How Much Does Jet Fuel Cost?

Updated on July 18, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 11 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

Jet fuel currently costs about $3.50 to $4.25 per gallon at major U.S. wholesale benchmarks. Airlines can pay a different delivered or economic price after pipeline tariffs, storage, airport fees, taxes, supply contracts, and fuel-hedging results are included. Private aircraft buying Jet A from a fixed-base operator commonly pay $5 to $10+ per gallon, with isolated and high-cost airports charging more.

The Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index was $3.53 per gallon on July 17, 2026. The index is a simple average of wholesale jet-fuel prices in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York. It is a market benchmark, not the retail price displayed at an airport fuel truck or FBO.

At that benchmark, the theoretical maximum fuel value is approximately $24,100 for a Boeing 737-8, $222,500 for a Boeing 747-8 Freighter, and $298,400 for an Airbus A380. Aircraft rarely land empty and purchase their full published capacity, so these are tank-value calculations rather than normal flight refueling bills.

Article Highlights

• The July 17, 2026 U.S. wholesale benchmark was $3.53 per gallon.
• Major U.S. wholesale prices currently plan near $3.50 to $4.25 per gallon.
• Private-aircraft FBO prices commonly fall near $5 to $10+ (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 10 to 20 minutes, before taxes) per gallon.
• A 737-8’s maximum fuel value is about $24,100 at $3.53 per gallon.
• A 747-8F’s maximum fuel value is about $222,500.
• An A380’s maximum fuel value is approximately $298,400.
• Fuel can account for roughly 20% to 30% of airline operating expenses.

How Much Does Jet Fuel Cost?

Airlines for America publishes the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index, a daily simple average for four large U.S. markets. The reported price was $3.53 per gallon on July 17, 2026.

Jet-fuel price level	Current planning range	What the price represents
U.S. Gulf Coast spot market	$3 to $4 per gallon	Refinery or bulk-market benchmark before airport delivery
Major-market U.S. wholesale index	$3.50 to $4.25 per gallon	Wholesale pricing in major airline fuel markets
Airline delivered or economic cost	$3.50 to $5+ per gallon	Fuel, fees, taxes, contracts, transportation, and hedging effects
Private-aircraft FBO price	$5 to $10+ (about 10 to 20 minutes at $30 per hour) per gallon	Retail airport price with local service and supplier margin
Remote or premium airport	$8 to $15+ per gallon	Limited supply, difficult logistics, and high airport costs

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Gulf Coast jet-fuel series tracks a lower-level spot-market price. That series is valuable for following petroleum markets, but it does not include every expense required to place fuel into an aircraft at an airport.

Jet-fuel prices can move daily. An article quoting a February or March figure may be substantially out of date by the time an operator requests a fuel uplift.

Spot Price vs Airport Price

A refinery or bulk-market price is only the beginning of the final fuel invoice. Jet fuel must be transported, stored, tested, transferred into airport infrastructure, and pumped into the aircraft.

The final price can include:

• Refinery or wholesale fuel value
• Pipeline, barge, rail, or truck transportation
• Terminal and storage charges
• Airport fuel-flowage fee
• Into-plane fueling service
• Supplier or FBO margin
• Federal, state, and local taxes
• Contract discounts or minimum-volume terms

A Gulf Coast spot price of $3.20 per gallon does not mean a private pilot can purchase Jet A for that amount at a remote airport. The FBO may have paid transportation, storage, insurance, labor, airport, and equipment costs before applying its retail margin.

Airlines negotiate large supply contracts and may participate in airport fuel-storage consortiums. Their delivered price can therefore be below the retail FBO price, although the airline still incurs infrastructure, handling, and contractual costs.

What Jet A and Jet A-1 Are

Jet A and Jet A-1 are kerosene-type aviation turbine fuels used in commercial and business aircraft. They are not aviation gasoline and should not be confused with the fuel used by many piston-engine airplanes.

The principal specification difference is the maximum freezing point:

• Jet A: approximately -40°C
• Jet A-1: approximately -47°C

FAA material confirms the freezing-point distinction in its aviation fuel quality study. Jet A is widely used in the United States, while Jet A-1 is the more common international specification.

