Washington Gas Prices and Why They Are What They Are
Prices as of September 04, 2026, per AAA · Updated September 04, 2026
As of September 04, 2026, regular gasoline in Washington averages $5.48/gallon (the 2nd-highest in the U.S.), per AAA — 1.41 above the national average of $4.07. Diesel averages $6.81. State fuel taxes and fees add 60.2¢/gallon on top of the 18.4¢ federal excise.
Where the $5.48 goes
| Component | $/gallon | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil (national cost, WTI August 2026) | 2.00 | 36% | EIA |
| Federal + Washington fuel taxes (18.4¢ + 60.2¢) | 0.79 | 14% | Tax Foundation |
| Refining, distribution, margins & embedded program costs (residual) | 2.70 | 49% | computed |
Crude oil costs every state's refiners roughly the same, so Washington's position comes from the tax line and the residual: refining capacity and logistics, fuel-specification requirements, and any carbon or clean-fuel program costs embedded in the pump price.
State policies that show up at the pump
| Policy | Detail |
|---|---|
| Climate Commitment Act | Yes |
| Clean Fuel Standard | Yes |
| State-only fuel blend | No |
| Federal RFG areas | Yes (Puget Sound) |
| Refinery count | 5 (active) |
| Pipeline access to other PADDs | No |
State government control
| Control today | Unified Democratic (Governor + House + Senate, all D) |
| Years of unified Democratic control, 2001–2025 | 17 |
| Years of unified Republican control | 0 |
| Years of divided government | 8 |
Fuel-tax levels and fuel-specification programs are set by legislatures and governors; the national comparison shows average prices and taxes grouped by state control.
Compare: all states ranked · Washington electricity rates · gasoline prices by country
Sources: AAA (pump prices, updated daily; the industry-standard 50-state series), Tax Foundation (2026 state fuel taxes), EIA (WTI crude). The residual is computed, not reported. See methodology.