Gallons you put in, times the price on the pump. A 15-gallon tank at $3.50 is $52.50 from completely empty.
In practice you rarely buy a whole tank, because you refuel with some gas still in it. Fill up at a quarter tank and that same car takes about 11 gallons, or roughly $39.
Work it out for your car
Each year page has a small fill-up calculator already loaded with that model's tank sizes; you just type your local price and how much is left in the tank. For anything else, use the fill-up cost calculator.
Paying less per fill-up
- Buy the grade your manual calls for. If it says regular, premium is money wasted. More on that in regular vs premium.
- Prices vary a lot between stations a mile apart, and stations right off the highway exit tend to charge more.
- Correct tire pressure and an empty roof rack help mileage, so each tank lasts longer.
