Texas Gas Prices and Why They Are What They Are
Prices as of September 22, 2026, per AAA · Updated September 24, 2026
As of September 22, 2026, regular gasoline in Texas averages $3.96/gallon (the 1st-lowest in the U.S.), per AAA. $0.51 below AAA's national average of $4.47 on 2026-09-22. State fuel taxes and fees are 20.0 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2026 edition). Federal gasoline tax adds 18.4 cents per gallon. In EIA's weekly survey, Texas regular was $3.929 in the week of 2026-09-21, 41.8% higher than the same week a year earlier (nearest prior week, 2025-09-15).
How Texas got here
EIA weekly retail regular, all formulations; EMM_EPMR_PTE_STX_DPG and EMM_EPMR_PTE_NUS_DPG; retrieved 2026-09-22, through 2026-09-21. Monthly means pair identical weekly dates; months with fewer than three paired weeks and the current month are excluded from the chart. EIA weekly retail gasoline.
Last twelve months: paired monthly means
| Month | Texas | U.S. | Gap | Paired weeks | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09 | $3.784 | $4.318 | $-0.534 | 3 | partial (3 paired weeks) |
| 2026-08 | $3.564 | $4.058 | $-0.494 | 5 | complete |
| 2026-07 | $3.462 | $3.932 | $-0.470 | 4 | complete |
| 2026-06 | $3.469 | $4.050 | $-0.580 | 5 | complete |
| 2026-05 | $3.915 | $4.479 | $-0.564 | 4 | complete |
| 2026-04 | $3.692 | $4.103 | $-0.411 | 4 | complete |
| 2026-03 | $3.271 | $3.638 | $-0.367 | 5 | complete |
| 2026-02 | $2.475 | $2.907 | $-0.432 | 4 | complete |
| 2026-01 | $2.373 | $2.808 | $-0.435 | 4 | complete |
| 2025-12 | $2.447 | $2.894 | $-0.447 | 5 | complete |
| 2025-11 | $2.573 | $3.050 | $-0.477 | 4 | complete |
| 2025-10 | $2.596 | $3.060 | $-0.464 | 4 | complete |
Highest weekly observation, nominal dollars: $4.642 on 2022-06-13; lowest weekly observation, nominal dollars: $0.996 on 2001-12-24.
Where the $3.96 goes
| Component | $/gallon | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly WTI crude proxy | $2.00 | 50.4% | EIA monthly WTI |
| Federal and Texas fuel taxes | $0.38 | 9.7% | Tax Foundation, 2026 edition |
| Unallocated residual (after the monthly WTI crude proxy and taxes) | $1.58 | 39.9% | 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 Texas is below the U.S. average
State fuel taxes
Texas excise tax is 20 cents per gallon, unchanged since 1991. The site tax table reports 20.0 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2026 edition). Source. Source.
Refining base
29 operating refineries, 6,134,650 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01). Texas accounts for 33.8% of U.S. operating capacity in that edition.
Supply and fuel specifications
The Texas Gulf Coast is a refining and outbound pipeline supply hub. Yes: federal reformulated gasoline in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth covered areas. Source. Source.
What a gallon costs in work time
At Texas's median hourly wage of $23.38 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a gallon of regular costs 10.2 minutes of work. BLS OEWS. Compare gasoline affordability.
State policies that show up at the pump
| Policy or supply base | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refining base | 29 operating refineries, 6,134,650 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01) | Source |
| State-specific fuel blend | Yes: federal reformulated gasoline in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth covered areas | Source |
State government control
| Control in 2026 | Unified Republican |
| Years of unified Democratic control, 2001–2026 | 0 |
| Years of unified Republican control | 24 |
| Years of split government | 2 |
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?
$0.51 below AAA's national average of $4.47 on 2026-09-22.
How much is state gasoline tax?
Texas excise tax is 20 cents per gallon, unchanged since 1991. The site tax table reports 20.0 cents per gallon (Tax Foundation, 2026 edition). Source. Source.
Does the state have oil refineries?
29 operating refineries, 6,134,650 b/d (EIA Refinery Capacity Report 2026, as of 2026-01-01). Texas accounts for 33.8% of U.S. operating capacity in that edition.
What fuel rules or supply routes matter here?
The Texas Gulf Coast is a refining and outbound pipeline supply hub. Yes: federal reformulated gasoline in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth covered areas. Source. Source.
What does a gallon cost in work time?
At Texas's median hourly wage of $23.38 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a gallon of regular costs 10.2 minutes of work.
Compare: all states ranked · Texas 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.