9.41
L/100km
10.63
km/L
9.41
L/100km
10.63
km/L
The Miles per Gallon to Liters per 100km Converter instantly translates American fuel economy ratings into the metric equivalents used in Europe, Canada, Australia, and most of the rest of the world. Whether you are comparing a US-market vehicle to a European one, renting a car abroad, or simply trying to understand an international fuel economy specification, this converter provides fast, accurate results.
The United States is one of the few countries that still uses miles per gallon (MPG) as the primary fuel economy metric. The majority of the world uses either liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) — a consumption rate where lower is better — or kilometers per liter (km/L), which is common in Japan and parts of Asia and Latin America.
These metrics measure the same physical property from different mathematical perspectives, yet the numbers can seem drastically different. A highly efficient 50 MPG hybrid converts to just 4.7 L/100km — impressive in both systems but confusingly different numerically. A typical 25 MPG mid-size sedan is 9.4 L/100km, and a 15 MPG truck is 15.7 L/100km.
This converter is also useful for environmental comparisons: European fuel economy standards and CO₂ regulations are expressed in g/km, which correlate directly with L/100km values. Understanding the conversion helps interpret international vehicle efficiency ratings and emissions standards side by side.
The conversion uses a single constant derived from combining US and metric unit definitions:
MPG to L/100km:
$$\text{L/100km} = \frac{235.215}{\text{MPG}}$$
Where the constant 235.215 is derived from:
$$235.215 = \frac{100 \text{ km} \times 3.78541 \text{ L/gal}}{1.60934 \text{ km/mile}}$$
MPG to km/L:
$$\text{km/L} = \text{MPG} \times \frac{1.60934 \text{ km/mile}}{3.78541 \text{ L/gal}} = \text{MPG} \times 0.425144$$
Note the important mathematical relationship: L/100km is an inverse measure of efficiency. Doubling MPG halves L/100km, but the relationship is hyperbolic, not linear. This is why going from 10 to 20 MPG (10 MPG improvement) saves far more fuel than going from 40 to 50 MPG (also 10 MPG) — a counterintuitive result that the L/100km metric makes immediately obvious (10→20 MPG is 23.5→11.8 L/100km, saving 11.7 L per 100km, while 40→50 MPG is only 5.9→4.7 L/100km, saving just 1.2 L).
Use the conversion table as a reference: 15 MPG = 15.7 L/100km | 20 MPG = 11.8 L/100km | 25 MPG = 9.4 L/100km | 30 MPG = 7.8 L/100km | 35 MPG = 6.7 L/100km | 40 MPG = 5.9 L/100km | 50 MPG = 4.7 L/100km | 60 MPG = 3.9 L/100km.
In the European market, the average new car in 2024 emitted approximately 116 g CO₂/km, corresponding to roughly 5.0 L/100km for gasoline vehicles (≈47 MPG). This is significantly more efficient than the US fleet average of about 26.4 MPG. European fuel taxes and smaller car culture drive higher efficiency standards across the board.
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A Toyota Prius-class hybrid achieving 52 MPG in the US market converts to 4.52 L/100km — well within the 'excellent' efficiency range by European standards.
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An 18 MPG full-size pickup truck consumes 13.1 L/100km — classified as high consumption by European standards where most trucks and large SUVs are rare.
The constant 235.215 comes from the combined conversion of gallons to liters (1 US gallon = 3.78541 liters) and miles to kilometers (1 mile = 1.60934 km). The formula is: 100 km × 3.78541 L/gal ÷ 1.60934 km/mile = 235.215. It represents the liters needed per 100 km for a vehicle that achieves exactly 1 MPG — a theoretical baseline from which all conversions scale.
No — they measure the same fuel economy from opposite perspectives. km/L is analogous to MPG (distance per unit of fuel, higher is better). L/100km is a consumption rate (fuel per unit distance, lower is better). Convert between them: km/L = 100 ÷ L/100km, and L/100km = 100 ÷ km/L. km/L is commonly used in Japan, India, and parts of Latin America.
Yes — the mathematical conversion between MPG and L/100km is the same regardless of fuel type. However, note that a diesel vehicle's L/100km rating for diesel fuel cannot be directly compared to a gasoline vehicle's L/100km on an energy-equivalent basis, since diesel contains about 10–15% more energy per liter than gasoline. For energy-equivalent comparisons, use MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) or MJ/100km.
The EU uses the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure, adopted 2017) which replaced the older NEDC. The US uses the EPA test cycle. WLTP is generally considered more representative of real-world driving, with higher speeds and more dynamic acceleration. NEDC (old European standard) often produced inflated efficiency claims — WLTP figures are typically 20–25% higher in L/100km (i.e., less fuel efficient) than NEDC for the same vehicle.
The EU's 2025 fleet average CO2 target is 95 g/km for new passenger cars. For gasoline vehicles, this corresponds to approximately 4.1 L/100km or about 57 MPG. This is why European automakers have heavily invested in hybrid and electric technology — meeting 95 g/km with pure gasoline engines requires very high efficiency ratings that are difficult to achieve at acceptable cost and performance levels.
This calculator converts from MPG to metric units. To convert in the other direction, use the inverse formula: MPG = 235.215 ÷ L/100km. For example, 7.5 L/100km = 235.215 ÷ 7.5 = 31.4 MPG. You can also use our dedicated Fuel Efficiency Calculator, which accepts distance and fuel inputs in any unit system and outputs all three metrics simultaneously.
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