SHELL vs TESCO: Which is Cheaper Today?

TESCO is cheaper on 3 of 3 fuel types compared today.

Side-by-side comparison of SHELL (849 UK stations) and TESCO (516 UK stations) using live Fuel Finder prices refreshed every 30 minutes.

Today's Prices, Head-to-Head

Fuel SHELL
849 stations
TESCO
516 stations
Difference Saving on 60L fill Cheaper today
Unleaded (E10) 156.2p
841 stations
152.3p
516 stations
3.9p £2.34 TESCO
Super Unleaded (E5) 179.5p
838 stations
161.6p
461 stations
17.9p £10.74 TESCO
Diesel (B7) 175.8p
842 stations
171.0p
516 stations
4.8p £2.88 TESCO

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

About each brand

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.

Tesco is one of the UK's largest supermarket fuel retailers, with filling stations attached to most of its Extra and Superstore branches. Fuel at Tesco is largely a convenience product designed to drive grocery footfall, which is why prices sit close to other supermarkets and typically undercut oil-major brands like Shell and BP on standard grades. Tesco forecourts adjust their prices locally, so sites near other supermarkets tend to be more aggressive than rural Tesco sites with less nearby competition. Tesco is a Clubcard partner on fuel, with the standard collection rate at 1 point per 2 litres and enhanced rates for Clubcard Pay+ and Tesco Bank credit card holders.

Loyalty & Highlights

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.
TESCO
  • Clubcard: 1 point per 2 litres of fuel at standard rate; 1 point per litre with Clubcard Pay+ or a Tesco Bank credit card.
  • Fuels available: E10 unleaded, E5 Momentum 99 super unleaded, and B7 diesel. Momentum 99 is only at larger Tesco Extra sites.
  • Price-matched locally — Tesco sites near other supermarkets track those competitors closely.
  • No Tesco presence on motorway service areas — use Shell, BP or MOTO sites on long journeys.

Cheapest forecourts right now

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

Cheapest unleaded (E10)

SHELL
  • CM77 8QG SHELL WHITECOURT 145.9p View
  • BL2 3BH crompton way 145.9p View
  • M35 0BR failsworth service station 146.9p View
TESCO
  • WN7 4BA TESCO EXTRA, THE LOOM 144.9p View
  • KA8 0QA TESCO STORES LTD 144.9p View
  • WV2 4NJ MARSTON ROAD 144.9p View

Cheapest diesel (B7)

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
TESCO
  • NG6 8EQ 35 JENNISON STREET 163.9p View
  • M43 6TQ MANCHESTER RD 163.9p View
  • NG5 9DD SERVICE STATION 163.9p View

Frequently Asked Questions

TESCO averages 152.3p per litre on Unleaded (E10), 3.9p cheaper than SHELL at 156.2p. That's about £2.34 off a 60-litre fill.

TESCO averages 161.6p per litre on Super Unleaded (E5), 17.9p cheaper than SHELL at 179.5p. That's about £10.74 off a 60-litre fill.

TESCO averages 171.0p per litre on Diesel (B7), 4.8p cheaper than SHELL at 175.8p. That's about £2.88 off a 60-litre fill.

SHELL has 849 reporting forecourts; TESCO has 516. 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.