American drivers are paying $5 to $6 a gallon for gas and diesel in many states for the first time in years.
Gas prices have increased significantly since the Iran war began on February 28. America’s favorite pickup truck, the Ford F-150, has become expensive to fuel as a result of skyrocketing costs at the pump.
Based on fuel price data from AAA, here’s how much it will cost to fuel a full-size pickup truck in 2026, compared to exactly what it cost to fuel up a year ago in the spring of 2025.
How much will it cost to fuel up a 2026 Ford F-150?
The 2026 Ford F-150 XL SuperCrew (four full-size doors) has a 36-gallon gas tank and its base engine (2.7-liter V6) runs on regular unleaded 87-octane fuel. AAA’s current national average gas price for regular gasoline is $4.50.
Regular gas prices in Oklahoma are the nation’s cheapest at $3.94 per gallon, while regular gas prices in California are the most expensive at $6.15 per gallon.
Based on multiplying AAA’s national average gas price of $4.50 by the truck’s tank size of 36 gallons, it costs an average of $162 to fuel up the Ford F-150 XL SuperCrew. But based on average gas prices in those states, the actual fueling cost for an F-150 could range from $141.84 in Oklahoma to $221.40 in California.
Fueling America’s favorite truck has become especially expensive due to the recent increase in gas prices. F-150 owners could be paying much less to fill gas in their full-size four-door pickup trucks in 2025.
How much has the total fuel cost of the Ford F-150 increased year-over-year?
A year ago, the national average gas price was just $3.13, according to gas price data from AAA. It cost about $112.68 to fill up the gas tank of a Ford F-150 XL SuperCrew last May.
The national average cost to fuel up America’s most popular full-size pickup truck has increased by $49.32 year over year. National average gas prices increased $1.37 per gallon year over year.
F-150 truck owners with 36-gallon models are facing fuel cost increases of about $50 per full tank due to the military conflict in Iran. While every driver is experiencing pain at the pump, full-size pickup truck and SUV owners are more likely to face higher overall fuel costs due to their tank size and fuel economy.
Should you still buy the Ford F-150 in 2026?
Ford’s full-size truck model may cost a lot to fuel due to rising gas prices, but it still checks many boxes for American drivers and remains one of the most competitive models in its segment.
Pricing for the 2026 Ford F-150 starts at $36,274 thanks to Ford’s employee pricing program. It uses the standard 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 to generate 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The F-150 achieves 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, which is good for its segment.
Edmunds calls the F-150 the best large truck of 2026. It is known for its versatility, multiple cab and powertrain options, and practicality. Full-size pickup truck models like the F-150 can be expensive to fuel, but they are often powerful workhorses that offer unparalleled utility for American drivers.
Charles Singh is an Autos Connect reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.