What is the average price of petrol in the UK?

172.0p a litre in the week to 21 September 2026, the UK average published by DESNZ.

What is the average price of diesel in the UK?

195.5p a litre in the week to 21 September 2026.

Why is diesel more expensive than petrol?

Duty is the same on both at 52.95p a litre. Diesel costs more because of the refining and wholesale market for middle distillates: the refining and retail margin on diesel is 55.4p against 35.8p on petrol.

In this section: Your bills

UK petrol and diesel prices today

Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.

In the week to 21 September 2026, the UK average pump price was 172.0p a litre for petrol and 195.5p for diesel, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's weekly series. Petrol is +37.9p (+28.2%) on a year earlier and diesel +53.5p (+37.7%). 47% of the petrol price is tax.

Figure as of 21 September 2026. Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Not updated since 21 September 2026

Key figures

172.0pPetrol, UK average a litre up on a year earlier: +37.9p (+28.2%) vs 22 September 2025 As of 21 September 2026
195.5pDiesel, UK average a litre up on a year earlier: +53.5p (+37.7%) vs 22 September 2025 As of 21 September 2026
81.6pTax in a litre of petrol up on a year earlier: +6.3p (+8.4%) vs 22 September 2025 As of 21 September 2026
$114.89Brent crude, a barrel up on a year earlier: +$48.02 (+71.8%) vs 22 September 2025 As of 22 September 2026
54.2pCrude oil in a litre of petrol up on a year earlier: +23.1p (+74.1%) vs 22 September 2025 As of 22 September 2026

Sources: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

What is the average price of petrol and diesel?

172.0p

Petrol, UK average

+37.9p (+28.2%) vs 22 September 2025

Figure as of 21 September 2026. Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Not updated since 21 September 2026

195.5p

Diesel, UK average

+53.5p (+37.7%) vs 22 September 2025

Figure as of 21 September 2026. Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Not updated since 21 September 2026

81.6p

Tax in a litre of petrol

+6.3p (+8.4%) vs 22 September 2025

Figure as of 21 September 2026. Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Not updated since 21 September 2026

85.5p

Tax in a litre of diesel

+8.9p (+11.6%) vs 22 September 2025

Figure as of 21 September 2026. Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Not updated since 21 September 2026

These are national averages for the week to 21 September 2026. Individual forecourts vary widely: motorway services typically charge around 22p a litre more than other stations.

What is driving the price right now?

Brent crude is $114.89 a barrel, +$48.02 (+71.8%) on a year ago, and the pound buys $1.3250. Together those put 54.2p of crude oil in every litre — +23.1p (+74.1%) on a year earlier. Duty is fixed at 52.95p, so when crude moves, the pump price moves by less in percentage terms than it would in a country with light fuel taxes.

$114.89

Brent crude, dollars a barrel

+$48.02 (+71.8%) vs 22 September 2025

Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Not updated since 22 September 2026

$1.3250

Pound in US dollars

−$0.0101 (−0.8%) vs 25 September 2025

Figure as of 25 September 2026. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Not updated since 25 September 2026

54.2p

Crude oil in a litre of petrol

+23.1p (+74.1%) vs 22 September 2025

Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Not updated since 22 September 2026

35.8p

Refining and retail margin, petrol

+8.1p (+29.1%) vs 22 September 2025

Figure as of 21 September 2026. Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Not updated since 21 September 2026

Pump price and crude, both in pence per litre

Line chart comparing the UK pump price with the cost of the crude oil in a litre, both in pence per litre. The gap between the two lines is duty, VAT and the refining and retail margin.

