Hydrogen fuel cost calculator
What hydrogen costs you per mile, per fill-up, per month and per year, next to gasoline, a hybrid and an EV. Defaults are dated and sourced below; change anything.
By Hydrogen Fuel Finder Editorial · Prices reviewed September 20, 2026 · Assumptions & sources
Your card covers about 27,500 miles, which is 27.5 months at this mileage. After that you pay $545 a month.
Same miles on other fuels
How the numbers work
Cost per mile is the pump price divided by how far your car goes on a kilogram. Cost per fill-up is the tank size times the price. Monthly and yearly costs are your mileage times the cost per mile. Nothing else is hidden in the math.
Hydrogen fuel cost per gallon
Hydrogen isn't sold by the gallon. One kilogram holds about the energy of one gallon of gasoline, so DOE quotes prices per gasoline-gallon-equivalent (GGE): $30 per kg is about $30 per GGE. Because a fuel cell car travels roughly twice as far on that energy as a gasoline car, the useful comparison is per mile, which is what this calculator shows. At 55 cents a mile, hydrogen costs what gasoline would at about $16 a gallon in a 30 mpg car.
Price of hydrogen per kg
California retail prices have been about $30 to $36 per kilogram since 2024, up from $13 to $16 in 2021. No agency publishes live per-station prices, so use the price posted at your station if you know it. The hydrogen fuel cost guide explains where the money goes.
Real-world vs EPA efficiency
EPA ratings assume gentle mixed driving. Owners typically see 20 to 30 percent fewer miles per kilogram, more at freeway speeds or with the heater on. The real-world setting is the better guide for budgeting.
Assumptions and sources
| Input | Default | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen, DOE average | $28.46 / GGE | U.S. DOE Alternative Fuel Price Report, April 2026 (small sample) |
| Hydrogen, Iwatani / Air Products | about $30 / kg | Operator posted prices, early 2025 |
| Hydrogen, True Zero | $36 / kg | Operator posted price, early 2025 |
| Gasoline | $4.09 / gal | U.S. average, same DOE report, April 2026. California is higher; enter your local price. |
| Home electricity | $0.17 / kWh | Approximate U.S. residential average. California rates are often $0.30 or more. |
| Toyota Mirai | 5.6 kg · 72 / 55 mi per kg | EPA rating (402 mi) / typical owner-reported |
| Hyundai Nexo | 6.3 kg · 60 / 50 mi per kg | EPA rating (380 mi, first generation) / typical owner-reported |
| Honda CR-V e:FCEV | 4.3 kg · 56 / 48 mi per kg | EPA hydrogen range / estimate. Miles driven on its plug-in battery cost far less and are not included. |
| Comparison cars | 30 mpg · 45 mpg · 0.30 kWh/mi | Representative sedan, hybrid and EV |
This is an estimate for budgeting, not a quote. Station prices change without notice.
FAQ
How do I calculate hydrogen fuel cost per mile?
Divide the price per kilogram by the miles your car travels per kilogram. At $30 per kg and 55 miles per kg, that is about 55 cents per mile.
How much does it cost to fill a hydrogen car?
Multiply the tank size by the pump price. A Toyota Mirai holds 5.6 kg, so a full fill is about $168 at $30 per kg and about $202 at $36 per kg.
How much is hydrogen per gallon?
Hydrogen is sold per kilogram, and one kilogram contains about the same energy as a gallon of gasoline. At $30 per kg that is roughly $30 per gallon-equivalent, though a fuel cell car goes about twice as far on it as a gasoline car does on a gallon.
How long will a $15,000 hydrogen fuel card last?
At $30 per kg it buys 500 kg, which is about 27,500 miles at 55 miles per kg, or a little over two years at 1,000 miles a month. At $36 per kg it lasts about 23,000 miles.
What price should I use?
Use the price posted at the station you fill at. If you don't know it, the presets give the U.S. DOE national average for April 2026 and the two most common California posted prices.