How much gas does it take to fill up a car?
On a typical passenger car, filling from near empty to full usually requires about 12–15 gallons (45–60 liters). Larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks can require 20–30 gallons (75–115 liters). The exact amount depends on the car’s tank size and how much fuel is already in the tank.
Fueling a tank isn’t a simple subtraction of “empty” from capacity, because the tank’s geometry, the nozzle’s auto-stop behavior, and the current fuel level all shape the final amount you pump. This article breaks down typical tank sizes and the factors that influence the precise fill required.
Typical tank sizes by vehicle type
This section provides a quick reference for how much gas a full tank generally holds across common vehicle categories.
- Compact cars and sedans: about 11–15 gallons (40–57 liters).
- Sedans and crossovers: typically 12–16 gallons (45–60 liters).
- SUVs and minivans: commonly 18–26 gallons (68–98 liters).
- Pickup trucks and large SUVs: often 24–34 gallons (90–128 liters).
Note: Exact capacity varies by model and year. For precise figures, check your owner’s manual or the sticker near the fuel door.
What determines the exact fill amount
Several practical factors determine the precise gallons or liters needed to reach a full tank.
- Current fuel level: If you’re at 1/4 tank, you’ll need roughly 75% of your tank’s capacity to fill.
- Tank capacity: The maximum you can add is fixed by the tank size.
- Fueling system behavior: Pumps may auto-stop at different levels; topping off beyond the auto-stop is often discouraged or limited.
- Filler neck design and vapor recovery: These can affect how much you can add before the nozzle stops.
In practice, the exact amount you pump equals the difference between the tank’s total capacity and the current level, adjusted by how the fueling system behaves and the tank’s geometry.
Practical tips for estimating the fill amount
To estimate quickly without counting gallons precisely, use the gauge and known capacity:
- Know your car’s official tank capacity from the manual or fuel door label.
- Estimate by fractions: if you’re at half a tank and the capacity is 15 gallons, you might pump about 7–8 gallons to reach full, adjusting for slight variations.
- Use the price-per-gallon approach if you prefer: multiply the estimated gallons by the current price to gauge cost.
Bottom line: Tank size and current level drive the exact fill amount, with minor variations due to nozzle stops and tank geometry.
Summary: Most sedans require about 12–15 gallons to fill, while larger vehicles need more. Always verify the exact tank capacity for your specific model.
Final takeaway: For a quick estimate, subtract the current fuel level from the tank’s total capacity; that difference is the approximate amount you’ll pump, subject to minor fueling-system variations.
How much gas fills up a car?
Most vehicles' average fuel tank capacity is between 10.5 and 18.5 gallons. Smaller vehicles like subcompact crossovers and other hatchback models generally hover somewhere around 12 gallons.
How far can $10 of gas get you?
How far $10 of gas can get you depends on your car's miles per gallon (MPG) and the current price of gas. For example, if gas is $3.50$ 3.50$3.50 per gallon, you would get about 2.82.82.8 gallons for $10$ 10$10. If your car gets 252525 MPG, you could drive approximately 707070 miles with that gas (2.82.82.8 gallons x 252525 MPG).
Factors that determine the distance
- Cost per gallon: This is the most significant variable. Gas prices vary by location and can change daily.
- Your vehicle's MPG: Fuel efficiency differs between cars. A car that gets 353535 MPG will go further on the same amount of gas than a car that gets 151515 MPG.
How to calculate
- Find the amount of gas you can buy: Divide $10$ 10$10 by the cost per gallon at your local station.
- Example: $10÷$3.50≈2.86$ 10 divided by $ 3.50 is approximately equal to 2.86$10÷$3.50≈2.86 gallons
- Calculate the total distance: Multiply the number of gallons by your vehicle's MPG.
- Example: 2.862.862.86 gallons ×cross× 252525 MPG ≈71.5is approximately equal to 71.5≈71.5 miles
How far will $50 of gas get you?
If you spend $50, you'd be able to get nine gallons. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average car goes 24.2 miles per gallon. That means you'd be able to, on average, go 215 miles roundtrip. You can search your car's fuel economy here.
How much gas will $20 get you?
With $20, you can buy about 6 gallons of gas at the current U.S. average price of roughly $3.13 per gallon, which is enough to drive about 120-150 miles depending on your car's miles per gallon (MPG). The exact amount varies significantly depending on your local gas prices and your vehicle's fuel efficiency, so it's best to check the current price per gallon in your area and your car's MPG for a more precise estimate.
How to calculate for your car
- Find the price per gallon: in your area.
- Divide $20 by the price per gallon: to find out how many gallons you'll get (e.g., 20/$3.13=6.3920 / $ 3.13 equals 6.3920/$3.13=6.39 gallons).
- Multiply the gallons by your car's MPG: to estimate the total miles you can drive (e.g., 6.39 gallons×20 MPG=127.8 miles6.39 gallons cross 20 MPG equals 127.8 miles6.39 gallons×20 MPG=127.8 miles).
