The Ford F-150 does 17.8 mpg combined (15.9 city, 21 highway), which works out to about $2,157 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3L 6-cyl does 24.3 mpg while 5.4L 8-cyl does 15 — a difference of $980 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Ford F-150 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Ford F-150 ranges from 24.3 down to 15 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $980 a year across 10 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl | 21.3 / 28.8 | 2018–2021 | $1,580 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid | 23.7 / 24.8 | 2021–2026 | $1,587 | |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 19.1 / 25.4 | 2015–2026 | $1,786 | |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 17 / 22.7 | 2011–2014 | $2,021 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 16 / 22 | 2012–2012 | $2,021 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 14.7 / 20.4 | 1984–2026 | $2,286 | |
| 4.9L 6-cyl | 14.8 / 19 | 1984–1996 | $2,356 | |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 14.3 / 19 | 1997–2008 | $2,370 | |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 13.8 / 18.8 | 1997–2010 | $2,430 | |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 13 / 18 | 2004–2004 | $2,560 |
What that actually costs
The Ford F-150 burns a gallon every 17.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 674 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.180 |
| Fuel per year | $2,157 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,785 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$228 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,621 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Ford F-150 gives up 5.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21 out there against 15.9 in town, a 32% drop worth $586 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 15.9 mpg | $2,415 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21 mpg | $1,829 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.1 mpg (32%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the F-150 changed over the years
The F-150 peaked in 2021 at 22.7 mpg (20.7 city, 25.7 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1992 at 14.5 — 8.2 mpg apart, or $956 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 21.3. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19.3 / 24.7 | 3 | $1,803 | |
| 2025 | 19 / 24.3 | 3 | $1,829 | |
| 2024 | 19 / 24.3 | 3 | $1,829 | |
| 2023 | 20.7 / 25.3 | 3 | $1,722 | |
| 2022 | 20.7 / 25 | 3 | $1,722 | |
| 2021 | 20.7 / 25.7 | 3 | $1,692 | |
| 2020 | 19 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2019 | 19.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2018 | 19.5 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2017 | 17 / 24 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2016 | 16.5 / 23 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2015 | 17 / 24 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2014 | 16 / 22 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2013 | 16 / 22 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2012 | 15.5 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2011 | 16 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2010 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2009 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2008 | 14 / 19 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2007 | 13.5 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 2006 | 13.5 / 18 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 2005 | 13.5 / 18 | 2 | $2,560 | |
| 2004 | 13.5 / 18 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 2003 | 14 / 19 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2002 | 14.5 / 19 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 2001 | 14 / 19 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2000 | 14 / 19 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 1999 | 14 / 19 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 1998 | 14.5 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 1997 | 14.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,327 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 90 EPA ratings of the Ford F-150 — 10 engines across 1984–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,621. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Ford F-150 get?
17.8 mpg combined on average — 15.9 in the city and 21 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1984–2026.
How much does a Ford F-150 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,157 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,785 over five years, or 0.180 dollars a mile.
Which F-150 engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 24.3 mpg, against 15 for the 5.4L 8-cyl — a difference of about $980 a year.
Is the F-150 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world F-150 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Ford F-150 is $3,621 against the $2,157 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 14 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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