How Many Gallons of Gas Does an Ounce of Silver Buy?
Today an ounce of silver buys about 13 US gallons (48 litres) of regular gasoline: silver at $54.57 an ounce and gas at $4.28 a gallon (US average, week of October 19). Since 1990 the average is 6.1 gallons; the high was 40 (January 26, 2026) and the low 2.3 (September 5, 2005). Today's ratio is higher than 97% of weeks since 1990.
Gallons of gasoline per ounce of silver, weekly since 1990
US regular gasoline, all formulations, incl. taxesDiesel
An ounce of silver buys about 8.7 gallons of on-highway diesel today ($6.28 a gallon, week of Oct 19), against an average of 5.7 gallons since 1994.
Silver and Gas Prices by Year
Yearly averages of the weekly figures; the ratio's high and low within each year.
| Year | Silver (avg, $/oz) | Gas (avg, $/gal) | Gallons per ounce (avg) | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | $72.00 | $3.86 | 19 | 40 | 13 |
| 2025 | $40.10 | $3.10 | 13 | 25 | 9.1 |
| 2024 | $28.23 | $3.30 | 8.6 | 11 | 6.9 |
| 2023 | $23.41 | $3.52 | 6.7 | 7.8 | 5.6 |
| 2022 | $21.72 | $3.95 | 5.6 | 7.7 | 4.1 |
| 2021 | $25.24 | $3.01 | 8.5 | 12 | 6.7 |
| 2020 | $20.66 | $2.17 | 9.6 | 14 | 5.7 |
| 2019 | $16.15 | $2.60 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 5.1 |
| 2018 | $15.66 | $2.72 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 4.9 |
| 2017 | $17.02 | $2.41 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 6.3 |
| 2016 | $17.08 | $2.14 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 6.8 |
| 2015 | $15.70 | $2.43 | 6.5 | 8.8 | 5.3 |
| 2014 | $19.06 | $3.36 | 5.7 | 6.8 | 5.1 |
| 2013 | $23.72 | $3.50 | 6.8 | 9.6 | 5.4 |
| 2012 | $31.09 | $3.62 | 8.6 | 9.9 | 7.5 |
| 2011 | $35.24 | $3.52 | 10.0 | 12 | 8.5 |
| 2010 | $20.17 | $2.78 | 7.2 | 10 | 5.7 |
| 2009 | $14.65 | $2.35 | 6.3 | 7.6 | 5.1 |
| 2008 | $14.98 | $3.25 | 4.7 | 6.7 | 2.9 |
| 2007 | $13.39 | $2.80 | 4.8 | 6.2 | 4.0 |
| 2006 | $11.48 | $2.57 | 4.5 | 6.1 | 3.5 |
| 2005 | $7.30 | $2.27 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 2.3 |
| 2004 | $6.70 | $1.85 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 2.8 |
| 2003 | $4.89 | $1.56 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 2.6 |
| 2002 | $4.59 | $1.34 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 3.0 |
| 2001 | $4.36 | $1.42 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 2.5 |
| 2000 | $4.97 | $1.48 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 3.0 |
| 1999 | $5.22 | $1.14 | 4.7 | 6.3 | 4.0 |
| 1998 | $5.53 | $1.03 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 4.7 |
| 1997 | $4.91 | $1.20 | 4.1 | 5.7 | 3.6 |
| 1996 | $5.19 | $1.20 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 3.8 |
| 1995 | $5.22 | $1.11 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| 1994 | $5.28 | $1.07 | 4.9 | 5.7 | 4.3 |
| 1993 | $4.31 | $1.07 | 4.0 | 5.1 | 3.4 |
| 1992 | $3.95 | $1.09 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.3 |
| 1991 | $4.05 | $1.10 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 3.3 |
| 1990 | $4.53 | $1.30 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 3.0 |
Silver-to-Gas Ratio: FAQ
How many gallons of gas does an ounce of silver buy?
Today an ounce of silver buys about 13 US gallons (48 litres) of regular gasoline: silver at $54.57 an ounce and gas at $4.28 a gallon (US average, week of October 19). Since 1990 the average is 6.1 gallons; the high was 40 (January 26, 2026) and the low 2.3 (September 5, 2005). Today's ratio is higher than 97% of weeks since 1990.
What is the silver-to-gas ratio?
It is the price of one troy ounce of silver divided by the price of one US gallon of regular gasoline, so it shows how much fuel silver can buy. A rising ratio means silver has gained purchasing power against gasoline; a falling ratio means gas has become relatively more expensive.
When was silver worth the most gasoline?
The highest weekly reading since 1990 was 40 gallons per ounce in the week of January 26, 2026, when silver was $115.08 and gas $2.85 a gallon.
When was silver worth the least gasoline?
The lowest was 2.3 gallons per ounce in the week of September 5, 2005 (silver $7.00, gas $3.07).
How many gallons of diesel does an ounce of silver buy?
About 8.7 gallons of on-highway diesel at $6.28 a gallon (US average, week of October 19), against an average of 5.7 since 1994.
Where do these numbers come from?
Gasoline and diesel: the US Energy Information Administration's weekly survey of retail prices including taxes, published every Monday and taken from FRED. Silver: this site's daily US-dollar closing price (COMEX futures from 2000, the London price before). Each week uses the silver close on or just before the survey date.
Sources: EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (public domain) via FRED; silver: this site's daily closes. Today's figure uses the live silver price and the latest weekly gas survey. Not investment advice. See also: silver price history · oil price history.