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Gasoline explained Use of gasoline

Gasoline is the primary U.S. transportation fuel

In 2022, Americans used about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline (about 368.63 million gallons per day) and about 0.19 billion gallons of finished aviation gasoline. Motor gasoline is one of the most consumed fuels in the United States and the main product that U.S. oil refineries produce. Most of the finished motor gasoline sold for vehicles in the United States is about 10% fuel ethanol by volume.

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Most gasoline is used in cars and light trucks

Source: Stock photography (copyrighted)

U.S. consumers use gasoline in:

  • Cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, and motorcycles
  • Recreational vehicles and boats
  • Small aircraft
  • Equipment and tools used in construction, farming, forestry, and landscaping
  • Electricity generators for portable and emergency power supply

In 2022, total gasoline consumption, based on energy content, accounted for about 57% of total energy consumption in the transportation sector and 16% of U.S. total energy consumption, and based on volume, 45% of total petroleum consumption.1

Light-duty vehicles (cars, sport utility vehicles, and small trucks) account for about 91% of all gasoline consumption in the United States.2

Texas and California consume the most gasoline

Gasoline use various among the states, but Texas and California have historically accounted for the largest shares of total U.S. motor gasoline consumption.

Top five total gasoline-consuming states, 2021
State Million barrels/day Million gallons/day Share of U.S. total gasoline consumption
Texas 0.92 38.55 11%
California 0.79 33.31 9%
Florida 0.49 20.62 6%
New York 0.33 14.01 4%
Georgia 0.32 13.65 4%

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum and Other Liquids—Prime Supplier Sales Volumes, as of June 8, 2022. The Prime Supplier Report has been suspended.

1 Total gasoline includes finished aviation gasoline and finished motor gasoline including fuel ethanol. Source: Monthly Energy Review, April 2023.

2 Estimates from the Annual Energy Outlook 2023, Reference case, Table 36, April 2023.

Last updated: August 22, 2023, with data available from reports as indicated; data for 2022 are preliminary.