How Many Calories Are in a Cup of Gasoline?

Roughly 1,800 to 2,000 dietary Calories (kcal) are contained in a U.S. cup (about 236.6 mL) of gasoline, depending on the blend. In practical terms, this is the theoretical chemical energy available by combustion—not energy the human body can safely or meaningfully metabolize. Below, we explain the assumptions, the calculation, and why this is a matter of physics, not nutrition.

What “calories” and “a cup” mean in this context

To give a meaningful figure, it’s important to clarify units and typical fuel properties used by energy agencies and engineers.

• Calorie vs calorie: In food and nutrition, “Calorie” (capital C) equals a kilocalorie (kcal) or 4,184 joules.
• Volume: A U.S. cup is 236.588 mL and there are 16 cups in a U.S. gallon.
• Energy basis: The U.S. EPA defines one gallon of gasoline as approximately 33.7 kWh of energy (about 121.3 MJ), a widely used benchmark for gasoline-equivalent energy.
• Blend variability: “Pump gas” in the U.S. is typically E10 (about 10% ethanol). Ethanol has lower energy density than pure gasoline, so E10’s energy per liter is slightly lower than that of ethanol-free gasoline.

Together, these definitions and standard values let us convert the energy in a volume of gasoline into dietary Calories for comparison.

The calculation

Using the EPA’s gasoline energy-equivalent value (33.7 kWh per U.S. gallon), we can compute the energy per cup and then convert to kcal.

1. Start with EPA benchmark: 1 gallon gasoline ≈ 33.7 kWh ≈ 121.3 MJ.
2. Convert to one cup: 1 cup = 1/16 gallon ⇒ 33.7 ÷ 16 = 2.106 kWh per cup (≈ 7.58 MJ).
3. Convert to Calories: 1 kWh ≈ 860.42 kcal ⇒ 2.106 kWh × 860.42 ≈ 1,813 kcal (rounded ≈ 1,810 kcal).

This method yields about 1,810 kcal for a cup of typical U.S. pump gasoline, aligning with E10 energy content assumptions.

What if the gasoline is ethanol-free?

Energy content varies with blending. Using common lower-heating-value figures per liter highlights the range you might see in different formulations.

• Typical E10 (≈ 32 MJ/L): 0.2366 L × 32 MJ/L ≈ 7.57 MJ ≈ 1,810 kcal.
• Pure gasoline (E0, ≈ 34.2 MJ/L): 0.2366 L × 34.2 MJ/L ≈ 8.09 MJ ≈ 1,930 kcal.

In practice, that’s why a reasonable estimate is “about 1,800–2,000 kcal per U.S. cup,” depending on ethanol content and exact fuel composition.

Important safety note

Despite the high chemical energy, gasoline is not food and is extremely dangerous to ingest or inhale.

• Toxicity: Gasoline contains toxic hydrocarbons and additives; ingestion can cause chemical pneumonitis, organ damage, and can be fatal.
• Non-metabolizable: The human body cannot safely extract usable energy from gasoline the way it does from fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
• Vapor hazards: Fumes are harmful; exposure risks include dizziness, headaches, and long-term health effects.
• If exposure occurs: Do not induce vomiting; seek immediate medical help or contact poison control.

In short, the “calories” here reflect combustion energy, not nutritional value, and gasoline must never be consumed.

Bottom line

A U.S. cup of gasoline contains on the order of 1,800–2,000 dietary Calories as measured by combustion energy. Using the EPA’s 33.7 kWh per gallon equivalence, a cup is about 1,810 kcal; ethanol-free gasoline would be closer to 1,930 kcal. These figures are for energy comparison only—gasoline is poisonous and not metabolizable as food.

Summary

About 1,800 kcal per U.S. cup of typical pump gasoline (E10), up to roughly 1,930 kcal for ethanol-free gasoline. Values depend on blend and are based on combustion energy, not nutrition, and gasoline is dangerous and non-edible.