State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
Ohio gas tax
The 15th highest state gas tax of 51, and 4.7¢ above the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, Ohio drivers pay 56.90¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 14% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 38.50¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 0.00¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 56.90¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $8.54 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $273 |
| Regular gas this week | $4.090 |
From the EIA’s notes for Ohio: Petroleum Activity Tax (PAT): 0.
Source: EIA federal and state motor fuel taxes, July 2026. The federal rate has not changed since 1993. County and city taxes are not included, so some drivers pay a little more.
Fuel tax in Ohio and its neighbours
Across the line in Kentucky, state tax is 12.1¢ a gallon lower, which is $1.82 less tax on a 15-gallon fill.
| State | State tax | Versus OH | On a 15-gal tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 26.4¢ | −12.1¢ | −$1.82 |
| West Virginia | 35.7¢ | −2.8¢ | −$0.42 |
| Ohio | 38.5¢ | — | — |
| Michigan | 53.4¢ | +14.9¢ | +$2.23 |
| Pennsylvania | 58.7¢ | +20.2¢ | +$3.03 |
| Indiana | 64.5¢ | +26.0¢ | +$3.90 |
Where Ohio sits in the ranking
| 13. Oregon | 40.00¢ |
|---|---|
| 14. Utah | 38.55¢ |
| 15. Ohio | 38.50¢ |
| 16. Washington, D.C. | 35.70¢ |
| 17. West Virginia | 35.70¢ |
Ranked by total state tax per gallon, highest first. See all 51 ranked.
What this means for your driving
Tax is a fixed number of cents on every gallon, so the less fuel you burn, the less of it you pay. A car that gets 30 mpg pays $228 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in Ohio; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $359.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the Ohio fuel cost calculator, or see Ohio gas prices this week.
Ohio gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in Ohio?
- Ohio charges 38.50¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 38.50¢ of excise tax plus 0.00¢ in other per-gallon taxes and fees, according to the EIA's table updated July 2026. Add the 18.4¢ federal tax and drivers pay 56.90¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does Ohio's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 15th highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 4.7¢ a gallon above the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a Ohio driver pay in a year?
- About $273 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $185 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $8.54 of tax.
- Is gas tax included in the price at the pump?
- Yes. Federal and state per-gallon fuel taxes are built into the price posted on the sign; they are not added at the register. That is why tax differences between neighbouring states show up directly in pump prices.
- Which neighbouring state has a lower gas tax than Ohio?
- Kentucky has the lowest state gas tax of Ohio's neighbours, at 26.40¢ a gallon. That is 12.1¢ less, or $1.82 on a 15-gallon fill.