E10 vs E5 Petrol: Which Should You Buy?

At most UK stations you will see two kinds of unleaded petrol, E10 and E5. Here is what the labels mean and which one makes sense for your car.

What do E10 and E5 mean?

The number is the maximum percentage of ethanol blended into the petrol.

• E10: up to 10% ethanol. It has been the standard grade of unleaded petrol in the UK since September 2021.
• E5: up to 5% ethanol. It is sold as premium or super unleaded, usually with a higher octane rating (97 or above).

Can my car use E10?

Most petrol cars built since around 2011 can use E10 without a problem. Some older cars, classic cars and certain motorbikes and mopeds cannot. Check your owner's handbook, ask the manufacturer, or use the government's vehicle checker on GOV.UK. If your car cannot use E10, the standard petrol it needs is E5.

How much more does E5 cost?

On 27 October, the average prices in our database were:

That is a gap of around 16.6p a litre. On a 55-litre tank, E5 costs roughly £9.13 more than E10. Over a year of fortnightly fills that is more than £200.

Does E5 give better mpg?

E10 contains slightly less energy per litre than E5, so some drivers see a small fall in fuel economy. The difference is usually small, and it rarely makes up for the higher price of E5. If your car is happy on E10, the cheaper fuel is almost always the cheaper way to drive.

When is E5 worth it?

• Your car cannot run on E10 (check first).
• Your handbook requires a higher octane fuel, which is common on high-performance engines.
• You are storing a car, motorbike or garden machine for a long time, since ethanol can attract moisture.

For most ordinary family cars, none of these apply. We look at the wider question in is premium unleaded worth the extra?

How to compare prices for your fuel

When you search on Petrol Prices Today, choose E10 or E5 at the top. The ranking and the map then show the price for that grade only. Always check your car's requirements before you switch.

Related: cost per mile for petrol vs diesel.

Compare prices in your city: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, or see petrol prices by city.