The Ford F-250 is a heavy-duty workhorse built to tow and haul far more than a half-ton pickup. That capability comes with a serious appetite for fuel, so the honest question is what it costs: how much does a Ford F-250 cost in gas per year?
Heavy-duty trucks play by different rules, including a quirk about fuel-economy ratings that surprises many buyers. Here is the real annual cost, for both the gas V8 and the Power Stroke diesel.
How much does a Ford F-250 cost in gas per year?
Your annual fuel bill comes down to three things: how far you drive, what you pay per gallon, and the vehicle’s MPG. The Ford F-250 returns about 14 MPG, so here is what a year of driving costs at three common mileage levels, using the current national average of roughly $3.91 a gallon.
| Miles driven per year | Annual gas cost | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 miles | $2,793 | $233 |
| 12,000 miles | $3,351 | $279 |
| 15,000 miles | $4,189 | $349 |
So the typical driver spends around $3,770 a year, or about $314 a month, on fuel in a Ford F-250. That works out to roughly $0.28 per mile in fuel alone. Pay less than the national average where you live and the bill drops; at $3.50 a gallon the 13,500-mile figure falls to about $3,375, while at $4.50 it climbs to around $4,339. Check what you actually pay on the live gas price tracker and plug it into the gas cost calculator for a number matched to your driving.
Zoom out and the figure gets your attention. Over five years, a typical Ford F-250 driver spends roughly $18,852 on fuel alone, and a decade of ownership close to double that. That is real money, which is exactly why fuel cost deserves a place in the buying decision alongside the sticker price and the monthly payment. A thriftier trim, engine, or drivetrain quietly pays you back at every fill-up.
What kind of MPG does the Ford F-250 really get?
Here is the twist: heavy-duty trucks like the F-250 weigh more than 8,500 pounds and are exempt from the EPA’s fuel-economy program, so they carry no official window-sticker MPG. Based on real-world driving, the gas 7.3-liter V8 typically returns about 13 to 15 MPG, while the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel does far better, often 18 to 20 MPG unloaded. Towing and four-wheel drive pull both figures down noticeably. Our estimates here use roughly 14 MPG for the gas V8.
Keep in mind that the window-sticker number is a lab figure. Real-world mileage usually lands 10 to 15% lower, shaped by short trips, cold starts, aggressive acceleration, roof racks, and under-inflated tires. The honest way to know your Ford F-250’s number is to measure it: fill up, note the odometer, and run the math through the MPG calculator, then confirm the gallons any trip will use with the fuel consumption calculator.
Monthly, weekly, and per-mile cost
Big annual numbers are easy to ignore, so break them down. At the typical 13,500 miles a year, a Ford F-250 runs about $314 a month and roughly $73 a week in fuel. On a per-mile basis that is about $0.28, but fuel is only part of what a mile really costs. Tires, oil, brakes, and depreciation stack on top, which is why the cost per mile calculator gives a truer picture of ownership. If most of your miles are a daily commute, the commute cost calculator shows exactly what that drive adds up to each month.
Here is a concrete example. A 30-mile round-trip commute five days a week comes to about 7,800 miles a year, which in a Ford F-250 means roughly $2,178 in commuting fuel alone, before you drive anywhere on the weekend. Small changes to that daily routine, carpooling twice a week, trimming one errand trip, or working from home a day, translate straight into fuel savings you can feel.
What changes your Ford F-250’s yearly fuel bill
Miles driven. This is the biggest lever by far. A 20,000-mile-a-year driver spends nearly double what a 10,000-mile driver does in the same vehicle, no matter how efficient it is.
Local fuel prices. Where you live matters enormously. The same Ford F-250 costs hundreds more per year in high-price states like California than in cheaper states. Compare your state on the gas prices by state page to see where you fall.
City versus highway. The Ford F-250’s highway number beats its city number, so a driver stuck in stop-and-go traffic burns more than the combined rating suggests. Smooth, steady highway miles are the cheapest kind, and in dollar terms a mostly-city driver can spend a few hundred dollars a year more than a highway commuter in the very same vehicle.
Fuel type. The F-250 comes as a gas V8 running on regular unleaded, or a Power Stroke diesel that uses diesel fuel, which is often priced differently from gasoline. Diesel costs more per gallon in many states but delivers more miles per gallon, so the real cost per mile can favor the diesel for heavy or high-mileage use. Check both gas and diesel prices in your state before you decide.
