State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
Washington gas tax
The 4th highest state gas tax of 51, and 26.4¢ above the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, Washington drivers pay 78.57¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 15% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 56.50¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 3.67¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 78.57¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $11.79 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $377 |
| Regular gas this week | $5.095 |
From the EIA’s notes for Washington: Oil Spill Administration Tax: $0.0400/bbl ($0.0009523/gal). Oil Spill Response tax: $0.0100/bbl ($0.000238/gal).
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 Washington and its neighbours
Across the line in Idaho, state tax is 27.2¢ a gallon lower, which is $4.08 less tax on a 15-gallon fill.
Where Washington sits in the ranking
| 2. Illinois | 71.70¢ |
|---|---|
| 3. Indiana | 64.50¢ |
| 4. Washington | 60.17¢ |
| 5. Pennsylvania | 58.70¢ |
| 6. Michigan | 53.40¢ |
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 $314 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in Washington; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $496.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the Washington fuel cost calculator, or see Washington gas prices this week.
Washington gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in Washington?
- Washington charges 60.17¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 56.50¢ of excise tax plus 3.67¢ 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 78.57¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does Washington's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 4th highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 26.4¢ a gallon above the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a Washington driver pay in a year?
- About $377 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $289 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $11.79 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 Washington?
- Idaho has the lowest state gas tax of Washington's neighbours, at 33.00¢ a gallon. That is 27.2¢ less, or $4.08 on a 15-gallon fill.