Finished fuel must meet requirements involving freezing point, flash point, thermal stability, contaminants, energy content, and other performance characteristics. Additives may be included when required for static dissipation, icing protection, corrosion inhibition, or other approved purposes.

What It Costs to Fuel Different Aircraft

The following calculations use the July 17, 2026 benchmark of $3.53 per gallon.

Aircraft	Approximate maximum fuel capacity	Theoretical value at $3.53 per gallon
Boeing 737-8	6,820 gallons	$24,100 (about 4.6 months of full-time work at $30 per hour)
Boeing 747-8 Freighter	63,034 gallons	$222,500
Airbus A380	84,535 gallons	$298,400

Boeing lists a total capacity of approximately 6,820 gallons for the 737-8 in its 737 MAX airport-planning document.

The company’s 747-8 airport-planning data lists usable capacity of about 63,034 gallons for the 747-8 Freighter.

Airbus lists a maximum A380 capacity of 320,000 liters, equal to approximately 84,535 U.S. gallons, in its A380 facts and figures.

These figures show what the full published capacity is worth at one selected market price. They do not show the amount purchased before a routine flight.

Flight Cost vs Full-Tank Cost

Airlines plan fuel for a specific flight rather than filling every aircraft completely. Carrying extra fuel increases aircraft weight, which causes the engines to burn additional fuel.

A flight plan may account for:

• Taxi fuel
• Trip fuel
• Contingency allowance
• Alternate-airport fuel
• Final reserve
• Expected weather and winds
• Air traffic delays and holding
• Fuel already remaining in the tanks

Consider a flight expected to consume 4,500 gallons. At $3.53 per gallon, its planned fuel burn costs about $15,885.

If the aircraft already has 1,200 usable gallons on board and needs 5,000 gallons for departure, the airline purchases only 3,800 gallons. That uplift costs approximately $13,414 at the benchmark price.

Actual fuel expense can differ because the airline’s delivered price, taxes, airport charges, hedging results, and final consumption may not match the simple benchmark.

Why Jet Fuel Prices Change

Jet fuel begins with crude oil, but its price can diverge from crude because aviation kerosene has its own refining, inventory, and transportation market.

Major influences include:

• Brent and other crude-oil benchmarks
• Refinery outages and maintenance
• Availability of kerosene-range refinery output
• Diesel and heating-oil demand
• Air travel and cargo demand
• Regional inventories
• War, sanctions, and shipping disruption
• Pipeline and terminal constraints
• Currency movements

IATA’s June 2026 outlook described an exceptionally severe fuel market. The organization forecast an average 2026 jet-fuel price of $152 per barrel, compared with approximately $90 per barrel in 2025. Its updated industry outlook projected the worldwide airline fuel bill to rise from $252 billion to approximately $350 billion.

One barrel contains 42 U.S. gallons. A price of $152 per barrel equals about $3.62 per gallon before airport delivery and other local charges.

Crude Oil and the Jet Crack Spread

The difference between the price of crude oil and the value of refined jet fuel is commonly called the jet crack spread. It represents the refining-market premium rather than one fixed manufacturing charge.

A simplified formula is:

Jet-fuel value = crude-oil value + refining spread + distribution and local charges

IATA’s 2026 forecast placed Brent crude near $95 per barrel and jet fuel near $152 per barrel. The resulting projected crack spread was approximately $57 per barrel, which IATA characterized as historically high.

The spread can widen when:

• Refineries close or reduce output
• Kerosene inventories are low
• Air travel demand rises
• Competing distillate products are highly profitable
• Regional supply routes are disrupted

Jet fuel does not always cost a fixed percentage more than gasoline. Gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel each have different seasonal demand, specifications, inventories, and refinery economics.

Airport Delivery, Taxes, and Fees

U.S. federal tax treatment depends on whether kerosene is used in commercial aviation, noncommercial aviation, foreign trade, or another qualifying use.

