corrected for real-world driving.
The type of fuel does not matter: petrol, diesel and LPG convert the same way.
Electric consumption, such as kWh per 100 km, is not included.
Results are rounded: L/100 km and km/L to two decimals, mpg to one decimal.

Example calculations

The button fills in the calculator above, so you can carry on from there.

Trip computer reading

Kilometers per liter
15.38 km/L

Fuel economy 6.5 L/100 km
American SUV

Kilometers per liter
10.63 km/L

Fuel economy 25 mpg (US)
British family car

Kilometers per liter
17.7 km/L

Fuel economy 50 mpg (UK)

Frequently asked questions

What is 30 mpg in L/100 km?

30 US mpg is 235.215 ÷ 30 = 7.84 L/100 km. 30 UK mpg is 282.481 ÷ 30 = 9.42 L/100 km.

How many mpg is 6 liters per 100 km?

6 L/100 km is 39.2 mpg in US gallons and 47.1 mpg in UK gallons. In kilometers per liter it is 16.67 km/L.

How do I convert km/L to L/100 km?

Divide 100 by the figure. 15 km/L is 100 ÷ 15 = 6.67 L/100 km, and the same sum turns 6.67 L/100 km back into 15 km/L.

Why are US and UK mpg different?

A UK (imperial) gallon is 4.546 liters and a US gallon is 3.785 liters. You drive further on a UK gallon, so the same car shows about 20% more mpg in UK gallons than in US gallons.

Is a higher or a lower number better?

For L/100 km, lower is better: you need less fuel for the same distance. For km/L and mpg, higher is better: you get further on the same amount of fuel.

Why don't I get the official fuel economy figure?

Official figures come from a standardized laboratory test, such as WLTP in Europe or the EPA test in the US. Real driving has different speeds, temperatures and driving styles, so real-world fuel use is often higher.

Last reviewed: 4 October 2026