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Generator Running Cost Calculator (Petrol & Diesel)

Almost everyone underestimates this, because they think in litres and not in months. A small generator burning 1.5 litres an hour for six hours a day does not feel expensive — until you multiply it out at today's pump price. This is also the baseline you need before solar can look like anything other than a large number.

⛽  Calculator

₦383,544

per year: ₦4,602,528

Litres burned per day 9.00
Litres burned per month 274.0
Fuel cost per day ₦11,700
Maintenance per day ₦900
Total per day ₦12,600
Total per week ₦88,200
Total per month ₦383,544
Total per year ₦4,602,528

Works without JavaScript — the figures above are a worked example using the default values.

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Before you rely on this

  • Fuel consumption rises sharply with load. A 2.5kVA generator running a fridge, fans and a TV burns considerably more per hour than one running two bulbs, and most published consumption figures are measured at half load.
  • Old generators, clogged carburettors and stale fuel can add 20-40% to consumption.

How this is calculated: Calculator logic in assets/js/calc-core.js, verified by the test suite in tests/calc-core.test.js. Rate inputs are prefilled from the figures below. · Data as of 2026-09-10
Prefilled rates are national reference values. Your own receipt, payslip or pump price always overrides them.

Frequently asked questions

How many litres does a small Nigerian generator burn per hour?
A 650W–1kVA “I better pass my neighbour” burns roughly 0.7–1.0 litre per hour. A 2.5kVA runs about 1.2–1.5 litres, and a 5kVA about 2.0–2.5. Load matters more than the nameplate rating.
Is diesel cheaper to run than petrol?
Per litre, diesel currently costs more than petrol in Nigeria. The saving comes from efficiency — a diesel set typically converts 30-40% more of each litre into electricity, so the cost per kWh can still be lower. Compare them on cost per kWh, never on price per litre.
Why is my real bill higher than the calculation?
Because you run it longer than you think. Most people estimate their daily runtime from memory and are out by an hour or two. Meter it: note the litres at the start and end of a week.

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