Truck Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate fuel cost for your truck, load weight and state, with daily diesel prices for all 50 states (as of October 21, 2026).
What is the price of diesel today?
Diesel prices today (October 21, 2026, AAA daily state averages): Texas $5.776, California $8.499, Florida $6.006, Illinois $6.541, New York $6.506 and Georgia $5.747 per gallon. The cheapest diesel is in North Carolina ($5.598), Georgia and Texas; the most expensive is in California ($8.499), Washington and Hawaii. The EIA U.S. weekly average (week of October 19, 2026) is $6.276.
Fuel cost calculator
Choose your truck, load weight, miles and state. The numbers filled in are an example; replace them with yours.
Max for this truck: 45,000 lbs
The price fills in from the latest state average for the state you pick (AAA daily state average, October 21, 2026 for Texas). Type your pump price to override it.
Trip fuel cost
A Texas Solutions dispatcher negotiates every rate and plans lanes around your cost per mile. Semi trucks 5%, hotshots 7%, box trucks 8% of weekly gross. You approve every load.
Diesel prices by state today
Average retail diesel price per gallon in all 50 states and Washington, DC, October 21, 2026 (AAA daily state averages), compared with the EIA U.S. weekly average of $6.276 (week of October 19, 2026). Checked twice a day.
| State | Diesel $/gal | vs U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $5.922 | -$0.354 |
| Alaska | $6.526 | +$0.250 |
| Arizona | $6.373 | +$0.097 |
| Arkansas | $5.918 | -$0.358 |
| California | $8.499 | +$2.223 |
| Colorado | $6.580 | +$0.304 |
| Connecticut | $6.439 | +$0.163 |
| Delaware | $6.331 | +$0.055 |
| District of Columbia | $6.505 | +$0.229 |
| Florida | $6.006 | -$0.270 |
| Georgia | $5.747 | -$0.529 |
| Hawaii | $7.268 | +$0.992 |
| Idaho | $6.497 | +$0.221 |
| Illinois | $6.541 | +$0.265 |
| Indiana | $6.568 | +$0.292 |
| Iowa | $6.166 | -$0.110 |
| Kansas | $6.077 | -$0.199 |
| Kentucky | $6.095 | -$0.181 |
| Louisiana | $5.810 | -$0.466 |
| Maine | $6.429 | +$0.153 |
| Maryland | $6.368 | +$0.092 |
| Massachusetts | $6.335 | +$0.059 |
| Michigan | $6.413 | +$0.137 |
| Minnesota | $6.232 | -$0.044 |
| Mississippi | $5.876 | -$0.400 |
| Missouri | $6.030 | -$0.246 |
| Montana | $6.175 | -$0.101 |
| Nebraska | $6.169 | -$0.107 |
| Nevada | $6.867 | +$0.591 |
| New Hampshire | $6.364 | +$0.088 |
| New Jersey | $6.394 | +$0.118 |
| New Mexico | $6.141 | -$0.135 |
| New York | $6.506 | +$0.230 |
| North Carolina | $5.598 | -$0.678 |
| North Dakota | $6.062 | -$0.214 |
| Ohio | $6.173 | -$0.103 |
| Oklahoma | $5.932 | -$0.344 |
| Oregon | $6.743 | +$0.467 |
| Pennsylvania | $6.615 | +$0.339 |
| Rhode Island | $6.337 | +$0.061 |
| South Carolina | $5.826 | -$0.450 |
| South Dakota | $6.081 | -$0.195 |
| Tennessee | $5.978 | -$0.298 |
| Texas | $5.776 | -$0.500 |
| Utah | $6.446 | +$0.170 |
| Vermont | $6.404 | +$0.128 |
| Virginia | $6.290 | +$0.014 |
| Washington | $7.317 | +$1.041 |
| West Virginia | $6.344 | +$0.068 |
| Wisconsin | $6.179 | -$0.097 |
| Wyoming | $6.375 | +$0.099 |
Daily state averages: AAA, as of October 21, 2026. U.S. average, and the weekly regional average used only for a state marked “EIA weekly regional”: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 19, 2026. A state marked “stale” shows its last value because the source has not updated since.
Fuel price calculator for every truck
Fuel cost for dry van, reefer, flatbed, step deck, power only, hotshot, box truck and straight truck, based on published fuel economy data and the latest daily diesel prices.
Dry Van fuel cost calculator
A dry van averages about 7.6 mpg empty and 6.3 mpg with 38,000 lbs of cargo. Over 1,000 miles that is about 159 gallons, or $998 at the U.S. average diesel price ($1.00 per mile).
Calculate dry van fuel cost →Reefer fuel cost calculator
A reefer averages about 7.3 mpg empty and 6.0 mpg with 38,000 lbs of cargo. Over 1,000 miles that is about 166 gallons, or $1,039 at the U.S. average diesel price ($1.04 per mile).
