2-Stroke Fuel Mix Calculator

Enter how much fuel you're mixing and the ratio your engine needs to get exactly how much two-stroke oil to add — no guesswork, no seized engines.

Two-stroke engines — chainsaws, trimmers, leaf blowers, outboards, dirt bikes — burn a mix of petrol and oil. Get the ratio wrong and you either starve the engine of lubrication (too little oil) or foul the plug and smoke (too much). This calculator turns your fuel quantity and the ratio into an exact oil measurement.

How to mix 2-stroke fuel

A ratio like 50:1 means 50 parts fuel to 1 part oil. Since a US gallon is 128 fluid ounces, divide 128 by the ratio to get the ounces of oil per gallon; in metric, a litre is 1,000 ml, so divide 1,000 by the ratio for millilitres of oil per litre.

Oil (oz) = Fuel (gallons) × 128 ÷ Ratio
Oil (ml) = Fuel (litres) × 1000 ÷ Ratio
RatioOil per US gallonOil per litre
100 : 11.3 oz10 ml
50 : 12.6 oz20 ml
40 : 13.2 oz25 ml
32 : 14.0 oz31 ml
25 : 15.1 oz40 ml
16 : 18.0 oz63 ml

Worked example

Mixing 2.5 gallons of fuel at 40:1:

Total fluid ounces = 2.5 × 128320 oz
Oil = 320 ÷ 408.0 oz

Tips for a clean mix

Always use the ratio in your equipment's manual — it overrides any rule of thumb. Use fresh fuel and a quality two-stroke oil, mix in an approved container (add oil first, then fuel, and shake), and don't store mixed fuel for more than about a month, since it degrades and can harm the engine. When in doubt between two ratios, a touch more oil is safer than too little.

Frequently asked questions

How much oil per gallon for 50:1?
2.6 US fluid ounces of two-stroke oil per gallon of fuel. For 40:1 it's 3.2 oz, and for 32:1 it's 4.0 oz.
What ratio should I use?
Always the ratio printed in your tool's manual or on the cap. Common modern figures are 50:1 and 40:1; older engines may call for 32:1 or richer.
What happens if the mix is wrong?
Too little oil risks scoring or seizing the engine from lack of lubrication; too much oil causes smoke, fouled plugs and carbon build-up. Getting the ratio right matters.
Can I store mixed fuel?
Only briefly — ideally use it within about 30 days. Old mix separates and loses octane, which can make the engine hard to start or run poorly.

Related calculators

General guidance — always follow the mix ratio and oil type specified by your equipment manufacturer, which takes precedence over any figure here.
Written by the CalcPine team · Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated 12 July 2026 · Method: oil = fuel volume ÷ ratio (128 oz/gal, 1000 ml/L).