MPG to L/100km Converter
Convert miles per gallon (MPG) to liters per 100 km (L/100km). Supports both US and UK (Imperial) gallons. Formula: L/100km = 235.215 ÷ MPG (US).
How to Convert MPG to L/100km
The conversion is inverse: since MPG measures distance per unit of fuel and L/100km measures fuel per unit of distance, the formula is a division, not a multiplication.
- L/100km = 235.21458 ÷ MPG (US)
- L/100km = 282.48094 ÷ MPG (UK)
The constants come from exact definitions: 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 L and 1 mile = 1.609344 km, so 100 km ÷ 1 gallon in US units gives 235.21458.
MPG ↔ L/100km Reference Table
Common fuel-economy values expressed in all four units. Click any MPG value for a dedicated conversion page.
| MPG (US) | MPG (UK) | L/100km | km/L | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 18.0 | 15.7 | 6.38 | Poor |
| 20 | 24.0 | 11.8 | 8.50 | Below average |
| 25 | 30.0 | 9.41 | 10.6 | Average |
| 30 | 36.0 | 7.84 | 12.8 | Average |
| 35 | 42.0 | 6.72 | 14.9 | Very good |
| 40 | 48.0 | 5.88 | 17.0 | Very good |
| 50 | 60.0 | 4.70 | 21.3 | Excellent |
| 60 | 72.1 | 3.92 | 25.5 | Excellent |
Common MPG to L/100km Conversions
| MPG (US) | L/100km | km/L |
|---|---|---|
| 10 MPG | 23.5 | 4.25 |
| 11 MPG | 21.4 | 4.68 |
| 12 MPG | 19.6 | 5.10 |
| 13 MPG | 18.1 | 5.53 |
| 14 MPG | 16.8 | 5.95 |
| 15 MPG | 15.7 | 6.38 |
| 16 MPG | 14.7 | 6.80 |
| 17 MPG | 13.8 | 7.23 |
| 18 MPG | 13.1 | 7.65 |
| 19 MPG | 12.4 | 8.08 |
| 20 MPG | 11.8 | 8.50 |
| 21 MPG | 11.2 | 8.93 |
| 22 MPG | 10.7 | 9.35 |
| 23 MPG | 10.2 | 9.78 |
| 24 MPG | 9.80 | 10.2 |
| 25 MPG | 9.41 | 10.6 |
| 26 MPG | 9.05 | 11.1 |
| 27 MPG | 8.71 | 11.5 |
| 28 MPG | 8.40 | 11.9 |
| 29 MPG | 8.11 | 12.3 |
| 30 MPG | 7.84 | 12.8 |
| 31 MPG | 7.59 | 13.2 |
| 32 MPG | 7.35 | 13.6 |
| 33 MPG | 7.13 | 14.0 |
| 34 MPG | 6.92 | 14.5 |
| 35 MPG | 6.72 | 14.9 |
| 36 MPG | 6.53 | 15.3 |
| 37 MPG | 6.36 | 15.7 |
| 38 MPG | 6.19 | 16.2 |
| 39 MPG | 6.03 | 16.6 |
| 40 MPG | 5.88 | 17.0 |
| 41 MPG | 5.74 | 17.4 |
| 42 MPG | 5.60 | 17.9 |
| 43 MPG | 5.47 | 18.3 |
| 44 MPG | 5.35 | 18.7 |
| 45 MPG | 5.23 | 19.1 |
| 46 MPG | 5.11 | 19.6 |
| 47 MPG | 5.00 | 20.0 |
| 48 MPG | 4.90 | 20.4 |
| 49 MPG | 4.80 | 20.8 |
| 50 MPG | 4.70 | 21.3 |
| 51 MPG | 4.61 | 21.7 |
| 52 MPG | 4.52 | 22.1 |
| 53 MPG | 4.44 | 22.5 |
| 54 MPG | 4.36 | 23.0 |
| 55 MPG | 4.28 | 23.4 |
| 56 MPG | 4.20 | 23.8 |
| 57 MPG | 4.13 | 24.2 |
| 58 MPG | 4.06 | 24.7 |
| 59 MPG | 3.99 | 25.1 |
| 60 MPG | 3.92 | 25.5 |
| 61 MPG | 3.86 | 25.9 |
| 62 MPG | 3.79 | 26.4 |
| 63 MPG | 3.73 | 26.8 |
| 64 MPG | 3.68 | 27.2 |
| 65 MPG | 3.62 | 27.6 |
| 70 MPG | 3.36 | 29.8 |
| 75 MPG | 3.14 | 31.9 |
| 80 MPG | 2.94 | 34.0 |
| 90 MPG | 2.61 | 38.3 |
| 100 MPG | 2.35 | 42.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert MPG to L/100km?