Calculate reefer fuel cost →Flatbed fuel cost calculator
A flatbed averages about 7.5 mpg empty and 6.0 mpg with 40,000 lbs of cargo. Over 1,000 miles that is about 165 gallons, or $1,038 at the U.S. average diesel price ($1.04 per mile).
Calculate flatbed fuel cost →Step Deck fuel cost calculator
A step deck averages about 7.4 mpg empty and 6.0 mpg with 38,000 lbs of cargo. Over 1,000 miles that is about 166 gallons, or $1,041 at the U.S. average diesel price ($1.04 per mile).
Calculate step deck fuel cost →Power Only fuel cost calculator
A power only averages about 7.6 mpg empty and 6.3 mpg with 38,000 lbs of cargo. Over 1,000 miles that is about 159 gallons, or $998 at the U.S. average diesel price ($1.00 per mile).
Calculate power only fuel cost →Hotshot fuel cost calculator
A hotshot averages about 13.5 mpg empty and 8.9 mpg with 12,000 lbs of cargo. Over 1,000 miles that is about 112 gallons, or $705 at the U.S. average diesel price ($0.70 per mile).
Calculate hotshot fuel cost →Box Truck fuel cost calculator
A box truck averages about 11.0 mpg empty and 9.1 mpg with 7,000 lbs of cargo. Over 1,000 miles that is about 110 gallons, or $688 at the U.S. average diesel price ($0.69 per mile).
Calculate box truck fuel cost →Straight Truck fuel cost calculator
A straight truck averages about 9.5 mpg empty and 7.8 mpg with 8,000 lbs of cargo. Over 1,000 miles that is about 128 gallons, or $801 at the U.S. average diesel price ($0.80 per mile).
Calculate straight truck fuel cost →Why fuel prices matter for truckers
Fuel is the second-largest operating cost in trucking after driver pay. At $6.28 a gallon, a semi averaging 6.3 mpg spends about $1.00 on diesel for every mile, loaded or empty. On a 2,500-mile week that is roughly $2,490.
Diesel prices can differ by more than $2.90 a gallon between states. Fuelling in North Carolina instead of California saves about $435 on a 150-gallon fill. Planning fuel stops by state is one of the easiest ways to cut cost per mile.
How to use the fuel price calculator
- Pick your truck type: dry van, reefer, flatbed, step deck, power only, hotshot, box truck or straight truck.
- Set the cargo weight; heavier loads burn more fuel.
- Enter loaded and deadhead miles, your average speed and any idle hours.
- Choose the state where you fuel up. The latest state average fills in automatically with its date and source, or type your own pump price.
- Add your rate per mile to see revenue left after fuel.
Which state has the cheapest diesel today?
North Carolina has the cheapest diesel (October 21, 2026) at $5.598 a gallon, followed by Georgia ($5.747) and Texas ($5.776). California is the most expensive at $8.499.
How the fuel calculator works
Fuel use is calculated per mile and rises with cargo weight: each 1,000 lbs adds about 0.55% fuel on a semi (NACFE), more on smaller trucks where cargo is a bigger share of total weight. The model is calibrated to published averages:
- Semi (dry van, power only): about 7.6 mpg empty, 6.3 mpg at 38,000 lbs, 6.1 mpg at 45,000 lbs. The FHWA national average for combination trucks is 6.3 mpg.
- Reefer, flatbed and step deck: slightly lower, for heavier trailers or open-deck drag. Reefer units add about 0.8 gallons per hour.
- Hotshot (1-ton dually and gooseneck): about 13.5 mpg empty, 9.7 mpg at 9,000 lbs, 8 mpg near 16,000 lbs.
- 26 ft box truck: about 11 mpg empty, 8.5 mpg fully loaded. Straight truck: about 9.5 mpg empty, 7.2 mpg loaded.
- Speed: figures assume 62 mph. Above that, a semi loses about 0.1 mpg per mph. Idling burns about 0.8 gallons per hour on a semi.
If you know your real MPG from your ELD or fuel card, type it in and the calculator uses it instead.
- MPG = empty MPG ÷ (1 + k × cargo lbs ÷ 1,000), minus the speed penalty above 62 mph
- Gallons = (loaded + deadhead miles) ÷ MPG + idle hours × idle gal/hr + reefer hours × 0.8 gal/hr
- Trip fuel cost = gallons × fuel price; fuel cost per mile = trip fuel cost ÷ total miles
The model is calibrated for diesel engines. For a gasoline box truck or pickup, choose gasoline for the price and type your own MPG; gasoline engines usually get fewer miles per gallon than the diesel figures above.
A dry van carries 38,000 lbs over 1,000 loaded miles plus 100 deadhead at 62 mph, fuelling in Texas at $5.776 a gallon (AAA daily state average, October 21, 2026).
