Gas in California averaged $5.15 in 2026 — $5.01 in today’s money
Average, that year
$5.15
In 2025 dollars
$5.01
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California across 2026, shown both as it was at the pump and adjusted for inflation to constant 2025 dollars (CPI-U). Figures for 2026 are year-to-date (24 weeks so far).
Across the year
How California prices moved through 2026
Weekly average for regular gasoline. The year’s high was $5.97 the week of May 11, 2026; the low was $3.98 the week of January 19, 2026 — a swing of 50.1%.
View the weekly data (24 weeks)
| Week of | Nominal | 2025 $ |
|---|---|---|
| January 5, 2026 | $4.03 | $3.98 |
| January 12, 2026 | $3.98 | $3.92 |
| January 19, 2026 | $3.98 | $3.92 |
| January 26, 2026 | $4.04 | $3.98 |
| February 2, 2026 | $4.18 | $4.11 |
| February 9, 2026 | $4.31 | $4.24 |
| February 16, 2026 | $4.42 | $4.34 |
| February 23, 2026 | $4.44 | $4.37 |
| March 2, 2026 | $4.47 | $4.36 |
| March 9, 2026 | $5.09 | $4.96 |
| March 16, 2026 | $5.38 | $5.25 |
| March 23, 2026 | $5.65 | $5.51 |
| March 30, 2026 | $5.71 | $5.57 |
| April 6, 2026 | $5.77 | $5.59 |
| April 13, 2026 | $5.73 | $5.55 |
| April 20, 2026 | $5.65 | $5.47 |
| April 27, 2026 | $5.79 | $5.60 |
| May 4, 2026 | $5.96 | $5.74 |
| May 11, 2026 | $5.97 | $5.75 |
| May 18, 2026 | $5.96 | $5.74 |
| May 25, 2026 | $5.91 | $5.70 |
| June 1, 2026 | $5.85 | $5.64 |
| June 8, 2026 | $5.70 | $5.49 |
| June 15, 2026 | $5.55 | $5.35 |
Year over year
How 2026 compares, adjusted for inflation
vs. prior year · 2025
+13.9%
2025 averaged $4.40 in 2025 dollars.
vs. following year
No later year on record.
2026 was California’s 8th-most-expensive year for gas on record, adjusted for inflation — equivalently, the 20th-cheapest of 27 years (2000–2026).
Every grade
California fuel prices by grade in 2026
Year-average price per grade, including diesel. Premium figures are the spread drivers paid for higher-octane fuel that year.
| Grade | Avg / gal | 2025 $ | vs. regular |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $5.15 | $5.01 | — |
| Midgrade | $5.47 | $5.32 | +32.1¢ |
| Premium | $5.62 | $5.46 | +46.9¢ |
| Diesel | $6.22 | $6.04 | +106.9¢ |
Common questions
California gas prices in 2026, answered
- What was the average price of gas in California in 2026?
- The average price of regular gasoline in California in 2026 was $5.15 per gallon — about $5.01 in 2025 dollars after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly data.
- How high did gas prices get in California during 2026?
- California's weekly average for regular gasoline peaked at $5.97 the week of May 11, 2026 and bottomed out at $3.98 the week of January 19, 2026 — a swing of 50.1% across the year.
- Were gas prices in California higher in 2026 than in 2025?
- Adjusted for inflation, regular gasoline in California was more expensive in 2026 than in 2025, up 13.9% year over year.
- How does 2026 rank for gas prices in California history?
- Adjusted for inflation, 2026 was the 8th-most-expensive year for regular gasoline in California out of the 27 years EIA has published weekly prices (2000–2026).