How Much Is Petrol in Thailand, and How Do You Fill Up in Phuket?

As of 18 October 2026, a litre at PTT costs ฿41.44 for Gasohol 95, ฿41.07 for Gasohol 91, ฿35.69 for E20 and ฿42.94 for regular diesel. Prices are set by the state and change every week or two, and Bangchak, Shell and Caltex differ by a few tenths of a baht. The board at the station entrance shows the exact price for the day.

Gasohol is petrol blended with ethanol: the number in the name is the octane rating, and the letter E is the share of ethanol. Most cars in Phuket run on Gasohol 95, which every station sells. E20 is cheaper, but it should only go into cars officially approved for it; the fuel cap says so.

The grade stated in the contract and on the sticker by the fuel cap. Mixing up diesel and petrol at a Thai station is unlikely: the attendant fills up and double-checks the grade. But you are the one who names it, so at pickup ask the representative which fuel this particular car takes.

Hybrids take ordinary petrol, while diesel goes into pickups, large SUVs and some minivans. Electric cars need no petrol: ask the manager how to charge at pickup.

Thai petrol stations are full service: you name the grade and the amount or ask for a full tank, and the attendant fills up. You stay in the car, and tipping is not expected. Big chain stations almost always take cards; at small village stations, carry cash.

The main networks on the island are PTT, Bangchak, Shell and Caltex. Stations line Route 402 and are found in Phuket Town, Chalong, Thalang and near Patong; in the evening some stations in the south and hill areas close. Most have a shop, an Amazon café and a toilet, which makes them a handy stop on a long drive.

• Gasohol 95, full tank, please is all the attendant needs to hear
• In the south some stations close in the evening, so fill up ahead of time
• Before a long drive to Phang Nga or Krabi, fill the tank

Only in an emergency, to reach a proper station. The bottled petrol on roadside shelves is meant for scooters: nobody can tell you the grade or whether there is water in it, and a litre or two does little for a car. Coin pumps outside shops do show the grade, usually Gasohol 91 or 95, and if it matches the sticker on the fuel cap you can add a few litres. They pump slowly and in small amounts.

Better not to wait for the fuel light: chain stations line every main road on the island, but in the evening some in the south and the hills close. If the light comes on far from a station, message your MonkeyCar manager and they will point you to the nearest one.

• Roadside bottles: unknown grade and quality, not for a car
• Coin pump by a shop: grade is shown, enough to reach a station
• Fill the tank at a PTT, Bangchak, Shell or Caltex station

A compact car on a typical tourist day uses roughly ฿150–250 of fuel: the beach in the morning, lunch in another area, a sunset viewpoint. That means refuelling every three or four days. Hybrids are more economical in stop-start town driving and on hills. A diesel body-on-frame SUV uses more, but the gap narrows on long runs.

Real consumption in Phuket is higher than the official figure: climbs and descents, air conditioning on full and Patong traffic in high season. Budget roughly ฿1000–1500 for a week of active driving around the island. The full holiday budget with a car is worked out in how much car rental costs in Phuket.

• Compact: roughly ฿150–250 a day with active driving
• A week of driving around the island: roughly ฿1000–1500
• A long drive to Khao Lak or Krabi: roughly half a tank one way

Under the MonkeyCar contract the car is handed over with a full tank and returned full, and the fuel level is photographed at pickup and return. Before drop-off, stop at a station near the return point: on the way to the airport there are stations on Route 402. Keep the receipt with the date and time. If you could not refuel, the manager will tell you the refuelling cost and send a photo of the petrol station receipt; there is no service fee.