- MPG = 7.6 ÷ (1 + 0.0055 × 38) = 6.29
- Gallons = 1,100 ÷ 6.29 = 175.0
- Trip fuel cost = 175.0 × $5.776 = $1,011, or $0.92 a mile
Sources
- FHWA Highway Statistics, Table VM-1 (via DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center): Class 8 trucks average about 6.3 mpg
- NACFE lightweighting research: 0.5-0.6% fuel savings per 1,000 lbs of weight
- ATRI Operational Costs of Trucking: long-haul tractors average about 7-8 mpg
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: weekly retail on-highway diesel prices
How do I calculate truck fuel cost per mile?
Divide the diesel price by your truck's miles per gallon. A loaded semi averaging about 6.3 mpg with diesel at $6.28 a gallon spends about $1.00 per mile on fuel. Heavier loads lower MPG: NACFE research puts it at about 0.5-0.6% more fuel for every 1,000 lbs, roughly 0.3-0.4 mpg per 10,000 lbs on a Class 8 truck.
Diesel and fuel mileage questions
What is the price of diesel today?
Diesel prices today (October 21, 2026, AAA daily state averages): Texas $5.776, California $8.499, Florida $6.006, Illinois $6.541, New York $6.506 and Georgia $5.747 per gallon. The cheapest diesel is in North Carolina ($5.598), Georgia and Texas; the most expensive is in California ($8.499), Washington and Hawaii. The EIA U.S. weekly average (week of October 19, 2026) is $6.276.
What is the price of diesel in Texas today?
Diesel in Texas averages $5.776 per gallon (AAA daily state average, October 21, 2026), compared with the EIA U.S. weekly average of $6.276.
Which state has the cheapest diesel?
As of October 21, 2026 the cheapest diesel is in North Carolina at $5.598 a gallon, then Georgia and Texas. The most expensive is California at $8.499.
How do I calculate truck fuel cost per mile?
Divide the diesel price by your truck's miles per gallon. A loaded semi averaging about 6.3 mpg with diesel at $6.28 a gallon spends about $1.00 per mile on fuel. Heavier loads lower MPG: NACFE research puts it at about 0.5-0.6% more fuel for every 1,000 lbs, roughly 0.3-0.4 mpg per 10,000 lbs on a Class 8 truck.
How many miles per gallon does a semi truck get?
A loaded Class 8 semi typically gets about 6 to 7 miles per gallon; empty, closer to 7 to 8 mpg. Speed, terrain, weather, aerodynamics and idling all change the number.
How much diesel does a semi truck use per mile?
Roughly 0.14 to 0.17 gallons per mile for a loaded semi averaging 6 to 7 mpg. Multiply by the diesel price to get fuel cost per mile.
How much does it cost to fuel a semi truck for 1,000 miles?
At about 6.3 mpg a semi burns roughly 159 gallons over 1,000 miles. At $6.28 a gallon that is about $998. Use the calculator above for your own truck, weight and state.
How many miles per gallon does a hotshot truck get?
A 1-ton diesel pickup pulling a gooseneck typically gets about 12 to 14 mpg empty and about 9 to 11 mpg loaded, depending on cargo weight and trailer.
How many miles per gallon does a box truck get?
A 26-foot diesel box truck typically gets about 8 to 10 mpg, dropping toward 7 to 8 mpg near its maximum payload.
Does cargo weight affect fuel mileage?
Yes. Heavier loads need more power, so MPG drops as weight goes up. The effect is larger on hotshots and box trucks, where cargo is a bigger share of total weight.
Why is diesel more expensive in California?
California has stricter fuel specifications, higher state taxes and fees, and a relatively isolated refining market, so its diesel price is usually the highest in the country.
Where do the diesel prices on this page come from?
State prices are AAA's daily state averages, checked twice a day. The U.S. average comes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly diesel survey; its regional weekly average is shown only for a state with no daily value, and is labelled that way. If a source stops updating, the last value stays on the page with its real date and a stale label; prices are never estimated or filled in.
How much does it cost to fuel a dry van, reefer or step deck?
A loaded dry van or step deck averages about 6.0-6.3 mpg, a reefer about 6.0 mpg plus reefer unit fuel. At $6.28 a gallon, that is roughly $1.00-$1.05 of diesel per mile.
How much does it cost to fuel a box truck per mile?
A 26 ft diesel box truck averages about 8.5-11 mpg depending on load, so fuel costs about $0.57-$0.74 per mile at $6.28 a gallon.
How can truckers lower fuel cost per mile?
Cut deadhead miles, slow down (fuel use rises sharply above about 62 mph), reduce idling, keep tires properly inflated, and book loads that pay enough per mile to cover fuel. A dispatcher who plans lanes can help cut empty miles.
Fuel is your biggest cost. Better loads cover it.
Our dispatchers negotiate every rate and plan lanes to cut deadhead miles, the fuel you burn without getting paid.
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