Calculate aviation fuel weight or volume for Jet A, Jet A-1, Jet B, or Avgas 100LL using US gallons, Imperial gallons, liters, pounds, and kilograms.

Fuel presets are nominal estimates: Jet A/Jet A-1 6.8 lb/US gal and Avgas 6 lb/US gal. Actual density varies with temperature and batch. Use measured/dispatch density and the aircraft POH/AFM for operational weight and balance. Jet B requires a supplied density.

Aviation Fuel Weight Formula

The following two example problems outline the steps and information needed to calculate the Aviation Fuel Weight.

AFW = VF ร— ฯ

Variables:

  • AFW is the aviation fuel weight (lb)
  • VF is the total volume of fuel (US gal)
  • ฯ is the fuel density (lb/US gal) at the temperature being assumed/measured

To calculate aviation fuel weight, multiply the total fuel volume by the appropriate fuel density. Fuel density depends on fuel type and temperature. The FAA Pilotโ€™s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge lists nominal weights of 6.8 lb/US gal for Jet A/Jet A-1 and 6.0 lb/US gal for aviation gasoline. Actual measured weights or applicable density data take precedence. The presets are estimates and do not apply a temperature correction.

How to Calculate Aviation Fuel Weight?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Aviation Fuel Weight.

Example Problem #1:

  1. First, determine the total volume of fuel (US gallons) and the fuel type/density to use.
    • The total volume of fuel is given as 100 US gal.
    • For this example, assume Jet A with a nominal density of 6.8 lb/US gal.
  2. Finally, calculate the Aviation Fuel Weight using the equation above: 

AFW = VF ร— ฯ

The values provided above are inserted into the equation below and computed.

AFW = 100 ร— 6.8 = 680.00 lb

Example Problem #2: 

For this problem, the variables required are provided below:

total volume of fuel (US gal) = 200

For this example, assume Jet A with a nominal density of 6.8 lb/US gal.

Test your knowledge and check your answer with the calculator.

AFW = VF ร— 6.8 = ?