The numbers behind this chart

Pump price against crude, pence per litre (sampled weeks)
Week	Pump price	Crude	Gap
10 May 2004 Details for 10 May 2004	80.3	12.7	67.6
Crude 12.7 Gap 67.6
1 Nov 2004 Details for 1 Nov 2004	84.3	16.1	68.2
Crude 16.1 Gap 68.2
23 May 2005 Details for 23 May 2005	84.8	16.3	68.5
Crude 16.3 Gap 68.5
7 Nov 2005 Details for 7 Nov 2005	92.5	21.0	71.5
Crude 21.0 Gap 71.5
24 Apr 2006 Details for 24 Apr 2006	95.3	26.1	69.3
Crude 26.1 Gap 69.3
9 Oct 2006 Details for 9 Oct 2006	86.6	19.9	66.7
Crude 19.9 Gap 66.7
26 Mar 2007 Details for 26 Mar 2007	89.3	20.6	68.7
Crude 20.6 Gap 68.7
10 Sept 2007 Details for 10 Sept 2007	94.6	23.2	71.4
Crude 23.2 Gap 71.4
25 Feb 2008 Details for 25 Feb 2008	104.7	31.2	73.5
Crude 31.2 Gap 73.5
11 Aug 2008 Details for 11 Aug 2008	113.9	36.3	77.6
Crude 36.3 Gap 77.6
26 Jan 2009 Details for 26 Jan 2009	87.4	21.6	65.8
Crude 21.6 Gap 65.8
13 Jul 2009 Details for 13 Jul 2009	102.8	22.6	80.1
Crude 22.6 Gap 80.1
28 Dec 2009 Details for 28 Dec 2009	107.4	30.1	77.3
Crude 30.1 Gap 77.3
14 Jun 2010 Details for 14 Jun 2010	117.9	32.0	85.9
Crude 32.0 Gap 85.9
29 Nov 2010 Details for 29 Nov 2010	119.2	34.7	84.5
Crude 34.7 Gap 84.5
16 May 2011 Details for 16 May 2011	136.4	44.0	92.4
Crude 44.0 Gap 92.4
31 Oct 2011 Details for 31 Oct 2011	134.7	42.3	92.5
Crude 42.3 Gap 92.5
16 Apr 2012 Details for 16 Apr 2012	142.2	46.9	95.3
Crude 46.9 Gap 95.3
1 Oct 2012 Details for 1 Oct 2012	138.4	43.9	94.6
Crude 43.9 Gap 94.6
18 Mar 2013 Details for 18 Mar 2013	137.6	45.2	92.4
Crude 45.2 Gap 92.4
2 Sept 2013 Details for 2 Sept 2013	137.1	47.2	90.0
Crude 47.2 Gap 90.0
17 Feb 2014 Details for 17 Feb 2014	129.2	40.8	88.3
Crude 40.8 Gap 88.3
4 Aug 2014 Details for 4 Aug 2014	129.6	38.7	90.9
Crude 38.7 Gap 90.9
19 Jan 2015 Details for 19 Jan 2015	106.8	19.7	87.1
Crude 19.7 Gap 87.1
6 Jul 2015 Details for 6 Jul 2015	116.3	23.0	93.3
Crude 23.0 Gap 93.3
21 Dec 2015 Details for 21 Dec 2015	102.3	14.9	87.4
Crude 14.9 Gap 87.4
6 Jun 2016 Details for 6 Jun 2016	110.4	21.3	89.1
Crude 21.3 Gap 89.1
21 Nov 2016 Details for 21 Nov 2016	114.7	23.2	91.5
Crude 23.2 Gap 91.5
8 May 2017 Details for 8 May 2017	117.1	22.6	94.4
Crude 22.6 Gap 94.4
23 Oct 2017 Details for 23 Oct 2017	117.0	27.5	89.6
Crude 27.5 Gap 89.6
9 Apr 2018 Details for 9 Apr 2018	120.0	30.3	89.6
Crude 30.3 Gap 89.6
24 Sept 2018 Details for 24 Sept 2018	130.6	38.8	91.8
Crude 38.8 Gap 91.8
11 Mar 2019 Details for 11 Mar 2019	120.1	31.3	88.8
Crude 31.3 Gap 88.8
26 Aug 2019 Details for 26 Aug 2019	128.2	30.1	98.1
Crude 30.1 Gap 98.1
10 Feb 2020 Details for 10 Feb 2020	124.7	26.0	98.7
Crude 26.0 Gap 98.7
27 Jul 2020 Details for 27 Jul 2020	112.7	21.2	91.5
Crude 21.2 Gap 91.5
11 Jan 2021 Details for 11 Jan 2021	116.1	25.5	90.6
Crude 25.5 Gap 90.6
28 Jun 2021 Details for 28 Jun 2021	130.7	33.9	96.9
Crude 33.9 Gap 96.9
13 Dec 2021 Details for 13 Dec 2021	146.2	35.2	111.0
Crude 35.2 Gap 111.0
30 May 2022 Details for 30 May 2022	170.4	61.3	109.0
Crude 61.3 Gap 109.0
14 Nov 2022 Details for 14 Nov 2022	164.4	50.2	114.2
Crude 50.2 Gap 114.2
1 May 2023 Details for 1 May 2023	145.7	40.9	104.8
Crude 40.9 Gap 104.8
16 Oct 2023 Details for 16 Oct 2023	155.1	46.9	108.2
Crude 46.9 Gap 108.2
1 Apr 2024 Details for 1 Apr 2024	146.3	43.2	103.0
Crude 43.2 Gap 103.0
16 Sept 2024 Details for 16 Sept 2024	136.5	35.2	101.3
Crude 35.2 Gap 101.3
3 Mar 2025 Details for 3 Mar 2025	139.6	36.0	103.6
Crude 36.0 Gap 103.6
18 Aug 2025 Details for 18 Aug 2025	134.3	31.7	102.6
Crude 31.7 Gap 102.6
2 Feb 2026 Details for 2 Feb 2026	131.6	31.2	100.4
Crude 31.2 Gap 100.4
20 Jul 2026 Details for 20 Jul 2026	152.3	40.8	111.5
Crude 40.8 Gap 111.5
21 Sept 2026 Details for 21 Sept 2026	172.0	54.6	117.4
Crude 54.6 Gap 117.4

