Truck Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate fuel cost for your truck, load weight and state, with today's diesel prices for all 50 states. Updated daily.
What is the price of diesel today?
Diesel prices today (September 18, 2026): Texas $5.979, California $8.395, Florida $6.349, Illinois $6.500, New York $6.421 and Georgia $6.352 per gallon. The cheapest diesel is in Texas ($5.979), Oklahoma and Louisiana; the most expensive is in California ($8.395), Washington and Hawaii. The EIA U.S. weekly average is $6.285.
Fuel cost calculator
Choose your truck, load weight, miles and state.
Max for this truck: 45,000 lbs
Diesel price auto-filled from the latest EIA weekly average for your state's region. Edit it to match your pump price.
Trip fuel cost
Diesel prices by state today
Average on-highway diesel price per gallon in all 50 states and Washington, DC, September 18, 2026, compared with the U.S. average of $6.285. Updated every day.
| State | Diesel $/gal | vs U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $6.137 | -$0.148 |
| Alaska | $6.608 | +$0.323 |
| Arizona | $6.425 | +$0.140 |
| Arkansas | $6.142 | -$0.143 |
| California | $8.395 | +$2.110 |
| Colorado | $6.121 | -$0.164 |
| Connecticut | $6.402 | +$0.117 |
| Delaware | $6.386 | +$0.101 |
| District of Columbia | $6.518 | +$0.233 |
| Florida | $6.349 | +$0.064 |
| Georgia | $6.352 | +$0.067 |
| Hawaii | $7.112 | +$0.827 |
| Idaho | $6.409 | +$0.124 |
| Illinois | $6.500 | +$0.215 |
| Indiana | $6.530 | +$0.245 |
| Iowa | $6.195 | -$0.090 |
| Kansas | $6.161 | -$0.124 |
| Kentucky | $6.209 | -$0.076 |
| Louisiana | $6.021 | -$0.264 |
| Maine | $6.449 | +$0.164 |
| Maryland | $6.456 | +$0.171 |
| Massachusetts | $6.322 | +$0.037 |
| Michigan | $6.677 | +$0.392 |
| Minnesota | $6.262 | -$0.023 |
| Mississippi | $6.046 | -$0.239 |
| Missouri | $6.171 | -$0.114 |
| Montana | $6.223 | -$0.062 |
| Nebraska | $6.146 | -$0.139 |
| Nevada | $6.711 | +$0.426 |
| New Hampshire | $6.348 | +$0.063 |
| New Jersey | $6.432 | +$0.147 |
| New Mexico | $6.362 | +$0.077 |
| New York | $6.421 | +$0.136 |
| North Carolina | $6.232 | -$0.053 |
| North Dakota | $6.197 | -$0.088 |
| Ohio | $6.546 | +$0.261 |
| Oklahoma | $5.982 | -$0.303 |
| Oregon | $6.833 | +$0.548 |
| Pennsylvania | $6.552 | +$0.267 |
| Rhode Island | $6.274 | -$0.011 |
| South Carolina | $6.166 | -$0.119 |
| South Dakota | $6.189 | -$0.096 |
| Tennessee | $6.170 | -$0.115 |
| Texas | $5.979 | -$0.306 |
| Utah | $6.330 | +$0.045 |
| Vermont | $6.390 | +$0.105 |
| Virginia | $6.352 | +$0.067 |
| Washington | $7.411 | +$1.126 |
| West Virginia | $6.264 | -$0.021 |
| Wisconsin | $6.238 | -$0.047 |
| Wyoming | $6.053 | -$0.232 |
Daily state averages: AAA, as of September 18, 2026. U.S. average and fallback regional prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of September 14, 2026.
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 today's 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 $1,000 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 $1,041 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 $1,039 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 $1,043 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 $1,000 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 $706 at the U.S. average diesel price ($0.71 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 $689 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 $802 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 $6.29 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 $2,494.
Diesel prices can differ by more than $2.42 a gallon between states. Fuelling in Texas instead of California saves about $362 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. Today's diesel price fills in automatically, or type your own pump price.
- Add your rate per mile to see revenue left after fuel.
Which state has the cheapest diesel today?
Texas has the cheapest diesel today at $5.979 a gallon, followed by Oklahoma ($5.982) and Louisiana ($6.021). California is the most expensive at $8.395.
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.
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 $6.29 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 (September 18, 2026): Texas $5.979, California $8.395, Florida $6.349, Illinois $6.500, New York $6.421 and Georgia $6.352 per gallon. The cheapest diesel is in Texas ($5.979), Oklahoma and Louisiana; the most expensive is in California ($8.395), Washington and Hawaii. The EIA U.S. weekly average is $6.285.
What is the price of diesel in Texas today?
Diesel in Texas averages $5.979 per gallon today (September 18, 2026), compared with the U.S. average of $6.285.
Which state has the cheapest diesel?
Today the cheapest diesel is in Texas at $5.979 a gallon, then Oklahoma and Louisiana. The most expensive is California at $8.395.
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 $6.29 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 $6.29 a gallon that is about $999. 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, refreshed every day. The U.S. average comes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly diesel survey, which is also used as a backup for any state without a daily price.
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 $6.29 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 $6.29 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.