L/100 km to MPG Converter, US and UK
Convert litres per 100 km to miles per gallon in US and UK units. See the inverse formula, a table of common values and why a lower L/100 km number is better.
8 L/100 km = 29.4018 MPG (US)
- MPG (US)
- 29.4018
- MPG (UK)
- 35.3101
- km/L
- 12.5
- L/100 km
- 8
- mi/L
- 7.76714
- km/gal (US)
- 47.3176
Higher MPG, km/L and mi/L mean a more efficient car; a lower L/100 km means the same. L/100 km = 235.214583 ÷ MPG (US).
About the L/100 km to MPG Converter
This page converts litres per 100 kilometres (L/100 km) to miles per gallon (MPG), so a European fuel consumption label can be compared with an American or British one. A lower L/100 km number means a more efficient car, while a higher MPG number means a more efficient car. The two scales are reciprocals, so you divide a constant by your figure.
The constant for US gallons is 235.214583 and for imperial (UK) gallons it is 282.480936:
The constants come from the definitions 1 mile = 1.609344 km, 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 litres and 1 UK gallon = 4.54609 litres.
How to use it
Steps
- Type your consumption into Fuel economy. The page opens with 8 L/100 km.
- Read MPG (US) in the headline. Choose MPG (UK) under To for the imperial gallon.
- The tiles show the same figure in every unit at once.
Worked examples
Example 1
10 L/100 km is 235.214583 / 10 = 23.5215 MPG (US), or 28.2481 MPG (UK).
Example 2
6 L/100 km is 235.214583 / 6 = 39.2024 MPG (US).
Example 3
A large SUV at 14 L/100 km does 235.214583 / 14 = 16.8 MPG (US), a small city car at 4.5 L/100 km does 52.3 MPG (US).
L/100 km to MPG (US) table
| L/100 km | MPG (US) |
|---|---|
| 3 | 78.405 |
| 4 | 58.804 |
| 5 | 47.043 |
| 6 | 39.202 |
| 7 | 33.602 |
| 8 | 29.402 |
| 9 | 26.135 |
| 10 | 23.521 |
| 12 | 19.601 |
| 15 | 15.681 |
L/100 km to MPG (UK) table
| L/100 km | MPG (UK) |
|---|---|
| 3 | 94.160 |
| 4 | 70.620 |
| 5 | 56.496 |
| 6 | 47.080 |
| 7 | 40.354 |
| 8 | 35.310 |
| 9 | 31.387 |
| 10 | 28.248 |
| 12 | 23.540 |
| 15 | 18.832 |
Reading the numbers
Because L/100 km is the reciprocal of MPG, a small change in L/100 km at the low end is a big change in MPG. Going from 5 to 4 L/100 km lifts the car from 47.0 to 58.8 MPG (US). Quoted ranges can be misleading, so convert both ends before you compare.
Typical values
A small city car at 5 L/100 km does 47.0 MPG (US). A mid-size sedan at 8 L/100 km does 29.4 MPG (US), a large SUV at 12 L/100 km does 19.6 MPG (US), and a heavy van at 14 L/100 km does 16.8 MPG (US). Electric vehicles are rated in kWh per 100 km, which is a different scale and not converted here.
Estimating distance from a tank
A 50 litre tank at 8 L/100 km gives 50 / 8 × 100 = 625 km, which is 388 miles. In the other direction, an American car with a 15 gallon tank at 29.4 MPG (US) covers 441 miles, so a European driver reading L/100 km and an American driver reading MPG can plan the same trip with the same conversion.
Privacy
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Related tools
Run the maths the other way with the MPG to L/100 km converter. The Fuel Economy Converter covers all six units, and the Volume Converter converts litres and gallons.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert L/100 km to MPG?
Divide 235.214583 by the L/100 km figure for US gallons, or 282.480936 for imperial gallons. 8 L/100 km is 235.214583 / 8 = 29.4018 MPG (US) or 35.3101 MPG (UK).
What is 10 L/100 km in MPG?
10 L/100 km is 235.214583 / 10 = 23.5215 MPG (US) and 282.480936 / 10 = 28.2481 MPG (UK). A car at that consumption is a typical mid-size petrol model.
Which is better, a high MPG or a high L/100 km?
A high MPG is good and a high L/100 km is bad. The scales are reciprocals, so lower consumption in L/100 km corresponds to a higher MPG.
Why are there two MPG answers?
A US gallon holds 3.785411784 litres and an imperial gallon holds 4.54609 litres. The same L/100 km figure therefore gives a larger number in MPG (UK) than in MPG (US).
Can I convert L/100 km to km/L?
Yes. km/L = 100 / (L/100 km), so 5 L/100 km is 20 km/L. Choose km/L under To in the converter above.
What happens if I enter zero?
The page asks for a number greater than zero. A car using 0 L/100 km would never need fuel, so the equivalent MPG would be infinite.