Figure as of 21 September 2026. Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Not updated since 21 September 2026

How much of today's price is tax?

172.0p/litre

UK average petrol, week to 21 September 2026

90.4p

53.0p

28.7p

Fuel, refining and retail 53%Fuel duty 31%VAT 17%

How do UK prices compare with other countries?

UK petrol works out at about $8.71 a US gallon, 8 of 28 countries compared. US petrol is $4.478 a gallon, roughly half the UK level, almost entirely because US fuel taxes are far lower.

Petrol including tax, US dollars a gallon

1. Denmark $11.37
2. Netherlands $10.63
3. Finland $10.26
4. Germany $10.19
5. France $9.63
6. Italy $9.30
7. Portugal $9.15
8. United Kingdom $8.71
9. Latvia $8.67
10. Belgium $8.63
11. Lithuania $8.47
12. Ireland $8.44
13. Spain $8.37
14. Austria $8.36
15. Estonia $8.32
16. Romania $8.21
17. Czechia $8.18
18. Slovakia $8.04
19. Luxembourg $8.03
20. Poland $7.90
21. Croatia $7.80
22. Hungary $7.61
23. Slovenia $7.41
24. Cyprus $7.28
25. Bulgaria $7.22
26. Sweden $6.86
27. Malta $5.82
28. United States $4.48

Petrol, US dollars per gallon, including taxes. EU prices are the Weekly Oil Bulletin converted at the market euro rate; the UK is the DESNZ weekly average at the same week’s sterling rate; the US is the weekly EIA regular grade average.

Show as a table

Petrol including tax, US dollars a gallon
Name	US dollars a gallon
1. Denmark	$11.37
2. Netherlands	$10.63
3. Finland	$10.26
4. Germany	$10.19
5. France	$9.63
6. Italy	$9.30
7. Portugal	$9.15
8. United Kingdom (UK)	$8.71
9. Latvia	$8.67
10. Belgium	$8.63
11. Lithuania	$8.47
12. Ireland	$8.44
13. Spain	$8.37
14. Austria	$8.36
15. Estonia	$8.32
16. Romania	$8.21
17. Czechia	$8.18
18. Slovakia	$8.04
19. Luxembourg	$8.03
20. Poland	$7.90
21. Croatia	$7.80
22. Hungary	$7.61
23. Slovenia	$7.41
24. Cyprus	$7.28
25. Bulgaria	$7.22
26. Sweden	$6.86
27. Malta	$5.82
28. United States	$4.48

Figure as of 21 September 2026. Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Not updated since 21 September 2026

How has each country’s price changed in a year?

