L/100km to MPG Converter
Convert liters per 100 km (L/100km) to miles per gallon (MPG). Supports both US and UK (Imperial) gallons. Formula: MPG (US) = 235.215 ÷ L/100km.
How to Convert L/100km to MPG
The conversion is inverse: L/100km measures fuel per unit of distance, while MPG measures distance per unit of fuel. The formula is a division, not a multiplication.
- MPG (US) = 235.21458 ÷ L/100km
- MPG (UK) = 282.48094 ÷ L/100km
The constants come from exact definitions: 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 L and 1 mile = 1.609344 km.
L/100km ↔ MPG Reference Table
Common fuel-economy values expressed in all four units. Click any L/100km value for a dedicated conversion page.
| L/100km | MPG (US) | MPG (UK) | km/L | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 58.8 | 70.6 | 25.0 | Excellent |
| 5 | 47.0 | 56.5 | 20.0 | Very good |
| 6 | 39.2 | 47.1 | 16.7 | Very good |
| 7 | 33.6 | 40.4 | 14.3 | Average |
| 8 | 29.4 | 35.3 | 12.5 | Average |
| 10 | 23.5 | 28.2 | 10.0 | Below average |
| 12 | 19.6 | 23.5 | 8.33 | Below average |
| 15 | 15.7 | 18.8 | 6.67 | Poor |
Common L/100km to MPG Conversions
| L/100km | MPG (US) | MPG (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 L/100km | 78.4 | 94.2 |
| 3.5 L/100km | 67.2 | 80.7 |
| 4 L/100km | 58.8 | 70.6 |
| 4.5 L/100km | 52.3 | 62.8 |
| 5 L/100km | 47.0 | 56.5 |
| 5.5 L/100km | 42.8 | 51.4 |
| 6 L/100km | 39.2 | 47.1 |
| 6.4 L/100km | 36.8 | 44.1 |
| 6.5 L/100km | 36.2 | 43.5 |
| 6.6 L/100km | 35.6 | 42.8 |
| 7 L/100km | 33.6 | 40.4 |
| 7.5 L/100km | 31.4 | 37.7 |
| 8 L/100km | 29.4 | 35.3 |
| 8.5 L/100km | 27.7 | 33.2 |
| 9 L/100km | 26.1 | 31.4 |
| 9.5 L/100km | 24.8 | 29.7 |
| 10 L/100km | 23.5 | 28.2 |
| 10.5 L/100km | 22.4 | 26.9 |
| 11 L/100km | 21.4 | 25.7 |
| 11.5 L/100km | 20.5 | 24.6 |
| 12 L/100km | 19.6 | 23.5 |
| 12.5 L/100km | 18.8 | 22.6 |
| 13 L/100km | 18.1 | 21.7 |
| 14 L/100km | 16.8 | 20.2 |
| 15 L/100km | 15.7 | 18.8 |
| 16 L/100km | 14.7 | 17.7 |
| 17 L/100km | 13.8 | 16.6 |
| 18 L/100km | 13.1 | 15.7 |
| 19 L/100km | 12.4 | 14.9 |
| 20 L/100km | 11.8 | 14.1 |
| 21 L/100km | 11.2 | 13.5 |
| 22 L/100km | 10.7 | 12.8 |
| 23 L/100km | 10.2 | 12.3 |
| 24 L/100km | 9.80 | 11.8 |
| 25 L/100km | 9.41 | 11.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert L/100km to MPG?
Divide 235.215 by your L/100km value to get MPG (US). For Imperial MPG, divide 282.481 by L/100km. Example: 7 L/100km = 235.215 ÷ 7 = 33.6 MPG (US) = 40.4 MPG (UK).
What is 7 L/100km in MPG?
7 L/100km equals 33.6 MPG (US) or 40.4 MPG (UK). That is average fuel economy, typical of midsize sedans and compact SUVs.
Is L/100km better than MPG for comparison?
Yes. L/100km is linear: saving 1 L/100km always saves the same amount of fuel regardless of starting efficiency. MPG is misleading — going from 15 to 25 MPG saves more fuel than going from 35 to 45 MPG, even though both look like a 10 MPG jump.
What L/100km do European cars get?
Typical EU ranges: compact cars 5–7 L/100km, midsize sedans 6–8, SUVs 8–12, full hybrids 3–5. These figures use the WLTP test cycle since 2017.
Related Fuel Economy Converters
MPG to L/100km
Reverse conversion: miles per gallon to liters per 100 km.
MPG to km/L
Miles per gallon to kilometers per liter, used in India, Japan and Brazil.
km/L to MPG
Kilometers per liter to miles per gallon.
Fuel Consumption Calculator
Compare all fuel-economy units in one place.
L/100km to UK MPG
Looking for UK MPG instead? Imperial gallons are larger.
Reading European Car Specs
Across the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and many Asian markets, fuel economy is written in liters per 100 kilometres (L/100km). It appears on window stickers, advertising brochures, vehicle registration documents and manufacturer WLTP fact sheets. If you are importing a car, comparing a US model to a European one, or trying to make sense of a rental-car quote in Spain, you will almost always need to flip L/100km back to MPG.
The formula is simple enough to memorize: MPG (US) = 235.215 ÷ L/100km. Because the relationship is inverse, a small L/100km value maps to a large MPG, and vice-versa. 5 L/100km is excellent (47 MPG), while 12 L/100km is high consumption (about 20 MPG).
The Harmonic Mean Problem
Averaging MPG values across a trip, a fleet, or a set of cars is a well-known source of confusion. A car that gets 20 MPG for half the trip and 40 MPG for the other half does not average 30 MPG in terms of fuel burned — the true harmonic mean is 26.7 MPG. L/100km avoids this trap because it is linear: the same car consumes 11.76 L/100km then 5.88 L/100km, averaging cleanly to 8.82 L/100km. That is why European regulators and fleet managers generally track consumption in L/100km rather than MPG.
WLTP vs EPA: Different Testing Cycles
Europe’s L/100km numbers come from the WLTP test (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure), replacing the older NEDC cycle in 2017–2018. The US EPA uses its own 5-cycle test. WLTP tends to report slightly higher consumption (lower MPG) than EPA because it includes more aggressive acceleration and higher top speeds. When comparing a European car to a US model, keep in mind that a WLTP figure of 6 L/100km (39 MPG) may correspond roughly to an EPA rating of 40–44 MPG, though the difference varies significantly by vehicle and driving profile.
Reference: L/100km to MPG at a Glance
| L/100km | MPG (US) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 58.8 | Excellent — hybrid / plug-in hybrid |
| 5 | 47.0 | Very efficient — small hybrid, efficient diesel |
| 6 | 39.2 | Efficient compact car |
| 7 | 33.6 | Average midsize car |
| 8 | 29.4 | Midsize sedan / compact SUV |
| 10 | 23.5 | Full-size SUV, pickup |
| 12 | 19.6 | Heavy SUV, V8 pickup |
| 15 | 15.7 | Large truck, RV |
When to Use Each Metric
If you are comparing two vehicles on fuel cost and absolute liters saved, stay in L/100km. If you are shopping in the US market, MPG is what the salesperson will quote. And if you want a rough mental conversion, divide 235 by the L/100km value (or multiply by 0.4 and add a little for km/L equivalence) — close enough for on-the-road estimation.
Full Conversion Table
Need a printable reference? See the full L/100km to MPG conversion table with pre-calculated values, CSV download, and print-friendly layout.
