L/100km to MPG
Convert liter/100 km to mpg (us) instantly — type a value and read the result, with the exact formula shown.
Example
1 L/100km = 235.2146 mpg, 5 L/100km = 47.04292 mpg, 10 L/100km = 23.52146 mpg.
How it works
mpg (US) = 235.215 ÷ L/100km. Every value is converted through a single km/L base unit using internationally defined conversion factors, so any from/to pair stays consistent.
Good to know
This conversion bridges two ways of describing the same thing — how thirsty a car is — but they run in opposite directions. Liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) is the fuel-consumption metric printed on European, Australian, and most international car spec sheets, where a lower number means a more efficient vehicle. Miles per gallon (US) is the American fuel-economy figure, where a higher number is better. People reach for this calculator most often when reading a foreign car review, comparing an imported model's window sticker, or making sense of a rental car's trip computer abroad.
The two units come from different measurement worlds: L/100km is built from the metric liter and kilometer, while MPG (US) uses the imperial gallon as redefined in the United States (3.785 liters), which is notably smaller than the UK imperial gallon (4.546 liters). That gallon difference is exactly why an American MPG number is always lower than the equivalent UK MPG for the same car — a frequent source of confusion when comparing British and US reviews of the same model.
Because the relationship is inverse rather than a straight multiply, the handy shortcut is the single constant 235.2: divide it by your L/100km figure to get US MPG, and divide it by your MPG to go back. A few anchor points worth memorizing: 8 L/100km is about 29 MPG, 6 L/100km is about 39 MPG, and a frugal 5 L/100km lands near 47 MPG.
The biggest mistake is treating the conversion as linear — halving your L/100km does not halve your MPG, it doubles it, since the two scales move in opposite directions. The second pitfall is mixing up US and Imperial gallons; if your source quotes "47 MPG" from a UK publication, that is roughly 39 US MPG, a 17% gap that can completely change a buying decision.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert liter/100 km to mpg (us)?
Multiply the number of liter/100 kms by 235.2146 to get mpg (us)s. For example, 1 L/100km = 235.2146 mpg.
What is 1 liter/100 km in mpg (us)s?
1 liter/100 km equals 235.2146 mpg (us)s (1 L/100km = 235.2146 mpg).
How many liter/100 kms are in 1 mpg (us)?
There are 235.2146 liter/100 kms in 1 mpg (us).
Is this converter free and private?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, so your inputs never leave your device, there is no sign-up, and it works offline once loaded.
Are the conversions exact?
Conversions use internationally defined factors and are exact where the definitions are exact (for example, 1 inch = 2.54 cm). Displayed results are rounded for readability.
People also ask
Is a lower or higher L/100km better?
Lower is better. L/100km measures how much fuel is burned over a fixed distance, so 5 L/100km uses less fuel than 8 L/100km. This is the opposite of MPG, where higher is better.
What is 7 L/100km in MPG?
About 33.6 US MPG. Divide 235.2 by 7 to get the figure: 235.2 ÷ 7 = 33.6 mpg.
What is a good L/100km figure for a car?
Roughly 5 to 7 L/100km (about 34 to 47 US MPG) is considered efficient for a modern gasoline car, while large SUVs and trucks often sit at 10 to 14 L/100km (about 17 to 24 US MPG). Hybrids can dip below 5 L/100km.
Why is US MPG lower than UK MPG for the same car?
The US gallon is 3.785 liters while the UK imperial gallon is 4.546 liters — about 20% larger. The same car therefore covers fewer miles on a smaller US gallon, so its US MPG number is roughly 17% lower than its UK MPG.
How do I convert MPG back to L/100km?
Use the same constant in reverse: divide 235.2 by the MPG value. For example, 30 US MPG = 235.2 ÷ 30 = about 7.84 L/100km.
Why isn't the conversion just a simple multiplication?
Because the two units are inverse measures — one is fuel-per-distance and the other is distance-per-fuel. You convert by dividing the constant 235.2 by your value, not by multiplying, so doubling fuel efficiency in MPG corresponds to halving the L/100km number.
What is 10 L/100km in MPG?
About 23.5 US MPG (235.2 ÷ 10 = 23.52 mpg). That is a typical figure for a midsize SUV or a larger sedan.
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