What kind of mpg does a school bus get?

The average bus gets between 6 and 9 mpg, depending on many factors (size of bus, wind, speed, and of course how heavily loaded). That being said, it's not usually gas mileage. The majority of buses have diesel engines. Some run on propane, and a few on gasoline, but mostly diesel.



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How Much MPG Does a School Bus Get? Admittedly, the average school bus's fuel economy is what you'd expect of a bus—not great. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, school buses get an average fuel economy of just 6.02 miles per gallon (MPG).

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Executive buses average 6 miles per gallon, especially when it comes to larger models that carry 45 to 51 passengers. Newer, high-tech models may get up to 10 to 12 miles per gallon. The larger the bus, the lower the average mileage.

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Diesel school buses are already the most fuel-efficient in the industry, due to a higher BTU count compared to other fuels, providing better fuel economy and a longer operating range compared to similar-sized gasoline, propane or compressed natural gas (CNG) engines.

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Some alternatively fueled engines like propane or gasoline may need to be replaced two to three times during the normal lifecycle of a school bus. Clean-diesel engines, on the other hand, are built to last 15-20 years. The difference in engine life lies in how engines are built.

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The United States In general, most American transit systems expect their buses to have a useful life of 12 years and 250,000 miles.

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Over the long haul, newer diesel engines will last 15-20 years in a fleet, while a gasoline engine may need to be replaced once or even twice during the life of a school bus. “All of these are important for fleet managers to stop and consider when choosing a new school bus,” says Hedgecock.

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  • Diesel is the most fuel-efficient engine type on the market.
  • Diesel offers up to 50% better fuel economy compared to other similar-size gasoline, propane or compressed natural gas engines.**
  • Diesel outperforms other fuels in operating range.
  • Diesel buses have better resale value.
  • Diesel buses are less expensive to buy.


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On average, diesel buses use 6 miles per gallon [mpg], while electric buses boost that efficiency to an equivalent of 17 mpg. Electric school buses can save more than $170,000 on fuel and maintenance throughout their lifespan.

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Period. Why? Diesel is the most fuel-efficient engine type on the market. Diesel outperforms other fuels in operating range.

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Propulsion. The most common power source since the 1920s has been the diesel engine. Early buses, known as trolleybuses, were powered by electricity supplied from overhead lines.

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Diesel powers over 90% of all school buses thanks to its combination of fuel safety, energy efficiency, reliability, durability, established fueling and maintenance network, range and operational flexibility, secondary markets and low acquisition and operating costs.

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A diesel engine requires less fuel to produce the same output as a gas engine. A conventional gas engine operates via a spark ignition system, which burns more fuel than a diesel engine's combustion system. As a result, diesel buses are more fuel-efficient per gallon and burn less fuel while idling.

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The Thomas C2's overall average mileage for the four test segments was 9.2 miles per gallon; competitor product's overall average was 7.6 miles per gallon.

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