Prices sourced from EIA Weekly On-Highway Diesel Survey. Updated weekly. For informational purposes only - confirm at the pump before fueling. Full disclaimer
DIESELCOST

Diesel Prices by State in 2026: Interactive Heatmap and State-by-State Rankings

US average $5.13/gal from the EIA Weekly On-Highway Diesel Survey (July 20, 2026); state averages from AAA Gas Prices (July 28, 2026).

AL
$5.12
AK
$5.33
AZ
$5.48
AR
$4.95
CA
$6.89
CO
$5.17
CT
$5.52
DE
$5.36
FL
$5.43
GA
$5.28
HI
$6.95
ID
$5.23
IL
$5.21
IN
$5.29
IA
$4.99
KS
$4.83
KY
$4.90
LA
$5.00
ME
$5.51
MD
$5.43
MA
$5.44
MI
$5.26
MN
$5.10
MS
$5.00
MO
$4.84
MT
$5.03
NE
$4.92
NV
$5.69
NH
$5.39
NJ
$5.45
NM
$5.13
NY
$5.60
NC
$5.28
ND
$4.92
OH
$5.08
OK
$4.74
OR
$5.48
PA
$5.58
RI
$5.36
SC
$5.18
SD
$4.90
TN
$5.00
TX
$4.98
UT
$5.27
VT
$5.43
VA
$5.30
WA
$6.13
WV
$4.96
WI
$5.06
WY
$5.05
Cheapest
Most Expensive

Click any state for full price detail. State averages from AAA Gas Prices, July 28, 2026.

10 Cheapest States for Diesel

RankStatePricevs US Avg
#1Oklahoma$4.74-0.39
#2Kansas$4.83-0.30
#3Missouri$4.84-0.29
#5South Dakota$4.90-0.23
#4Kentucky$4.90-0.23
#7Nebraska$4.92-0.21
#6North Dakota$4.92-0.21
#8Arkansas$4.95-0.18
#9West Virginia$4.96-0.17
#10Texas$4.98-0.15

10 Most Expensive States for Diesel

RankStatePricevs US Avg
#50Hawaii$6.95+1.82
#49California$6.89+1.76
#48Washington$6.13+1.00
#47Nevada$5.69+0.56
#46New York$5.60+0.47
#45Pennsylvania$5.58+0.45
#44Connecticut$5.52+0.39
#43Maine$5.51+0.38
#41Oregon$5.48+0.35
#42Arizona$5.48+0.35

Why Diesel Prices Vary So Much by State

State Diesel Taxes

Federal diesel tax is 24.4 cents/gal for all states. State taxes range from 8 cents (Alaska) to over 100 cents (California including cap-and-trade). Pennsylvania's 74.1-cent state tax is the highest in the contiguous US.

The tax difference alone accounts for $0.50-$0.90/gal of the California-to-Texas price spread. The rest is refining and transport cost.

Proximity to Refineries

Gulf Coast states (TX, LA, OK, AR, MS) are closest to the nation's largest refining capacity. Lower transport cost = lower price. West Coast states import more refined product by tanker, adding $0.10-$0.20/gal in logistics.

PADD 5 (West Coast) is structurally isolated from PADD 3 (Gulf Coast) by the Rockies - no pipeline carries finished diesel west across the mountains.

CARB Diesel Specification

California requires diesel to meet California Air Resources Board (CARB) specifications - stricter sulfur limits and additional refining steps beyond federal ULSD requirements. CARB diesel costs an estimated $0.15-$0.25/gal more to produce than federal ULSD and must be kept separate throughout the distribution system.

Winter Blend Requirements

Northern states require winter-grade diesel (winterized or blended with kerosene) to prevent gelling in extreme cold. This adds $0.05-$0.15/gal in seasonal cost from October through March. States like Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Montana see pronounced seasonal pricing patterns.

All 50 States: Diesel Prices (July 28, 2026)