IRS Publication 510 lists a federal rate of 4.4 cents per gallon for qualifying kerosene used in commercial aviation, subject to the applicable direct-fueling, certificate, refund, and tax rules. Other aviation uses can initially carry higher rates before an allowed credit or refund. The details appear in the current IRS excise-tax guidance.

The final airport charge may also include:

• State fuel tax
• Local fuel tax
• Airport flowage fee
• Into-plane fee
• Fuel farm or consortium charge
• Security and access costs

International flights, domestic commercial flights, charter flights, private flights, and government operations can receive different tax treatment. One published tax amount should not be applied to every gallon of Jet A.

How Airlines Report Fuel Cost

Airlines commonly report an average fuel price per gallon in financial statements. That figure may include taxes, fees, refinery results, or hedge settlements, depending on the carrier’s definition.

Delta reported that its refinery produces approximately 200,000 barrels of petroleum products per day and supplies about 75% of the airline’s fuel needs through direct production, exchanges, and product sales. Its current operating model is described in Delta’s 2025 annual report.

An airline’s economic fuel price can therefore differ from the daily wholesale index because it may incorporate:

• Contract pricing
• Taxes and fuel fees
• Refinery contributions
• Hedging gains or losses
• Timing differences
• Regional purchase mix

Fuel is one of the largest airline operating expenses. IATA estimates that it can represent approximately 25% to 30% of operating costs, although the share changes as fuel, labor, maintenance, and other costs move.

Fuel Hedging and Supply Contracts

Fuel hedging uses financial contracts intended to reduce exposure to future market increases. An airline might buy options, swaps, or other derivatives linked to crude oil or refined products.

A hedge does not guarantee cheap jet fuel. Potential problems include:

• Market prices falling below the protected level
• Option premiums
• The hedge tracking crude oil while jet-fuel spreads move differently
• Forecast fuel consumption changing
• Accounting gains and losses

Southwest historically maintained one of the best-known U.S. airline hedge programs, but the company terminated its remaining fuel-hedging portfolio during the second quarter of 2025. Southwest reported an average 2025 economic fuel cost of $2.41 per gallon with no cash hedge settlements. The change is documented in its 2025 annual report.

Airlines may also manage fuel expense through:

• Long-term physical supply agreements
• Airport storage consortiums
• Refinery and product-exchange arrangements
• Fuel-efficient aircraft
• Route and altitude optimization
• Reduced aircraft weight
• Engine washing and maintenance

The Hidden Cost of FBO Fuel

A private-aircraft operator may see a posted price that does not represent the complete fuel-related invoice.

Consider a 500-gallon purchase:

• 500 gallons at $7.25 per gallon: $3,625
• Airport flowage fee: $150
• Into-plane service charge: $100
• Handling or minimum-purchase shortfall: $250
• Applicable tax: $100

The final fuel-related total is $4,225. Dividing that amount by 500 gallons produces an effective price of $8.45 per gallon.

An FBO may waive a handling or facility fee when the aircraft purchases a minimum quantity. Buying extra fuel solely to avoid the fee may not save money because the additional weight increases fuel burn.

Operators should ask for:

• Posted retail price
• Contract or fuel-card price
• Minimum uplift
• Flowage and into-plane fees
• Facility and handling charges
• Tax treatment
• After-hours surcharge

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Prices

Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, can reduce lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions depending on the feedstock and production pathway. It is not currently a low-cost replacement for conventional jet fuel.

IATA’s 2026 fuel outlook estimated an average SAF price of about $374 per barrel, compared with $152 per barrel for conventional jet fuel. That equals approximately $8.90 per gallon before some delivery and airport expenses.

Airlines for America tracks the changing price premium through its SAF and conventional jet-fuel comparison.

SAF expense can be affected by:

• Feedstock availability
• Production technology
• Blending and certification
• Transport to the airport
• Tax credits and incentives
• Government mandates
• Book-and-claim arrangements

IATA projected SAF to represent less than 1% of worldwide jet-fuel consumption in 2026. Supply and price remain major barriers to wider use.

