Here's What Day You Should Be Buying Your Gas, According to a Study

Gas prices are always a big conversation point, perhaps now more than ever.

With the summer driving season upon us and the cost of filling up one's tank having surged in recent months, that is true now more than ever.

Everyone is looking to save a few bucks here and there, a new study reveals one big way to do just that.

When is gas cheapest in your state?

For nearly 2/3rds of states, Monday is the best day to fill up according to an analysis of price data from GasBuddy by Delancey Street.

The Monday group represents a cross section of the country, including Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and New York. (Find the full list below.)

A smaller group of states - 13 - are better off fulling up on Sunday, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida and Illinois, while one state came in cheapest on Saturday (Nebraska).

When is gas the most expensive in your state?

In looking at the worst day to buy gas, a similar cluster can be found with 32 states' most expensive day falling on a Wednesday.

Ohio, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Missouri, Utah, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia fell into that group.

Another 11 states had the most expensive gas on Tuesday, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia and Indiana, so there seems to be a small window to act when prices fall at the beginning of the week in many states.

The exceptions are Colorado and Iowa (most expensive on Saturday) and Minnesota, West Virginia and Wisconsin (most expensive on Sunday).

The difference from Monday to Wednesday in the biggest group of states was more than 30 cents, jumping form $2.98 on Monday to $3.30 on Wednesdays.

Full results

Try to buy gas on Sunday if you live in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa

Monday might be better if you live in Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Conversely, try to fill up before Tuesday if you live in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana. That's when it is most expensive in those states according to the analysis.

You've got until Wednesday if you reside in Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

Why the fluctuations?

A study by AAA found the national average for a gallon of regular gas as $4.56, or $.138 higher than last year, but AAA also found gas prices declining slightly last week as peace talks continue between the United States and Iran to end the conflict that has roiled prices for months.

Reader's Digest quoted GasBuddy head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan say site isn't quite sure, but they suspect the Energy Information Administration releasing a status report every Wednesday on the price of crude oil could be the culprit.

GasBuddy itself published a study in February finding Sunday was generally the best day to buy gas with some exceptions. That was after accounting for seasonal shifts.

"Gas prices don't just move based on global oil markets. They also follow a weekly rhythm," De Haan said in the release. "For most drivers, Sunday is the safest bet for finding lower prices, while filling up mid-week can mean paying more."

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 11:39 AM.