ESSO vs SHELL: Which is Cheaper Today?

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

Side-by-side comparison of ESSO (1437 UK stations) and SHELL (849 UK stations) using live Fuel Finder prices refreshed every 30 minutes.

Today's Prices, Head-to-Head

Fuel ESSO
1437 stations
SHELL
849 stations
Difference Saving on 60L fill Cheaper today
Unleaded (E10) 154.7p
1427 stations
156.2p
841 stations
1.5p £0.90 ESSO
Super Unleaded (E5) 174.1p
1325 stations
179.5p
838 stations
5.4p £3.24 ESSO
Diesel (B7) 174.5p
1422 stations
175.8p
842 stations
1.3p £0.78 ESSO
Premium Diesel (SDV) 194.4p
1076 stations
199.4p
800 stations
5.0p £3.00 ESSO

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

About each brand

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).

Shell is one of the UK's largest oil-major fuel networks, with branded forecourts spread across supermarket-free towns, motorway service areas and dealer-operated sites. Shell forecourts are typically more expensive than supermarkets on standard grades, reflecting higher operating costs and the absence of a grocery loss-leader model. Shell's main selling point is its premium fuel range: V-Power 99 octane super unleaded and V-Power Diesel both carry a proprietary additive pack marketed as keeping fuel injectors clean over time. Shell Go+ Rewards is Shell's loyalty app: members earn 1 point per litre on regular Shell fuel, 2 points per litre on V-Power, and every 10 qualifying visits (£10+ on fuel or £2+ in-shop) unlock a fuel discount voucher.

Loyalty & Highlights

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.
SHELL
  • V-Power: Shell's branded 99-octane super unleaded with proprietary cleaning additives.
  • V-Power Diesel: additive-branded premium diesel (SDV) sold alongside standard B7.
  • Shell Go+: 1 point/L regular Shell fuel, 2 points/L V-Power; every 10 visits unlocks a fuel discount voucher.
  • V-Power bonus: extra £3 fuel reward for every 300 litres of V-Power purchased.

Cheapest forecourts right now

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

Cheapest unleaded (E10)

ESSO
  • AL3 8HS FLAMSTEAD FILLING STATION 141.9p View
  • IP9 2JT ESSO SERVICE STATION 144.9p View
  • YO25 9EA KIRKBURN 146.7p View
SHELL
  • CM77 8QG SHELL WHITECOURT 145.9p View
  • BL2 3BH crompton way 145.9p View
  • M35 0BR failsworth service station 146.9p View

Cheapest diesel (B7)

ESSO
  • SY13 3JT SYCAMORE VIEW 159.9p View
  • IP9 2JT ESSO SERVICE STATION 162.9p View
  • YO25 9EA KIRKBURN 164.7p View
SHELL
  • SA68 0YH CROSSROADS GARAGE 163.9p View
  • OX12 9TE FUEL 24 ASSETS LTD 165.7p View
  • NG17 9BX DERBY ROAD GARAGE 165.9p View

Frequently Asked Questions

ESSO averages 154.7p per litre on Unleaded (E10), 1.5p cheaper than SHELL at 156.2p. That's about £0.90 off a 60-litre fill.

ESSO averages 174.1p per litre on Super Unleaded (E5), 5.4p cheaper than SHELL at 179.5p. That's about £3.24 off a 60-litre fill.

ESSO averages 174.5p per litre on Diesel (B7), 1.3p cheaper than SHELL at 175.8p. That's about £0.78 off a 60-litre fill.

ESSO averages 194.4p per litre on Premium Diesel (SDV), 5.0p cheaper than SHELL at 199.4p. That's about £3.00 off a 60-litre fill.

ESSO has 1437 reporting forecourts; SHELL has 849. 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.