How Towing Fuel Cost Calculator Works?
This tool works by dividing the towing distance by your towing miles per gallon (MPG) and multiplying by the fuel price. The result is the fuel cost of pulling a trailer, boat, or camper.
Enter towing distance
Type the miles you tow, for example 400 miles (644 km).
Enter towing MPG
Type the MPG with the trailer attached. Towing cuts MPG by 30% to 50% for most pickups and SUVs.
Enter the fuel price
Type the price per gallon.
Read the towing cost
The tool returns the fuel cost of the towing leg.
Towing Fuel Cost Calculator Formula
The formula is Towing Cost = (Towing Distance ÷ Towing MPG) × Fuel Price.
Towing Cost = (Towing Distance ÷ Towing MPG) × Fuel PriceFormula variables
- Towing Distance
- Miles driven with the trailer attached.
- Towing MPG
- Fuel economy while towing.
- Fuel Price
- Dollars per US gallon (3.785 L).
Worked example
- Towing Distance: 400 miles
- Towing MPG (e.g. trailer/boat): 12 MPG
- Fuel Price: $3.80/gal
- Gallons: 400 ÷ 12 = 33.33 gallons (126.2 L).
- Cost: 33.33 × $3.80 = $126.67.
Result: $126.67 ($ towing cost)
The same truck rated 20 MPG unloaded spends $76.00 on 400 miles at $3.80. Towing at 12 MPG adds $50.67 to the trip.
Towing Fuel Cost Calculator Conversion Table
The table shows towing fuel costs for 4 distances at 4 towing MPG values, with fuel at $3.80 per gallon.
Rows: Towing Distance (miles). Columns: Towing MPG (e.g. trailer/boat) (MPG). Cells: $ towing cost.
| miles | 8 MPG | 10 MPG | 12 MPG | 15 MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 miles | $47.50 | $38.00 | $31.67 | $25.33 |
| 250 miles | $118.75 | $95.00 | $79.17 | $63.33 |
| 400 miles | $190.00 | $152.00 | $126.67 | $101.33 |
| 800 miles | $380.00 | $304.00 | $253.33 | $202.67 |
Values held constant: Fuel Price = $3.80/gal.
Towing a heavy fifth-wheel camper 800 miles (1,287 km) at 8 MPG costs $380.00 in fuel.
What is Towing Fuel Cost Calculator?
The Towing Fuel Cost Calculator is a tool that prices the fuel used while towing a trailer, boat, or camper. The tool uses towing MPG, not the vehicle's normal rating.
Trailers add weight and aerodynamic drag. A 5,000-pound (2,268 kg) travel trailer often drops a pickup from 20 MPG to 10 to 12 MPG.
Measuring towing MPG on a short test run gives the most accurate input for long trips.
What are the uses of Towing Fuel Cost Calculator?
There are 4 main uses of the Towing Fuel Cost Calculator: budgeting RV trips, pricing boat launches, quoting hauling jobs, and planning horse trailer travel.
Budgeting RV trips
Camper owners price fuel for each leg of a trip.
Pricing boat launches
Boat owners include towing fuel in the cost of a lake day.
Quoting hauling jobs
Contractors add towing fuel to equipment delivery quotes.
Planning horse trailer travel
Riders budget fuel for show and event travel.
Need every metric in one place? Open the main MPG Cost Calculator or browse all 101 fuel calculators.