Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator
Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator. Compare specified prices and consumption. Enter your values and view the result.
Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator
Compare specified prices and consumption.
Use the calculation engine below to model your exact costs with custom fuel prices, distances, and vehicle efficiencies:
Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator: inputs
Adjust sliders or enter exact figures
Monthly Fuel Budget
Real-Time Visual Breakdown
Comparing your expense against alternative vehicle classes
Price Fluctuation Stress Test
See how unexpected gas price surges would impact your monthly budget
How Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator Works
This tool works by pricing regular, midgrade, and premium gasoline at their own prices and fuel economy, then comparing cost per mile.
- Step 1
Enter grade prices
Type the station price for regular (87 Anti-Knock Index, AKI), midgrade (89 AKI), and premium (91 to 93 AKI).
- Step 2
Enter MPG on each grade
Use tracked MPG for each grade. Engines designed for regular gain little or nothing from premium.
- Step 3
Enter distance
Type the miles or kilometers driven on the chosen grade each month or year.
- Step 4
Compare grade costs
The calculator shows cost per mile, period cost, and the MPG gain needed for premium to break even.
Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator Formula
The formula compares cost per mile on each grade and finds the break-even MPG gain.
Grade Cost per Mile = Grade Price ÷ Grade MPG
Required MPG Gain = (Premium Price ÷ Regular Price) − 1
- Grade Price
- = price per gallon of one fuel grade
- Grade MPG
- = fuel economy recorded on that grade
- Required MPG Gain
- = percentage MPG increase premium needs to cost the same per mile
Worked Example
- Regular costs $3.40 and returns 28 MPG. Premium costs $4.10 and returns 29 MPG.
- Regular = $0.121 per mile; premium = $0.141 per mile.
- Premium needs a (4.10 ÷ 3.40) − 1 = 20.6% MPG gain to break even, and delivers 3.6%.
- Over 12,000 miles (19,312 km), premium costs $239.41 more.
Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator Conversion Table
The table shows the MPG gain premium needs at different price gaps above $3.40 regular, and the extra yearly cost with no MPG gain at 12,000 miles and 28 MPG.
| Gap / gal | Gap / L | Premium Price | Required MPG Gain | Extra / Year (No Gain) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.30 | $0.079 | $3.70 | 8.8% | $128.57 |
| $0.40 | $0.106 | $3.80 | 11.8% | $171.43 |
| $0.50 | $0.132 | $3.90 | 14.7% | $214.29 |
| $0.60 | $0.159 | $4.00 | 17.6% | $257.14 |
| $0.70 | $0.185 | $4.10 | 20.6% | $300.00 |
| $0.80 | $0.211 | $4.20 | 23.5% | $342.86 |
| $1.00 | $0.264 | $4.40 | 29.4% | $428.57 |
Outside North America, octane uses the Research Octane Number (RON). Regular 87 AKI equals about 91 RON, and premium 91 AKI equals about 95 RON.
What is a Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator?
A Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator is a fuel choice tool that compares the cost per mile of regular, midgrade, and premium gasoline.
Premium gasoline costs $0.50 to $1.00 more per gallon than regular in most US markets. Engines that require premium need it to avoid engine knock and lost performance. Engines rated for regular gain little from premium. The Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator shows the MPG gain premium must deliver to pay for itself.
The break-even gain often lands between 15% and 30%, far above the 0% to 3% most regular-fuel engines show on premium.
What are the uses of a Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator?
There are 4 main uses of the Fuel Grade Cost Comparison Calculator, including grade selection, premium fuel checks, and fleet fuel policy.
Pick the right grade
Choose the grade with the lowest cost per mile for your engine.
Test premium recommendations
Check whether "premium recommended" engines repay the extra cost.
Set fleet fuel policy
Write a grade rule for company fuel cards.
Price performance cars
Budget the extra premium fuel cost of a sports car.