Driving style and upkeep. Hard acceleration, speeding, and a neglected air filter or soft tires all quietly raise the bill. Gentle inputs and basic maintenance protect the MPG you paid for.
How the Ford F-250 compares
Against other heavy-duty trucks, the F-250 is typical, trading blows with the Ram 2500 and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. None are efficient by car standards, because they are built to work, not to sip. The diesel is the clear economy choice for high-mileage owners, especially those who tow, where its efficiency and torque both shine.
If you are curious whether an electric vehicle would be cheaper to run than the Ford F-250, the EV vs gas by state tool lays the two side by side using your local energy and fuel prices, which is the only fair way to compare.
How to cut your Ford F-250’s fuel costs
- If you tow or drive a lot, the Power Stroke diesel can lower your cost per mile despite higher fuel prices.
- Do not tow or carry heavy loads you do not need to; weight is the biggest fuel penalty on an HD truck.
- Buy on cheaper days with our best day to buy gas guide and track both gas and diesel with a gas price app.
- Keep tires inflated and avoid four-wheel drive on dry pavement.
- Compare fuel prices by state on the gas prices by state page, since a thirsty truck magnifies every difference.
Does fuel economy matter when buying a Ford F-250?
More than most buyers realize. Two versions of the same vehicle with different MPG can differ by hundreds of dollars a year at the pump, and over a typical ownership period that gap can rival the price difference between trims or engines. When you compare a Ford F-250 against rivals, or one Ford F-250 engine against another, it pays to look past the monthly payment and fold the yearly fuel cost into the total. A slightly pricier but thriftier version often costs less to own once the fuel is counted.
This is also where a hybrid, a smaller engine, or an efficient drivetrain earns its keep. Run the versions you are considering through the gas cost calculator side by side, and if you are open to going electric, the EV vs gas by state tool shows how charging would compare with fueling a Ford F-250 where you live.
So, is the Ford F-250 cheap to run?
Not by any normal standard, and no heavy-duty buyer expects it to be. The F-250 is thirsty because it is built to tow and haul heavy loads. If you genuinely need that capability, the fuel cost is simply part of the job, and choosing the Power Stroke diesel meaningfully softens the blow for high-mileage work.
How we calculate these figures
The math is transparent: annual fuel cost = (miles driven ÷ MPG) × price per gallon. One catch with the F-250: heavy-duty trucks over 8,500 pounds are exempt from the EPA’s fuel-economy program, so there is no official window-sticker MPG. The figures here are real-world estimates, roughly 13 to 15 MPG for the gas V8 and closer to 18 to 20 for the Power Stroke diesel, paired with an assumed 13,500 miles a year and current fuel prices from the EIA weekly survey.
Pump prices trace to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly retail survey, refreshed on our state price pages every business day. For your exact trim, engine, and model year, confirm the rating and measure your real-world MPG with the MPG calculator. Read how we source everything on our methodology and sources pages.
Figures reviewed by Alex Morgan · Last reviewed: July 12, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Ford F-250 cost in gas per year?
Roughly $3,770 a year for the gas V8 at about 14 MPG and $3.91 a gallon over 13,500 miles. The Power Stroke diesel uses less fuel but diesel often costs more per gallon.
What is the Ford F-250’s MPG?
Heavy-duty trucks are exempt from EPA ratings, so there is no official figure. Real-world, expect about 13 to 15 MPG for the gas V8 and 18 to 20 for the diesel.
Why does the F-250 have no official MPG rating?
Trucks over 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight are exempt from the EPA’s fuel-economy program, so they do not carry a window-sticker MPG number.
Is the gas or diesel F-250 cheaper to run?
The diesel uses less fuel and shines when towing, but diesel often costs more per gallon. For high-mileage or heavy-towing use, the diesel usually wins on cost per mile.
How much does a Ford F-250 cost in fuel per month?
Roughly $314 a month for the gas V8 at typical mileage, with the diesel’s monthly cost depending on local diesel prices and how you use the truck.
The bottom line
Expect a Ford F-250 to cost around $3,770 a year in fuel for a typical driver, or about $314 a month, with your real number rising or falling on your mileage and local prices. On running costs, the Ford F-250 is thirsty, as heavy-duty trucks are for its class, and a few simple habits shave even more off the total.
Want your exact figure? Run your mileage through the gas cost calculator and check today’s prices in your state. To see what fuel-saving habits are worth, try the fuel savings calculator.