UK petrol and diesel prices today: the national picture

Filling up costs more than many drivers expect right now, with official UK fuel price data showing the average price of standard E10 unleaded petrol sitting at 161.8p a litre across 7,845 forecourts nationwide, which works out at roughly £7.36 a gallon for those who still think in those terms.

For drivers who prefer premium fuel, E5 unleaded carries a noticeably higher price tag of 179.3p a litre, or about £8.15 a gallon. That 17.5p premium over standard unleaded adds up quickly over repeated fill-ups, particularly for drivers whose cars do not require the higher-octane blend.

Diesel remains the most expensive option at the pump. Official figures put B7 diesel at 183.5p a litre, equivalent to £8.34 a gallon, which means diesel drivers are paying around 21.7p a litre more than those running on standard petrol. For a 55-litre tank, that gap amounts to roughly £11.94 extra every time the tank is filled, a significant ongoing cost for van drivers and diesel car owners.

These figures are drawn from official UK fuel price data refreshed throughout the day, covering a broad sample of nearly 8,000 forecourts, so they reflect the genuine national average rather than any single region or retailer. Prices vary between locations, and drivers in rural areas or on motorways will frequently find forecourt prices above these averages, while supermarket sites in urban areas often sit below them.