Ownership

Cost Per Mile Calculator

See the true cost of every mile you drive — fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation rolled into one number.

  • Updated for 2026
  • US units
  • US avg fuel prices
  • EPA-style MPG
  • No signup
  • Transparent assumptions
mi/yr
mpg
$/gal
$/yr
$/yr
$/yr

Cost Per Mile

$0.000

Fuel / Mile

$0.000

Fixed / Mile

$0.000

Total Annual Cost

$0

How we calculate this

Inputs
All values are user-supplied — change MPG, distance and price to match your situation.
Defaults
Pre-filled with average US fuel prices and EPA-style MPG so the page is useful at first load.
Units
US miles, gallons, MPG and USD throughout. No conversions are applied silently.
Rounding
Displayed to the nearest cent or whole mile; internal math keeps full precision.

Sources & assumptions

  • EPA fuel economy dataCity / highway / combined MPG and MPGe baselines.
  • U.S. Department of Energy (fueleconomy.gov)Vehicle efficiency and EV range references.
  • AAA gas price trendsRecent national and regional retail fuel averages.
  • EIA electricity ratesAverage residential per-kWh prices used for EV charging.

We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.

What goes into cost per mile

The IRS standard mileage rate (around 67¢ per mile in recent years) is a good benchmark. Your actual number depends on your vehicle, insurance premium, and how many miles you drive each year — fixed costs hurt low-mileage drivers more.

Use it to compare

Run two scenarios with different vehicles or commute lengths to see which is actually cheaper to own. A more efficient car often pays back its higher purchase price within a few years for high-mileage drivers.

Frequently asked questions

What's a typical cost per mile?

Most US drivers spend $0.45–$0.75 per mile when all costs are included. Fuel-efficient compact cars sit lower; trucks and SUVs sit higher.

How do I estimate depreciation?

A common approximation is the difference between purchase price and resale value divided by years owned. New cars depreciate fastest in years 1–3.

Should I include car payments?

If you're financing, yes — add the annual interest portion (or full payment) to the maintenance or depreciation field for a true picture.

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