MPG Converter
Enter a figure for miles per gallon, litres per 100 km or kilometres per litre to see it in all four common formats.
Questo contenuto è in inglese.
Esempi svolti
UK mpg into US mpg
40 mpg in the UK, converted to US mpg
About 48.04 mpg in the US.
A UK gallon is larger than a US gallon, so the same car shows a higher mpg figure in the UK than in the US.
Litres per 100 km to mpg
10 litres per 100 km
About 28.25 mpg (UK).
The figure is 282.481 divided by the litres per 100 km, which uses the UK gallon.
Informazioni su MPG Converter
Fuel economy is quoted in several different ways, and it is easy to compare figures that are not really comparable. In the UK a car is usually described in miles per gallon using the imperial gallon, while in the US the same unit uses a smaller gallon, so one car gets a different mpg number on each side of the Atlantic. Many European countries quote litres per 100 kilometres, where a lower number means better economy, and some countries use kilometres per litre instead. This converter switches between all four, so any figure you find can be read in the one you prefer.
Enter the figure, choose the unit it is written in, and the table shows the same economy in UK mpg, US mpg, litres per 100 km and kilometres per litre. The conversions use exact factors for the gallon and the mile, so the results match the original figure to the precision shown. Fuel economy changes with speed, load, weather and driving style, so converted numbers describe the same test figure rather than exactly what you will get on the road.
Come usare MPG Converter
- Type the fuel economy figure into the figure box.
- Choose the unit that the figure is written in, such as UK mpg or litres per 100 km.
- Read the table, which shows the same economy in all four formats.
- Compare the litres per 100 km figure with other cars, remembering that a lower number is better.
- Copy the result if you want to keep it with a brochure or a list of cars.
Usi comuni
- Comparing a UK brochure figure with a European car advert
- Checking a US fuel economy label against a figure quoted in the UK
- Working out what a litres per 100 km figure means in mpg
- Converting a kilometres per litre figure for a motorbike or scooter
Domande frequenti
What is the difference between UK and US mpg?
A UK gallon is about 4.55 litres, while a US gallon is about 3.79 litres. Because the UK gallon is bigger, a car that manages 40 miles per UK gallon only reaches about 33 miles per US gallon. The same car therefore looks better in UK figures than in US figures, which is why it is important to check which gallon a figure uses before comparing two cars.
Why do European figures use litres per 100 km?
Litres per 100 kilometres tells you how much fuel a car uses to cover a fixed distance, so lower numbers mean better economy. Mpg works the other way round, where a higher figure is better, which can be confusing. As a rough guide, 30 mpg in UK units is about 9.4 litres per 100 km. Converting between the two lets you compare a brochure from abroad with a figure you already know.
How accurate are converted fuel figures?
The conversions are exact, but the figures they start from are usually official test results. Those tests are carried out under set conditions that everyday driving rarely matches. Use the converted numbers to compare cars on the same basis, rather than as a guarantee of what you will spend on fuel each week.
Does a higher mpg always save money?
A higher mpg figure means a car uses less fuel for the same distance, which usually reduces running costs. However, the saving depends on how far you drive, the price of fuel, and the car's purchase price, insurance and servicing. A cheaper, smaller car can cost less overall than a larger car with better economy, so compare the full picture before deciding.
Why does my car show a different mpg from the converter?
Dashboard readings are estimates and vary with driving style, load, tyre pressure, temperature and the route. The converter only changes units; it cannot change how much fuel the car uses. If the numbers look different from a figure you have seen on paper, check the unit and the size of the gallon first, since mixing UK and US gallons is a common cause of confusion.