UK petrol and diesel prices: what drivers are paying today
By Anthony Sharkey, Chief Operating Officer, New Reg Limited · 16 Aug 2026
Petrol averages 161.2p a litre across UK forecourts, while diesel sits 20.7p higher at 181.9p, making fuel costs a pressing concern for everyday drivers.
Petrol is averaging 161.2p a litre at UK forecourts right now, and diesel is running noticeably higher at 181.9p, meaning the gap between the two fuels stands at 20.7p a litre, according to official UK fuel price data gathered from 7,826 sites across the country.
For a driver with a typical 55-litre petrol tank, a full fill from empty costs around £88.66 at today's average price. Switch to diesel and that same sized tank costs roughly £100.05 to fill. If you are paying for premium E5 unleaded rather than standard E10, the average price is 178.8p a litre, adding around £9.68 to the cost of that same fill compared with standard petrol.
The 20.7p-a-litre premium for diesel over standard unleaded is a real consideration if you are weighing up the running costs of your next vehicle. Diesel drivers have historically recouped that pump penalty through better motorway fuel economy, but the sums are tighter than they once were, and anyone doing mostly short urban journeys will find it hard to come out ahead.
Sources
This story cites UK Fuel Price Data.