Timing is Key: GasBuddy Finds Mid-Week Prices Tend to Rise, Weekends Offer Savings

Is there a day in the week when you'll save the most money when filling your gas tank? Is there a day that's the most expensive? Officials at GasBuddy say yes to both questions.

THE BEST DAY TO FILL YOUR TANK IN WA

In fact GasBuddy has released an updated analysis identifying the cheapest and most expensive days of the week to buy gas in every state. In Washington state GasBuddy officials say Sunday is the most consistently affordable day to fill up not only in Washington but in the majority of states.

DON'T FILL THE TANK ON THIS DAY

GasBuddy says the most expensive day in the state is Thursday. The GasBuddy research actually shows that Wednesday through Friday are the most expensive days to fill the tank. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy says in Washington and many other states prices slowly rise during the week before lowering as the weekends approach. He says that creates a window for drivers to save simply by filling up on the most affordable day. So it's really all about timing.

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SO HOW MUCH WILL YOU SAVE ON A SUNDAY FILL?

De Haan says if you fill up on a Sunday in Yakima you'll be able to save 4 to 9 cents per gallon with little effort. “Gas prices don’t just move based on global oil markets — they also follow a weekly rhythm,” says De Haan. “For most drivers, Sunday is the safest bet for finding lower prices, while filling up mid-week can mean paying more.”

THERE'S A METHOD TO THIS FORMULA

How did GasBuddy come up with this information?
GasBuddy analyzed daily statewide average gasoline prices over the past year and normalized prices within each week to identify consistent weekday pricing patterns independent of seasonal trends.