US Diesel Prices
EIA · week of 2026-10-12By Region (PADD)
| Region | $/gal |
|---|---|
| East Coast | $5.908 |
| Midwest | $6.259 |
| Gulf Coast | $5.809 |
| Rocky Mountain | $6.302 |
| West Coast | $7.240 |
By State (EIA weekly states)
| State | $/gal |
|---|---|
| California | $8.091 |
US regular diesel retail prices from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, updated weekly (Mondays). EIA publishes weekly retail prices for the US, the five PADD regions and the states shown above — for all-50-states daily averages see AAA or GasBuddy. See also Gasoline prices and the EIA fundamentals dashboard.
This Week's Diesel Price in Context
EIA week of 2026-10-12| Comparison | $/gal | This week vs it |
|---|---|---|
| This week, US average | 6.18 | — |
| 2026 average (year to date) | 5.04 | +$1.14 (+23%) |
| 2025 average | 3.66 | +$2.52 (+69%) |
| 2024 average | 3.76 | +$2.42 (+64%) |
| 2023 average | 4.21 | +$1.96 (+47%) |
| 2022 average | 4.99 | +$1.19 (+24%) |
| 2021 average | 3.29 | +$2.89 (+88%) |
| Record weekly average (2026) | 6.53 | −$0.35 (−5%) |
Annual averages and the record are from EIA weekly retail prices since 1994, nominal dollars (not adjusted for inflation). Every year in full: diesel price history.
From Wholesale to the Pump
Futures close Oct 19| Layer | $/gal | Share of pump price |
|---|---|---|
| ULSD (heating oil) futures, wholesale benchmark | 4.71 | 76% |
| Federal excise tax | 0.24 | 4% |
| Everything else: state and local taxes, distribution, retail margin | 1.23 | 20% |
| US average retail price | 6.18 | 100% |
The retail price is a Monday survey and the futures close is the latest day, so the layers do not line up to the day; the last row is a residual, not a measured cost. Wholesale prices lead the pump by one to two weeks. Full breakdown: diesel market dashboard.
US Diesel Prices FAQ
What is the average price of on-highway diesel in the US right now?
The EIA's US average retail price for on-highway diesel was $6.179 per gallon for the week of 2026-10-12. EIA surveys retail stations every Monday and publishes the results that afternoon (Tuesday when Monday is a federal holiday).
Which region has the most expensive diesel prices?
This week the West Coast (PADD 5) is highest at $7.240 per gallon and the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) is lowest at $5.809 — a gap of $1.43. The West Coast is usually the most expensive region because it is largely cut off from other US refining centres, and California requires its own cleaner-burning fuel blend and levies some of the highest fuel taxes in the country. The Gulf Coast is usually the cheapest because it is home to more than half of US refining capacity, so fuel travels the shortest distance to the pump.
Why is diesel more expensive than gasoline?
This week US diesel averaged $6.179 per gallon against $4.331 for regular gasoline, a premium of $1.85. Part of the difference is structural: the federal excise tax is 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel versus 18.4 cents on gasoline, and ultra-low-sulfur diesel costs more to refine. The rest is the distillate market — diesel competes with heating oil and jet fuel for the same part of the barrel, so tight distillate inventories widen the spread.
What are the PADD regions?
PADDs (Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts) are five regions created during World War II to organise fuel supply, and the EIA still reports petroleum data by them: PADD 1 East Coast, PADD 2 Midwest, PADD 3 Gulf Coast, PADD 4 Rocky Mountain and PADD 5 West Coast, which includes Alaska and Hawaii.