Fuel Storage Calculator
Enter how much gasoline you have stored and your vehicle's real-world MPG to see how far that fuel can actually take you. A loaded vehicle towing a trailer burns far more than a bare highway run, so plan your range around the worst case, not the best.
Reader-supported: we may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Details.
Fuel you have stored
Your vehicle's fuel economy
Your stored fuel covers roughly
—–— miles
NATO jerry cans hold about 5.3 gallons (20 liters) each. Four steel NATO-style jerry cans come to roughly 21 gallons. They seal tightly, resist UV and impact, and stack well, which is why they are the standard for stored fuel.
How the range is figured
Range is simply gallons stored × miles per gallon. The catch is that a single MPG number lies to you: your fuel economy swings widely with how the vehicle is loaded and driven. That is why this tool asks for two numbers. Your best case is a light, unloaded vehicle at a steady highway speed. Your worst case is what you will really face in an evacuation: a fully loaded vehicle, maybe towing a trailer, in stop-and-go traffic. Plan around the worst-case number so you are not stranded short of where you need to be.
This is the range from your stored cans only. It does not count the fuel already in your vehicle's tank. Top off your tanks early whenever an event is on the horizon, because stations run dry within hours and pumps stop entirely when the power fails.
Reminders before you count on stored fuel
- Real-world MPG drops fast. Towing, heavy cargo, a roof rack, low tire pressure, high speed, cold weather, idling, and rough or off-road terrain all cut your mileage. When in doubt, set a lower worst-case number.
- Never plan to run the tank dry. Keep a reserve. Running out strands you and can draw junk into the fuel system, so shave 10 to 15 percent off the range you plan to use.
- Old fuel is unreliable fuel. Untreated gasoline degrades in a few months. Treat each can with a stabilizer such as STA-BIL Storage and rotate every six to twelve months so the gallons you are counting on actually run.
- Ethanol matters. Ethanol-blended pump gas gets slightly worse mileage and stores for less time than ethanol-free fuel.
- Fuel is heavy. Gasoline weighs about 6 pounds per gallon, so four full cans run roughly 125 pounds plus the cans. Plan how you will actually carry and pour it.
- Store it safely. Keep cans cool and ventilated, away from living areas and any ignition source, with a little headspace since fuel expands. See the full guide below.