BP vs ESSO: Which is Cheaper Today?

ESSO is cheaper on 4 of 4 fuel types compared today.

Side-by-side comparison of BP (1005 UK stations) and ESSO (1437 UK stations) using live Fuel Finder prices refreshed every 30 minutes.

Today's head-to-head About each brand Loyalty & highlights Cheapest forecourts FAQ

Today's Prices, Head-to-Head

Fuel BP
1005 stations		 ESSO
1437 stations		 Difference Saving on 60L fill Cheaper today
Unleaded (E10) 156.9p
998 stations		 154.7p
1427 stations		 2.2p £1.32 ESSO
Super Unleaded (E5) 176.6p
957 stations		 174.1p
1325 stations		 2.5p £1.50 ESSO
Diesel (B7) 176.5p
996 stations		 174.5p
1422 stations		 2.0p £1.20 ESSO
Premium Diesel (SDV) 196.5p
920 stations		 194.4p
1076 stations		 2.1p £1.26 ESSO

Averages exclude stations with price-correction flags. A 60L fill is used as a representative tank size.

About each brand

BP View brand page →

BP operates one of the UK's largest oil-major branded forecourt networks. Most BP sites are dealer-owned — BP sets the brand standards and supplies fuel, but pricing flex is delegated to the individual dealer operator, which is why BP prices vary more site-to-site than some peers. BP's premium fuel is BP Ultimate, available in both petrol (guaranteed 97 RON) and diesel (B7) grades with a proprietary ACTIVE detergent additive pack. At a smaller number of sites BP also sells Ultimate 102, a 102 RON super unleaded aimed at performance engines. The BPme loyalty app gives per-litre rewards on fuel and shop spend and lets you pay for fuel from your car at participating sites.

ESSO View brand page →

Esso operates one of the UK's larger oil-major branded forecourt networks and is often the cheapest of the three oil-major brands on standard grades. The Esso brand is owned by ExxonMobil but most UK sites are dealer-operated: Rontec, EG On The Move and independent retailers run the majority of Esso-branded forecourts. Many Esso sites are co-branded with Tesco Express or Sainsbury's Local convenience stores, making them a common fill-up-and-shop stop in residential areas. Esso's premium grade is Synergy Supreme+, a 99-octane E5 super unleaded with ExxonMobil's branded detergent additive pack. Esso is a Nectar collection partner, giving 1 Nectar point per litre of fuel (with occasional multiplier promotions on premium grades).

Loyalty & Highlights

BP
  • BP Ultimate Unleaded: 97 RON petrol with BP's ACTIVE detergent additives (ethanol-free, which is why it sits at 97 not 99 RON).
  • BP Ultimate 102: 102 RON super unleaded at a small number of sites, aimed at performance cars.
  • BP Ultimate Diesel: additive-branded premium diesel (B7) sold alongside standard B7.
  • BPme app: fuel rewards plus pay-from-your-car functionality at most UK BP stations.
ESSO
  • Synergy Supreme+: 99-octane E5 super unleaded with ExxonMobil's detergent additives.
  • Nectar: 1 point per litre of fuel at participating Esso stations.
  • Nectar redemption: 300 points = 5p/L off (minimum 10L fill) at participating Esso stations.
  • Co-branded with Tesco Express or Sainsbury's Local at many UK sites.

Cheapest forecourts right now

Top 3 sites for each brand, excluding stations with flagged prices.

Cheapest unleaded (E10)

BP
  • BT39 9AG N WATT & SON 139.9p View
  • WA5 7TY EUROPA BOULEVARD 143.9p View
  • HU11 4DB LONDIS SUPERMARKET 143.9p View
ESSO
  • AL3 8HS FLAMSTEAD FILLING STATION 141.9p View
  • IP9 2JT ESSO SERVICE STATION 144.9p View
  • WV10 0AB NO 80, 146.9p View

Cheapest diesel (B7)

BP
  • BT13 2BB SPAR STORES 159.9p View
  • BT38 8BX Eurospar Fortfield 160.9p View
  • BT6 9FH LADAS DRIVE FILLING STATION 161.9p View
ESSO
  • SY13 3JT SYCAMORE VIEW 159.9p View
  • IP9 2JT ESSO SERVICE STATION 162.9p View
  • PE1 5XL ESSO 164.9p View

Frequently Asked Questions

ESSO averages 154.7p per litre on Unleaded (E10), 2.2p cheaper than BP at 156.9p. That's about £1.32 off a 60-litre fill.

ESSO averages 174.1p per litre on Super Unleaded (E5), 2.5p cheaper than BP at 176.6p. That's about £1.50 off a 60-litre fill.

ESSO averages 174.5p per litre on Diesel (B7), 2.0p cheaper than BP at 176.5p. That's about £1.20 off a 60-litre fill.

ESSO averages 194.4p per litre on Premium Diesel (SDV), 2.1p cheaper than BP at 196.5p. That's about £1.26 off a 60-litre fill.

BP has 1005 reporting forecourts; ESSO has 1437. Figures reflect stations currently submitting prices to the UK Fuel Finder scheme.

Prices come from the UK government's Fuel Finder scheme, which requires large fuel retailers to publish pump prices. MPG Calc refreshes the data every 30 minutes.