Petrol including tax, US dollars a gallon, against the week of 22 September 2025
Country	Now	A year ago	Change
Denmark Details for Denmark	$11.37	$8.77	+$2.60
A year ago $8.77 Change +$2.60
Netherlands Details for Netherlands	$10.63	$8.69	+$1.94
A year ago $8.69 Change +$1.94
Finland Details for Finland	$10.26	$7.90	+$2.36
A year ago $7.90 Change +$2.36
Germany Details for Germany	$10.19	$7.64	+$2.55
A year ago $7.64 Change +$2.55
France Details for France	$9.63	$7.70	+$1.93
A year ago $7.70 Change +$1.93
Italy Details for Italy	$9.30	$7.64	+$1.66
A year ago $7.64 Change +$1.66
Portugal Details for Portugal	$9.15	$7.65	+$1.50
A year ago $7.65 Change +$1.50
United Kingdom Details for United Kingdom	$8.71	$6.89	+$1.82
A year ago $6.89 Change +$1.82
Latvia Details for Latvia	$8.67	$6.87	+$1.80
A year ago $6.87 Change +$1.80
Belgium Details for Belgium	$8.63	$6.84	+$1.79
A year ago $6.84 Change +$1.79
Lithuania Details for Lithuania	$8.47	$6.24	+$2.23
A year ago $6.24 Change +$2.23
Ireland Details for Ireland	$8.44	$7.61	+$0.83
A year ago $7.61 Change +$0.83
Spain Details for Spain	$8.37	$6.62	+$1.75
A year ago $6.62 Change +$1.75
Austria Details for Austria	$8.36	$6.71	+$1.65
A year ago $6.71 Change +$1.65
Estonia Details for Estonia	$8.32	$6.33	+$1.99
A year ago $6.33 Change +$1.99
Romania Details for Romania	$8.21	$6.65	+$1.56
A year ago $6.65 Change +$1.56
Czechia Details for Czechia	$8.18	$6.31	+$1.87
A year ago $6.31 Change +$1.87
Slovakia Details for Slovakia	$8.04	$6.82	+$1.22
A year ago $6.82 Change +$1.22
Luxembourg Details for Luxembourg	$8.03	$6.64	+$1.39
A year ago $6.64 Change +$1.39
Poland Details for Poland	$7.90	$6.06	+$1.84
A year ago $6.06 Change +$1.84
Croatia Details for Croatia	$7.80	$6.64	+$1.16
A year ago $6.64 Change +$1.16
Hungary Details for Hungary	$7.61	$6.70	+$0.91
A year ago $6.70 Change +$0.91
Slovenia Details for Slovenia	$7.41	$6.50	+$0.91
A year ago $6.50 Change +$0.91
Cyprus Details for Cyprus	$7.28	$6.02	+$1.26
A year ago $6.02 Change +$1.26
Bulgaria Details for Bulgaria	$7.22	$5.93	+$1.29
A year ago $5.93 Change +$1.29
Sweden Details for Sweden	$6.86	$6.40	+$0.46
A year ago $6.40 Change +$0.46
Malta Details for Malta	$5.82	$5.97	−$0.15
A year ago $5.97 Change −$0.15
United States Details for United States	$4.48	$3.17	+$1.31
A year ago $3.17 Change +$1.31

Common questions

What is the average price of petrol in the UK?: 172.0p a litre in the week to 21 September 2026, the UK average published by DESNZ.
What is the average price of diesel in the UK?: 195.5p a litre in the week to 21 September 2026.
Why is diesel more expensive than petrol?: Duty is the same on both at 52.95p a litre. Diesel costs more because of the refining and wholesale market for middle distillates: the refining and retail margin on diesel is 55.4p against 35.8p on petrol.

Use this data

The figures belong to the bodies that published them and are used under their terms, listed in Sources for this page; most are Crown copyright under the Open Government Licence. Only our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, published under CC BY 4.0: reuse them, including commercially, if you credit Tekstak Ltd and link back to this page.

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UK average petrol pump price, weekly since 2003 (CSV) JSON Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Open Government Licence v3.0
UK average diesel pump price, weekly since 2003 (CSV) JSON Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Open Government Licence v3.0
Brent crude daily spot price since 1987 (CSV) JSON Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: US public domain, via FRED (FRED terms of use)
Pound in US dollars, daily since 1971 (CSV) JSON Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: US public domain, via FRED (FRED terms of use)
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<iframe src="https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/embed/uk-fuel-prices.html" width="100%" height="180" style="border:1px solid #d9dfdc;border-radius:10px" loading="lazy" title="UK petrol and diesel prices — Where your money goes"></iframe>

Sources for this page

Source	Publisher	Figures as of	Updated	Licence
Weekly road fuel prices	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	21 September 2026	weekly not updating	Open Government Licence v3.0
Brent crude oil spot price (FRED DCOILBRENTEU)	Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis	22 September 2026	daily not updating	US public domain, via FRED (FRED terms of use)
US dollar / sterling (FRED DEXUSUK)	Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis	25 September 2026	daily not updating	US public domain, via FRED (FRED terms of use)
US regular all formulations gas price (FRED GASREGW)	Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis	21 September 2026	weekly not updating	US public domain, via FRED (FRED terms of use)
US dollar / euro exchange rate (FRED DEXUSEU)	Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis	25 September 2026	daily not updating	US public domain, via FRED (FRED terms of use)

Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under CC BY 4.0.

What is the average price of petrol and diesel?

What is driving the price right now?

How much of today's price is tax?

How do UK prices compare with other countries?

Common questions

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