Typical commuter
12,000 mi · 25 MPG · 480 gal
$110.40
+ $88.80 federal
All states
Jan. 1 2026Rank #42
Jan. 1 2026Rank #42Delaware Gas Tax 2026
23¢/gal excise + 0¢/gal fees = 23¢/gal state (41.5¢/gal with federal).
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
23¢/gal
State total
41.5¢/gal
Combined
$110.40
Annual state tax
#42
National rank
Delaware gasoline tax breakdown
Excise tax
23¢/gal
Other fees
0¢/gal
State total
23¢/gal
Combined w/ federal
41.5¢/gal
Delaware's 23¢/gal state total ranks #42 nationally and is below the 33.25¢/gal US average. Federal tax adds 18.5¢/gal everywhere.
Estimated annual gasoline tax in Delaware
State tax only (federal shown separately). Gallons = miles ÷ MPG.
Higher mileage
15,000 mi · 25 MPG · 600 gal
$138.00
+ $111.00 federal
30 MPG vehicle
12,000 mi · 30 MPG · 400 gal
$92.00
+ $74.00 federal
20 MPG vehicle
12,000 mi · 20 MPG · 600 gal
$138.00
+ $111.00 federal
Default headline: $110.40 state tax at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG (480 gallons).
Key takeaways — Delaware gas tax
- Delaware total state gasoline tax is 23¢/gal (23¢/gal excise + 0¢/gal other fees) in 2026.
- Combined with federal 18.5¢/gal, the tax component is about 41.5¢/gal per gallon.
- National rank #42 (#1 = highest). That is 10.25¢/gal below the 33.25¢/gal US average state tax.
- At 12,000 miles and 25 MPG, state tax is about $110.40 and combined federal+state about $199.20.
- Bordering jurisdictions range from 46.21¢/gal to 58.7¢/gal in state tax.
- Local fuel taxes and (in CA/OR/WA) LCFS or cap-and-trade costs may raise what you actually pay at the pump.
Delaware vs neighboring states
Total state gasoline tax for jurisdictions that share a border with Delaware. Delaware is 23¢/gal (rank #42).
| State | State total | vs DE | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 23¢/gal | — | This page |
 Pennsylvania | 58.7¢/gal | +35.7¢/gal | vs DE |
 New Jersey | 49.15¢/gal | +26.15¢/gal | vs DE |
 Maryland | 46.21¢/gal | +23.21¢/gal | vs DE |
*Annual state tax at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG. Federal tax excluded from the delta column.
Delaware tax on a typical fill-up
Tax dollars already included in the pump price at 23¢/gal state + federal.
10-gallon fill-up
$2.30
state · $4.15 w/ federal
15-gallon fill-up
$3.45
state · $6.23 w/ federal
20-gallon fill-up
$4.60
state · $8.30 w/ federal
How to read this page
Delaware gas tax overview (2026)
Delaware charges a total statewide gasoline tax of 23¢/gal as of January 1, 2026, per Tax Foundation Table 22. That breaks down to 23¢/gal in excise and 0¢/gal in other per-gallon fees.
Add the federal 18.5¢/gal for a combined tax component of 41.5¢/gal. Wholesale crude, refining, and station margins still make up most of the retail price.
Rank #42 places Delaware 10.25¢/gal below the 33.25¢/gal average across all 51 jurisdictions in this dataset.
What drivers in Delaware pay over a year
Using 12,000 miles at 25 MPG (480 gallons), state gasoline tax alone is about $110.40. Federal tax on the same gallons is about $88.80.
A 15-gallon fill-up carries roughly $3.45 in state tax ($6.23 including federal)—before any local add-ons.
If you often cross into Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, compare those rates before assuming Delaware is always the cheapest fill.
Planning fuel costs in Delaware
Track miles and MPG for a realistic gallons estimate; tax scales directly with gallons purchased.
Diesel, aviation gasoline, and dyed fuel follow different federal and often different state schedules.
For tax-deductible business miles, use the IRS standard mileage rate or actual expenses—gas tax is already embedded in fuel cost and is not a separate personal income-tax line.
Who this Delaware gas tax page helps
Useful if…
- •Residents of Delaware estimating how much of each fill-up is tax.
- •Commuters weighing Delaware against a neighboring state’s pump taxes.
- •Small fleets budgeting annual fuel tax at known mileage.
- •Movers comparing offer packages that include a car commute.
Use official tools if…
- •You need an official refund, bonded fuel, or IFTA filing.
- •Your city adds a local fuel tax not in the statewide table.
- •You primarily buy diesel or alternative fuels.
- •You need a live retail price forecast rather than statutory rates.
Delaware gas tax checklist
Quick steps before treating the statewide average as your exact pump tax.
- 1Confirm Delaware's 23¢/gal state total and rank #42.
- 2Add federal 18.5¢/gal for a 41.5¢/gal combined tax component.
- 3Estimate annual cost with your miles ÷ MPG × rate.
- 4Ask whether local fuel taxes apply at your usual stations.
- 5Compare Delaware with a peer or neighbor before relocating for fuel savings alone.
- 6Recheck rates after mid-year reindexes if your state adjusts for inflation.
States with similar gasoline tax rates
| State | State total | Rank | Annual tax |
|---|---|---|---|
 North Dakota | 23.03¢/gal | #41 | $110.54 |
 New Hampshire | 23.75¢/gal | #40 | $114.00 |
 Nevada | 23.81¢/gal | #39 | $114.29 |
 Wyoming | 24¢/gal | #38 | $115.20 |
 New York | 24.18¢/gal | #37 | $116.06 |
 Mississippi | 21.4¢/gal | #43 | $102.72 |
Compare Delaware with another state
Compare any two states
State gasoline tax rates with annual driving-cost estimates.
Delaware gasoline tax FAQs
Delaware's total state gasoline tax is 23¢/gal in 2026: 23¢/gal excise plus 0¢/gal in other per-gallon fees.
41.5¢/gal per gallon (23¢/gal state + 18.5¢/gal federal).
At 12,000 miles and 25 MPG (480 gallons), state tax is about $110.40 and federal tax about $88.80, for $199.20 combined.
Delaware ranks #42 by total state gasoline tax among the 50 states, where #1 is the highest rate. Equal totals may share a rank or receive consecutive ranks in the Tax Foundation table.
This table excludes county and municipal fuel taxes. Some cities or counties add separate per-gallon levies not reflected in the statewide total.
Federal diesel tax is 24.5¢/gal. Delaware may use a different diesel excise or fee schedule than the gasoline total shown here.
Delaware's 23¢/gal is below the 33.25¢/gal average across all jurisdictions in this dataset.
Rates are statewide totals as of January 1, 2026 from Tax Foundation Table 22. Local fuel taxes, diesel-specific schedules, and implied environmental program costs (notably in CA, OR, and WA) may not be fully captured.
About $3.45 in state tax and $6.23 including federal 18.5¢/gal—already in the pump price.
Nearby state totals: Pennsylvania 58.7¢/gal (+35.7¢/gal vs DE); New Jersey 49.15¢/gal (+26.15¢/gal vs DE); Maryland 46.21¢/gal (+23.21¢/gal vs DE). Open a compare page for annual dollar gaps.
Many states periodically adjust excise rates; this page reflects Tax Foundation’s January 1, 2026 snapshot. Confirm the current statute or revenue department notice for the latest cents-per-gallon figure.
Personal commuting fuel is generally not deductible. Business or self-employed drivers usually claim the standard mileage rate or actual fuel expenses (which already include gas tax), not a separate state gas-tax credit.