Typical commuter
12,000 mi · 25 MPG · 480 gal
$197.38
+ $88.80 federal
All states
Jan. 1 2026Rank #11
Jan. 1 2026Rank #11Rhode Island Gas Tax 2026
40¢/gal excise + 1.12¢/gal fees = 41.12¢/gal state (59.62¢/gal with federal).
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
41.12¢/gal
State total
59.62¢/gal
Combined
$197.38
Annual state tax
#11
National rank
Rhode Island gasoline tax breakdown
Excise tax
40¢/gal
Other fees
1.12¢/gal
State total
41.12¢/gal
Combined w/ federal
59.62¢/gal
Rhode Island's 41.12¢/gal state total ranks #11 nationally and exceeds the 33.25¢/gal US average. Federal tax adds 18.5¢/gal everywhere.
Estimated annual gasoline tax in Rhode Island
State tax only (federal shown separately). Gallons = miles ÷ MPG.
Higher mileage
15,000 mi · 25 MPG · 600 gal
$246.72
+ $111.00 federal
30 MPG vehicle
12,000 mi · 30 MPG · 400 gal
$164.48
+ $74.00 federal
20 MPG vehicle
12,000 mi · 20 MPG · 600 gal
$246.72
+ $111.00 federal
Default headline: $197.38 state tax at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG (480 gallons).
Key takeaways — Rhode Island gas tax
- Rhode Island total state gasoline tax is 41.12¢/gal (40¢/gal excise + 1.12¢/gal other fees) in 2026.
- Combined with federal 18.5¢/gal, the tax component is about 59.62¢/gal per gallon.
- National rank #11 (#1 = highest). That is 7.87¢/gal above the 33.25¢/gal US average state tax.
- At 12,000 miles and 25 MPG, state tax is about $197.38 and combined federal+state about $286.18.
- Bordering jurisdictions range from 25¢/gal to 27.56¢/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.
Rhode Island vs neighboring states
Total state gasoline tax for jurisdictions that share a border with Rhode Island. Rhode Island is 41.12¢/gal (rank #11).
| State | State total | vs RI | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 41.12¢/gal | — | This page |
 Massachusetts | 27.56¢/gal | -13.56¢/gal | vs RI |
 Connecticut | 25¢/gal | -16.12¢/gal | vs RI |
*Annual state tax at 12,000 miles and 25 MPG. Federal tax excluded from the delta column.
Rhode Island tax on a typical fill-up
Tax dollars already included in the pump price at 41.12¢/gal state + federal.
10-gallon fill-up
$4.11
state · $5.96 w/ federal
15-gallon fill-up
$6.17
state · $8.94 w/ federal
20-gallon fill-up
$8.22
state · $11.92 w/ federal
How to read this page
Rhode Island gas tax overview (2026)
Rhode Island charges a total statewide gasoline tax of 41.12¢/gal as of January 1, 2026, per Tax Foundation Table 22. That breaks down to 40¢/gal in excise and 1.12¢/gal in other per-gallon fees.
Add the federal 18.5¢/gal for a combined tax component of 59.62¢/gal. Wholesale crude, refining, and station margins still make up most of the retail price.
Rank #11 places Rhode Island 7.87¢/gal above the 33.25¢/gal average across all 51 jurisdictions in this dataset.
What drivers in Rhode Island pay over a year
Using 12,000 miles at 25 MPG (480 gallons), state gasoline tax alone is about $197.38. Federal tax on the same gallons is about $88.80.
A 15-gallon fill-up carries roughly $6.17 in state tax ($8.94 including federal)—before any local add-ons.
If you often cross into Massachusetts, Connecticut, compare those rates before assuming Rhode Island is always the cheapest fill.
Planning fuel costs in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island gas tax page helps
Useful if…
- •Residents of Rhode Island estimating how much of each fill-up is tax.
- •Commuters weighing Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island gas tax checklist
Quick steps before treating the statewide average as your exact pump tax.
- 1Confirm Rhode Island's 41.12¢/gal state total and rank #11.
- 2Add federal 18.5¢/gal for a 59.62¢/gal combined tax component.
- 3Estimate annual cost with your miles ÷ MPG × rate.
- 4Ask whether local fuel taxes apply at your usual stations.
- 5Compare Rhode Island 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
North Carolina
Virginia
Florida
Oregon
Utah
OhioCompare Rhode Island with another state
Compare any two states
State gasoline tax rates with annual driving-cost estimates.
Rhode Island gasoline tax FAQs
Rhode Island's total state gasoline tax is 41.12¢/gal in 2026: 40¢/gal excise plus 1.12¢/gal in other per-gallon fees.
59.62¢/gal per gallon (41.12¢/gal state + 18.5¢/gal federal).
At 12,000 miles and 25 MPG (480 gallons), state tax is about $197.38 and federal tax about $88.80, for $286.18 combined.
Rhode Island ranks #11 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. Rhode Island may use a different diesel excise or fee schedule than the gasoline total shown here.
Rhode Island's 41.12¢/gal is above 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 $6.17 in state tax and $8.94 including federal 18.5¢/gal—already in the pump price.
Nearby state totals: Massachusetts 27.56¢/gal (-13.56¢/gal vs RI); Connecticut 25¢/gal (-16.12¢/gal vs RI). 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.