Arizona Gas Prices and Why They Are What They Are
Prices as of September 22, 2026, per AAA · Updated September 25, 2026
As of September 22, 2026, regular gasoline in Arizona averages $4.71/gallon (the 11th-highest in the U.S.), per AAA. $0.23 above AAA's national average of $4.47 on 2026-09-22. State fuel taxes and fees are 19.0 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2026 edition). Federal gasoline tax adds 18.4 cents per gallon.
How Arizona got here
Weekly snapshots of AAA state averages, recorded by this site since July 6, 2026. AAA state averages.
Where the $4.71 goes
| Component | $/gallon | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly WTI crude proxy | $2.00 | 42.5% | EIA monthly WTI |
| Federal and Arizona fuel taxes | $0.37 | 7.9% | Tax Foundation, 2026 edition |
| Unallocated residual (after the monthly WTI crude proxy and taxes) | $2.33 | 49.6% | computed; not attributed to components |
The crude-oil share of the price is set by a world market that every state's refiners buy from; the differences between states come from taxes, fuel specifications, and refining and distribution costs. EIA: factors affecting gasoline prices.
Why Arizona is above the U.S. average
State fuel taxes
State fuel taxes and fees are 19.0 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2026 edition).
Refining base
0 operating refineries, 0 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01).
Cleaner-burning gasoline
Yes: Cleaner-Burning Gasoline (CBG), year-round in Maricopa County and Area A. Summer Reid vapor pressure is limited to 7.0 psi from May 31 through September 30. Source. Source. Source.
Pipeline supply
Pipeline supply comes from Southern California and from El Paso, Texas. EPA documented a disruption of the pipeline supplying Arizona CBG from California refineries. This documents exposure of Phoenix-area supply to Southern California supply conditions; it does not measure retail price pass-through. Source. Source.
What a gallon costs in work time
At Arizona's median hourly wage of $24.07 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a gallon of regular costs 11.7 minutes of work. BLS OEWS. Compare gasoline affordability.
State policies that show up at the pump
| Policy or supply base | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refining base | 0 operating refineries, 0 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01) | Source |
| State-specific fuel blend | Yes: Cleaner-Burning Gasoline (CBG), year-round in Maricopa County and Area A | Source |
State government control
| Control in 2026 | Split government |
| Years of unified Democratic control, 2001–2026 | 0 |
| Years of unified Republican control | 14 |
| Years of split government | 12 |
Party control by year from Ballotpedia, compiled 2026-09-08; counts computed at build. Ballotpedia.
Questions people ask
How does regular compare with the national average?
$0.23 above AAA's national average of $4.47 on 2026-09-22.
How much is state gasoline tax?
State fuel taxes and fees are 19.0 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2026 edition).
Does the state have oil refineries?
0 operating refineries, 0 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01).
What fuel rules or supply routes matter here?
Yes: Cleaner-Burning Gasoline (CBG), year-round in Maricopa County and Area A. Summer Reid vapor pressure is limited to 7.0 psi from May 31 through September 30. Source. Source. Source.
What does a gallon cost in work time?
At Arizona's median hourly wage of $24.07 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a gallon of regular costs 11.7 minutes of work.
Compare: all states ranked · Arizona electricity rates · gasoline prices by country · refining · why gas prices are high.
Sources: AAA (pump prices), Tax Foundation, 2026 edition, EIA federal gasoline tax, EIA monthly WTI, EIA weekly retail gasoline, and BLS OEWS. The residual is computed, not attributed to components. See methodology.