Idle Fuel Cost Calculator
Idling burns fuel without moving you. Enter how many minutes you idle per day to see the real annual cost of leaving the engine running.
How it works
Idle consumption for a typical petrol car is about 0.5–0.8 L/hour; larger engines and diesel trucks use more. Cost = idle hours × idle rate × fuel price, extrapolated to months (×30.4) and years (×365).
Frequently asked questions
How much fuel does idling use?
A typical modern petrol engine idles at roughly 0.5–0.8 L/hour depending on engine size, AC load and temperature. Modern stop-start systems eliminate most of this in traffic.
Is it better to switch the engine off at red lights?
For stops longer than about 10 seconds, switching off saves fuel and wear. Restarting consumes very little fuel, which is why stop-start systems are standard on modern cars.