# Refrigerated Truck Fuel Calculator

> Estimate fuel and cost for a reefer trip: engine fuel from distance and L/100 km plus refrigeration-unit fuel from run hours and litres per hour.

Category: Logistics & transport · Applies to: Worldwide · Last updated: 2026-10-29
Interactive calculator: https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/refrigerated-truck-fuel-calculator

A reefer trip burns fuel twice: in the truck engine, by distance, and in the refrigeration unit, by the hours it runs. Add both to get the trip’s real fuel bill.

Also called: Reefer fuel calculator, Reefer trip fuel cost calculator.

## Inputs
- Trip distance (unit km; default 800)
- Truck fuel consumption (unit L/100 km; default 32)
- Reefer unit running hours (unit h; default 14)
- Reefer fuel use (unit L/h; default 2.5)
- Road fuel price (unit /L; default 1.50)
- Reefer fuel price (if different) (unit /L; default ; optional)
- Currency

## Results
- Trip fuel cost
- Total fuel
- Truck engine fuel
- Reefer unit fuel
- Reefer share of fuel
- Fuel cost per km

## Formula

```
Truck fuel = Distance × L/100 km ÷ 100;  Reefer fuel = Hours × L/h;  Cost = Truck fuel × Price + Reefer fuel × Reefer price
```

Where:
- L/100 km: truck consumption when loaded
- L/h: reefer unit consumption at the set-point and ambient temperature

## Worked example
1. Truck = 800 × 32 ÷ 100 = 256 L.
2. Reefer = 14 × 2.5 = 35 L.
3. Total = 291 L × 1.50 = 436.50; reefer share = 35 ÷ 291 = 12.03%.

**Result:** The 800 km reefer trip uses about 291 litres, costing 436.50, with the refrigeration unit taking 12% of the fuel.

## What the result means

Reefer fuel rises with ambient temperature, door openings and lower set-points. Pre-cooling at a depot on mains power and shorter door-open times both cut it.

## Assumptions and limits
- Consumption figures are trip averages.
- Idling, AdBlue/DEF and electric standby are not included.

## Questions

### How do I find my reefer’s litres per hour?

Divide fuel added to the reefer tank by the hour-meter reading between fills, or check the unit’s telematics. Use figures from similar weather and set-points.

### Why a separate reefer fuel price?

In some places reefer units can use differently taxed fuel. Enter that price if it applies to you.

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Source: GM¹X CalcVerse — https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/refrigerated-truck-fuel-calculator