Washington Gas Prices Today
Regular gasoline in Washington averages $5.38 per gallon as of the EIA week of 2026-10-12 — $1.05 above the national average of $4.33. Washington carries one of the highest state fuel taxes in the country and adds carbon-programme compliance costs on top. It also belongs to the isolated West Coast fuel market, which has few supply links to the rest of the country, so refinery problems in the Pacific Northwest are slow to fix.
Washington vs Region vs US (EIA week of 2026-10-12)
| Area | Regular ($/gal) | vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 5.38 | — |
| West Coast (region) | 5.64 | +0.26 |
| US average | 4.33 | -1.05 |
EIA weekly retail averages. Compare all published states, see gas prices by year, or read what actually sets pump prices.
All EIA-Published States This Week
| State | Regular ($/gal) | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| California | 6.10 | +1.77 |
| Washington | 5.38 | +1.05 |
| New York | 4.35 | +0.02 |
| Massachusetts | 4.26 | -0.07 |
| Minnesota | 4.18 | -0.15 |
| Colorado | 4.18 | -0.16 |
| Florida | 3.98 | -0.35 |
| Ohio | 3.87 | -0.46 |
| Texas | 3.78 | -0.55 |
EIA publishes weekly prices for these states; it does not survey all 50 individually.
What Sets the Price in Washington
| Factor | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State fuel taxes & fees | ≈53¢/gal on top of the 18.4¢ federal excise (≈71.4¢ combined) — Plus carbon cap-and-invest compliance costs | Approximate, see gas tax by state |
| Refining | A cluster of refineries in the Puget Sound area supplies the Pacific Northwest | EIA refinery capacity data |
| Carbon programme | The state's cap-and-invest programme adds a compliance cost per gallon on top of fuel taxes | Washington Department of Ecology |
| Market region | Part of PADD 5, the West Coast market, which has limited pipeline connection to the rest of the US | EIA PADD definitions |
| Blend | Does not require the California CARB blend, but shares the West Coast supply pool | EPA fuel program maps |
Taxes are one of four components of the pump price — see the full breakdown of crude, refining, distribution and tax.
Why Washington Prices Move Differently
Isolated West Coast supply
- PADD 5 is not meaningfully connected by product pipeline to the Gulf Coast, so a regional shortfall must be covered by marine cargoes.
- Puget Sound refineries serve a wide area, so a single unplanned outage moves prices across the Pacific Northwest.
- Washington prices often move together with California and Oregon rather than with the national average.
What to watch
- Puget Sound refinery maintenance and unplanned outages.
- Carbon allowance prices under the cap-and-invest programme, which pass through to the pump.
- The spring switch to summer-blend gasoline.
- The West Coast line in the PADD region table, which is the closest regional benchmark.
Washington Gas Price FAQ
What is the average gas price in Washington right now?
Regular gasoline in Washington averages $5.38 per gallon (EIA, week of 2026-10-12) — $1.05 above the US average of $4.33.
Why are Washington gas prices higher than the national average?
Washington carries one of the highest state fuel taxes in the country and adds carbon-programme compliance costs on top. It also belongs to the isolated West Coast fuel market, which has few supply links to the rest of the country, so refinery problems in the Pacific Northwest are slow to fix.
How often are these prices updated?
The EIA publishes state and regional retail prices every Monday; this page refreshes automatically when new data lands. EIA covers selected large states weekly — for daily crowd-sourced prices per county or station, AAA and GasBuddy complement this official weekly view.
Why are Washington gas prices so high without a state income tax?
The state relies more heavily on consumption taxes, and fuel is one of them — Washington's per-gallon tax is among the highest nationally. Its cap-and-invest carbon programme adds a further per-gallon compliance cost, and the isolated West Coast supply market keeps the underlying wholesale price above the national average.
Do Washington and California prices move together?
Usually in the same direction, because both sit in the West Coast market that cannot easily draw barrels from the Gulf Coast. They differ in level, though: California requires its own CARB blend and taxes fuel more heavily, so it normally runs a persistent premium over Washington even when both are rising or falling together.