Divide 235.215 by your MPG value (using US gallons). For Imperial gallons, divide 282.481 by the MPG value. Example: 30 MPG (US) = 235.215 ÷ 30 = 7.84 L/100km.
What is a good L/100km?
Under 6 L/100km is excellent (hybrids and efficient compacts). 6–8 is good (efficient sedans). 8–12 is average (midsize cars and compact SUVs). Over 12 is high consumption (large SUVs and trucks).
Why is the MPG to L/100km conversion not linear?
MPG is an inverse metric (distance per fuel) while L/100km is direct (fuel per distance). They are reciprocals. Doubling MPG halves L/100km: 20 MPG = 11.76 L/100km, 40 MPG = 5.88 L/100km.
What is the difference between US and UK MPG?
The US gallon is 3.785 L, while the Imperial (UK) gallon is 4.546 L. A car rated 30 MPG (US) equals 36 MPG (UK) — same fuel economy, different units.
Related Fuel Economy Converters
L/100km to MPG
Reverse conversion: liters per 100 km to miles per gallon (US and UK).
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.
MPG Calculator
Calculate your car’s MPG from distance and fuel used.
US MPG to UK MPG
UK gallons are larger — convert between US and UK MPG.
Understanding the Relationship Between MPG and L/100km
At first glance, miles per gallon (MPG) and liters per 100 km (L/100km) look like two different ways of describing the same thing. In practice they measure fuel economy from opposite ends: MPG tells you how far a tank of fuel takes you, while L/100km tells you how much fuel you burn over a fixed distance. That makes the two inversely related — doubling one halves the other — and it is the reason a small change in MPG matters more at low efficiency than at high efficiency. Going from 15 to 20 MPG saves a noticeable 3.9 L per 100 km; going from 35 to 40 MPG saves only 0.8 L per 100 km.
Because the relationship is non-linear, simply averaging MPG values across a trip or a fleet can be misleading. L/100km is linear: saving 1 L/100km always represents the same absolute amount of fuel, no matter what the starting efficiency was. This is why European regulators, fleet managers, and environmental researchers tend to prefer L/100km when comparing vehicles or setting emission targets.
Why Europe Uses L/100km
European Union regulation EC 715/2007 and its successors require new-car fuel economy to be labelled in L/100km, alongside CO2 emissions in grams per kilometer. Both metrics scale linearly with fuel use, which keeps the comparison between vehicles honest. The UK historically used MPG (UK gallons), but most modern UK labels now show both figures. Australia, New Zealand, and most of continental Europe are L/100km-first markets.
Quick Mental Math: MPG to L/100km
The formula L/100km = 235.215 ÷ MPG (US) is easy to approximate. For rough estimates, think in round pairs:
- 30 MPG → about 8 L/100km (exactly 7.84)
- 40 MPG → about 6 L/100km (exactly 5.88)
- 50 MPG → about 5 L/100km (exactly 4.70)
- 60 MPG → about 4 L/100km (exactly 3.92)
The mental-math shortcut “240 divided by MPG” gives results within 2% of the exact formula, which is good enough for on-the-road estimation.
Reference Table with Vehicle Examples
The following examples approximate real-world fuel economy for common vehicle classes. Actual numbers vary with driving style, speed, terrain, load, and temperature.
| Vehicle Example | MPG (US) | L/100km | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-size pickup (e.g. Ford F-150 V8) | 18 | 13.1 | Highway, unloaded |
| Full-size SUV (e.g. Toyota Highlander) | 24 | 9.8 | Mixed driving |
| Midsize sedan (e.g. Honda Accord) | 32 | 7.4 | Combined EPA |
| Compact car (e.g. Honda Civic) | 36 | 6.5 | Combined EPA |
| Subcompact hybrid (e.g. Toyota Yaris Hybrid) | 48 | 4.9 | WLTP |
| Plug-in hybrid / Full hybrid (e.g. Toyota Prius) | 56 | 4.2 | Combined EPA |
When to Use Each Metric
If you are shopping for a car in the United States, Canada or parts of Latin America, MPG is the figure printed on the window sticker and is what salespeople will reference. If you are comparing a US car to a European one, or reading a WLTP test sheet, convert to L/100km first. And if you want to evaluate whether a fuel-saving modification — new tyres, roof-rack removal, steadier cruising — is actually worth it, L/100km gives you a more honest picture of absolute fuel saved.
Full Conversion Table
Need a printable reference? See the full MPG to L/100km conversion table with pre-calculated values, CSV download, and print-friendly layout.
