How Many Calories Are in 1 Gallon of Gasoline?

About 29,000–31,000 dietary Calories (kcal) are contained in 1 U.S. gallon of gasoline, corresponding to roughly 120–131 megajoules (MJ) or about 33.7 kilowatt-hours (kWh). This figure reflects the fuel’s chemical energy, not nutritional content—gasoline is toxic and not edible—but it provides a useful cross-unit comparison.

What That Number Means

In energy terms, the “calories” in gasoline are the same physical units used to describe food energy (kilocalories, often written as Calories with a capital C). The exact value varies with formulation, season, and whether you reference lower heating value (LHV) or higher heating value (HHV). A commonly used benchmark is that 1 U.S. gallon of gasoline contains about 33.7 kWh of energy, a figure adopted in U.S. policy and EV comparisons; converted to dietary Calories, that’s close to 29,000 kcal. Using slightly higher heating values and denser blends pushes the estimate toward ~31,000 kcal.

How It’s Calculated

Method A: Using the widely cited 33.7 kWh per gallon

The following steps show how the 33.7 kWh-per-gallon benchmark translates into Calories using standard unit conversions.

1. Start with energy content: 1 U.S. gallon gasoline ≈ 33.7 kWh.
2. Convert kWh to megajoules: 33.7 kWh × 3.6 MJ/kWh ≈ 121.3 MJ.
3. Convert MJ to kilocalories: 121.3 MJ ÷ 4.184 MJ/kcal ≈ 29,000 kcal.

This method yields approximately 29,000 dietary Calories per U.S. gallon, aligning with electric “eGallon” comparisons.

Method B: Using heating value and density

This approach uses typical gasoline properties and shows why real-world values can range. Assumptions: LHV ≈ 44 MJ/kg; density ≈ 0.74–0.76 kg/L; volume = 1 U.S. gallon = 3.785 L.

• Mass of 1 gallon: 0.74–0.76 kg/L × 3.785 L ≈ 2.80–2.88 kg.
• Chemical energy (LHV): 2.80–2.88 kg × 44 MJ/kg ≈ 123–127 MJ.
• In kilocalories: 123–127 MJ ÷ 4.184 ≈ 29,400–30,400 kcal (LHV). Using HHV (~46 MJ/kg) raises the upper end to roughly 31,000 kcal.

This method illustrates why published figures vary: fuel composition, seasonal blends, and whether LHV or HHV is used can shift the result between ~29,000 and ~31,000 kcal per gallon.

How It Compares

To put gasoline’s energy content into everyday context, here are a few comparisons that make the magnitude more tangible.

• Human diet: 1 gallon of gasoline (~29,000 kcal) is roughly 14–15 days of energy for a 2,000 kcal/day diet.
• Electricity: 33.7 kWh is close to the average daily electricity use of a modest U.S. household.
• Vehicle motion: A typical gasoline car delivers only about 20–30% of that energy to the wheels as useful work due to engine and drivetrain losses.

These comparisons highlight the high energy density of liquid fuels—and the importance of efficiency in converting that energy into useful work.

FAQ and Notes

The details below address common points of confusion about units and measurements.

• Calorie vs. calorie: In nutrition, “Calorie” (capital C) means kilocalorie (kcal), which is 1,000 small calories.
• U.S. vs. Imperial gallon: An Imperial gallon is 4.546 L. Scaling the U.S. figure gives ≈ 40.5 kWh or ~34,800 kcal per Imperial gallon, assuming similar fuel properties.
• Edibility and safety: Gasoline is toxic and not a food; its “Calories” are a physics unit, not a recommendation.

Keeping the unit distinctions and safety context in mind ensures the energy comparisons are informative rather than misleading.

Summary

A U.S. gallon of gasoline contains on the order of 29,000–31,000 dietary Calories (kcal), typically approximated as ~29,000 kcal based on the widely used 33.7 kWh-per-gallon benchmark. Variations in fuel blend and heating value explain the range, and the figure is best understood as chemical energy equivalent—not nutrition.

How much protein is in gasoline?

Gasoline is a refined petroleum product and does not contain protein; the energy it provides comes from its hydrocarbon components, which are not metabolized by the human body as proteins, carbohydrates, or fats. Therefore, you cannot derive any nutritional value or “protein” from consuming or being exposed to gasoline. 
Why Gasoline Has No Protein 

• Hydrocarbon Composition: Gasoline is made up of various hydrocarbons—molecules composed only of hydrogen and carbon atoms. These are the chemical compounds that store chemical energy, which is released when burned in an engine.
• No Nutritional Macros: Proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are essential macronutrients found in food that the human body can digest and use for energy and other functions. Gasoline does not contain any of these biological molecules.

Why You Should Not Consume Gasoline

• Toxicity: Opens in new tabGasoline is toxic and can cause serious harm to your health if ingested or if you have extended exposure to its fumes. 
• Lack of Metabolism: Opens in new tabEven if gasoline contained calories, the human body lacks the necessary digestive enzymes to break down its hydrocarbon components into usable energy. 

In summary, the claim that gasoline contains protein is a misunderstanding of its composition and function. It is a fuel source, not a food source.

How many calories does fuel have?

That’s a kilocalorie . So a gallon of gas is 31000 Calories. Not an insane amount.

How many calories are in a gas?

A gallon of gasoline contains approximately 31,000 to 31,500 food calories (kilocalories). While these calories represent a significant amount of energy, similar to over 100 hamburgers, they are not available for human consumption or use by the body, as gasoline is a poisonous and indigestible substance. 
Key Points

• Quantity: One gallon of gasoline contains roughly 31,000 to 31,500 food calories. 
• Equivalency: This energy is equivalent to the caloric content of numerous food items, like many hamburgers. 
• Indigestible and Poisonous: Humans cannot process gasoline for energy because it is not digestible. 
• Danger: Gasoline is poisonous and highly flammable, and consuming it is extremely dangerous and even fatal. 

In summary: Although gasoline has a high caloric energy value, it is a dangerous and indigestible fuel, not a food source.

How many calories are in a gallon of gasoline?

A gallon of gasoline contains approximately 31,000 food calories (kilocalories), not 31 million. This figure is a measure of the fuel’s chemical energy content, similar to the energy content of food, but gasoline is toxic and cannot be metabolized by the human body. 
Understanding the “Calories” in Gasoline

• What a calorie is: Opens in new tabIn nutrition, a “calorie” (technically a kilocalorie) is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius. 
• How it applies to gasoline: Opens in new tabBecause gasoline is a fuel, it stores chemical energy. When we talk about the energy content of gasoline in terms of calories, we’re referring to the total chemical energy it releases when burned. 

Why This Figure Isn’t For Consumption

• Not a food source: The human body is designed to get energy from the proteins, carbohydrates, and fats in food, which it can digest and metabolize. 
• Toxic substance: Gasoline is a mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons and other chemicals, making it highly toxic. Ingesting it is dangerous and can lead to serious illness or death.