StateDiesel $/galState Tax (c/gal)Total Tax (c/gal)PADD RegionRank
Alabama$5.1219.043.4PADD 3#20
Alaska$5.338.032.4PADD 5#32
Arizona$5.4826.050.4PADD 5#42
Arkansas$4.9522.546.9PADD 3#8
California$6.89102.0126.4PADD 5#49
Colorado$5.1720.544.9PADD 4#22
Connecticut$5.5237.762.1PADD 1#44
Delaware$5.3622.046.4PADD 1#33
Florida$5.4335.459.8PADD 1#36
Georgia$5.2832.657.0PADD 1#28
Hawaii$6.9519.043.4PADD 5#50
Idaho$5.2332.056.4PADD 4#25
Illinois$5.2167.892.2PADD 2#24
Indiana$5.2955.079.4PADD 2#30
Iowa$4.9932.556.9PADD 2#11
Kansas$4.8326.050.4PADD 2#2
Kentucky$4.9028.552.9PADD 2#4
Louisiana$5.0020.044.4PADD 3#14
Maine$5.5131.255.6PADD 1#43
Maryland$5.4336.861.2PADD 1#38
Massachusetts$5.4424.048.4PADD 1#39
Michigan$5.2626.350.7PADD 2#26
Minnesota$5.1028.552.9PADD 2#19
Mississippi$5.0018.442.8PADD 3#13
Missouri$4.8417.041.4PADD 2#3
Montana$5.0327.852.1PADD 4#15
Nebraska$4.9229.453.8PADD 2#7
Nevada$5.6927.852.2PADD 5#47
New Hampshire$5.3922.246.6PADD 1#35
New Jersey$5.4542.967.3PADD 1#40
New Mexico$5.1321.045.4PADD 4#21
New York$5.6046.470.8PADD 1#46
North Carolina$5.2840.564.9PADD 1#29
North Dakota$4.9223.047.4PADD 2#6
Ohio$5.0847.071.4PADD 2#18
Oklahoma$4.7419.043.4PADD 3#1
Oregon$5.4838.062.4PADD 5#41
Pennsylvania$5.5874.198.5PADD 1#45
Rhode Island$5.3632.056.4PADD 1#34
South Carolina$5.1828.052.4PADD 1#23
South Dakota$4.9028.052.4PADD 2#5
Tennessee$5.0027.051.4PADD 2#12
Texas$4.9820.044.4PADD 3#10
Utah$5.2736.460.8PADD 4#27
Vermont$5.4331.055.4PADD 1#37
Virginia$5.3027.852.2PADD 1#31
Washington$6.1349.473.8PADD 5#48
West Virginia$4.9635.760.1PADD 1#9
Wisconsin$5.0632.957.3PADD 2#17
Wyoming$5.0524.048.4PADD 4#16

Sources: state averages from AAA Gas Prices (July 28, 2026); US average from EIA Weekly On-Highway Diesel Survey (July 20, 2026); taxes from the Federation of Tax Administrators.

FAQ: State Diesel Prices

What state has the cheapest diesel in 2026?+
Oklahoma leads with $4.74/gal as of July 28, 2026 (AAA), helped by proximity to the Gulf Coast refinery complex, a low 19-cent state diesel tax, and high competitive density of fuel retailers along major freight corridors. Kansas ($4.83), Missouri ($4.84), Kentucky ($4.90), and South Dakota ($4.90) round out the five cheapest - central states near major refining and freight corridors. Texas ($4.98) sits just outside the top five despite hosting the largest US refinery complex on the Gulf Coast.
Why is California diesel so expensive?+
California diesel costs $6.89/gal (July 28 AAA state average) vs $5.13 nationally (EIA July 20), for three main reasons: (1) California Air Resources Board (CARB) diesel specifications require additional refining steps beyond federal ULSD standards, adding 15-25 cents/gal in processing cost; (2) California's state diesel tax is 102 cents/gal combined (state excise + sales + cap-and-trade), the highest effective diesel tax in the contiguous US; (3) California imports more refined product than any other state because its refinery capacity is constrained relative to demand.
How often do state diesel prices change?+
Retail diesel prices at the pump change daily, driven by crude oil futures, regional refinery operations, and local competition. The EIA publishes a weekly Monday-observation-Tuesday-release survey that captures the representative weekly average. AAA publishes daily state-level data. State tax rates change less frequently - typically once or twice a year when states adjust fuel taxes, often indexed to inflation.
What is the federal diesel tax?+
The federal diesel tax is 24.4 cents per gallon, set under the Highway Revenue Act. This is higher than the federal gasoline tax of 18.4 cents/gal. Both are flat taxes (not percentage-based), meaning they do not increase automatically with fuel prices. The federal diesel tax has not changed since 1993. Some states tax diesel at higher rates than gasoline; others apply the same rate.
Which states have the highest diesel taxes?+
Pennsylvania leads with a combined state diesel tax of approximately 74.1 cents/gal (state excise + oil franchise fee + sales component). California's combined effective diesel tax exceeds 100 cents/gal when cap-and-trade compliance costs are included. Illinois (67.8c), Indiana (55c), New York (46.4c), and Washington (49.4c) round out the high-tax tier. In contrast, Missouri (17c), Mississippi (18.4c), and Texas (20c) have the lowest state diesel taxes.
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