Historical U.S. Jet Fuel Prices

Jet fuel has moved through several dramatic price cycles. EIA’s Gulf Coast series shows nominal spot-market prices below $1 per gallon during parts of the 1990s, above $3 per gallon during the 2008 oil-price surge, below $1 during the 2020 collapse in air travel, and above $5 during parts of 2022.

The 2026 monthly Gulf Coast average increased from approximately $2.03 per gallon in January to more than $3.90 during April and May before easing. Those figures demonstrate why a single annual estimate can hide substantial month-to-month volatility.

The EIA historical series uses nominal dollars and represents a Gulf Coast spot benchmark. It should not be labeled as an inflation-adjusted airport retail price.

Three Aircraft Fuel-Cost Examples

Short-haul airline flight: A flight is expected to burn 2,400 gallons. At $3.53 per gallon, the fuel consumed costs approximately $8,472.

Long-haul widebody flight: A flight burns 25,000 gallons. At the same benchmark, the fuel cost is approximately $88,250. A 50-cent increase per gallon would add another $12,500.

Private jet uplift: A business jet purchases 1,000 gallons at an FBO price of $7.50 per gallon. Fuel costs $7,500. Another $400 in taxes and airport charges raises the effective total to $7,900.

These examples calculate fuel only. Crew, maintenance, depreciation, landing charges, navigation fees, insurance, catering, and aircraft ownership remain separate.

When Buying More Fuel Makes Sense

Makes sense if:

• The next airport has a much higher verified price.
• The aircraft remains within weight and performance limits.
• The savings exceed the cost of carrying extra weight.
• The operator avoids a meaningful handling fee.
• Supply at the destination is uncertain.

Does not make sense if:

• The aircraft must burn extra fuel to carry the fuel.
• Payload or range is restricted.
• The quoted price excludes substantial fees.
• Airport or weather conditions make extra weight undesirable.
• The operator is comparing a wholesale index with an FBO retail price.

What We Verified

• Checked the July 17, 2026 Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index price.
• Cross-referenced the current EIA Gulf Coast spot-price series.
• Verified 737-8, 747-8F, and A380 maximum fuel capacities through manufacturer documents.
• Confirmed Jet A and Jet A-1 freezing-point specifications through FAA material.
• Checked the current federal aviation-kerosene tax rules through the IRS.
• Verified IATA’s updated 2026 jet-fuel and industry fuel-bill forecast.
• Reviewed Delta’s refinery and fuel-supply disclosures.
• Confirmed that Southwest closed its remaining hedge portfolio in 2025.
• Checked the current SAF price premium through Airlines for America.
• Removed unsupported expert quotations and obsolete regional price tables.

Related Aviation Costs

Travelers and aircraft operators can compare fuel expense with the cost of owning a private plane, current NetJets prices, and the cost of a BAJit flight.

Jet Fuel Cost FAQ

How much does jet fuel cost per gallon right now?

The major U.S. wholesale benchmark was $3.53 per gallon on July 17, 2026. Private-aircraft retail prices at FBOs commonly cost $5 to $10+ per gallon.

How much does it cost to fuel a Boeing 737?

A Boeing 737-8 has a maximum capacity near 6,820 gallons. At $3.53 per gallon, the theoretical full-capacity value is about $24,100. A normal flight uplift is usually lower.

How much does it cost to fill an Airbus A380?

The A380 holds up to approximately 84,535 U.S. gallons. At $3.53 per gallon, the theoretical maximum fuel value is about $298,400.

Why is FBO jet fuel more expensive than the spot price?

FBO pricing includes transportation, storage, airport fees, into-plane service, labor, taxes, supplier margin, and the cost of maintaining fueling equipment.

Does jet fuel cost more than gasoline?

It can, but there is no fixed percentage difference. Refinery output, inventories, seasonal demand, specifications, taxes, and regional logistics affect each product differently.

Do airlines hedge jet-fuel prices?

Some airlines use derivatives or other price-risk tools, while others maintain little or no financial hedging. Physical contracts, fuel efficiency, and supply arrangements are also important.

Is sustainable aviation fuel cheaper?

No. SAF currently costs substantially more than conventional jet fuel in most markets, although tax incentives and regulatory programs can reduce the effective premium.