Reference · Fuel type classification
Understanding Fuel Grades & Octane Ratings
If you are visiting from outside Europe, the "Euro 95" label on European pumps and on this site may be unfamiliar. This guide explains what each grade means, how European grades compare with those in the US, UK and the rest of the world, and why the number on the pump changes depending on where you are standing.
Quick answer
Euro 95 is the standard unleaded petrol sold across Europe, rated at 95 RON (Research Octane Number). It is not the same as US "Regular" (87 AKI). In US terms Euro 95 sits between mid-grade (89 AKI) and premium (91 AKI). The fuel is comparable; the two continents simply measure octane on different scales.
Every fuel grade, one by one
The weekly country averages on fuel-prices.eu come from the European Commission Oil Bulletin, which tracks two grades for all 27 EU member states: Euro 95 petrol and EN 590 diesel. The live station map goes wider and shows whatever the national source publishes, which in several markets includes 98 RON, E85, LPG, CNG and LNG.
The default unleaded petrol in Europe, sold at virtually every station in the EU. This is what most European petrol cars run on and the grade behind the country averages here.
The common European premium grade, sold under names such as Super Plus, V-Power, Ultimate or Excellium. Useful for engines that specify a higher minimum RON; for everything else it buys little beyond a higher price per litre.
A niche top grade offered by a handful of brands in a handful of countries. Sold as V-Power Racing, Ultimate 102 or similar, and priced well above 98 RON.
Not separate octane grades but ethanol content labels on 95 RON petrol: up to 5 percent for E5 and up to 10 percent for E10. E10 has slightly lower energy per litre. Most cars built after 2011 accept E10; some older engines do not.
Up to 85 percent ethanol, sold mainly in France and Sweden and used by flex-fuel cars or cars fitted with a conversion kit. Cheap per litre but consumption rises noticeably, so the cost per 100 km gap is smaller than the pump price suggests.
European road diesel to the EN 590 standard, with a maximum of 10 ppm sulfur. Diesel cars remain a large share of the European fleet, which is why diesel is one of the two grades in the weekly bulletin.
Additive-enhanced diesel sold as V-Power Diesel, Ultimate Diesel, Excellium or similar. Same EN 590 base with a higher cetane number and detergent package.
A propane and butane mix for converted petrol cars, priced far below petrol per litre but with lower energy content, so consumption is higher. Widely available in Italy, Poland and the Netherlands.
Methane, sold compressed for cars (CNG, by the kilogram) and liquefied for trucks (LNG). Italy has by far the densest CNG network in Europe. Because it is priced per kilogram, it cannot be compared litre-for-litre with petrol.
RON vs AKI — two scales, same fuel
European octane numbers look higher than American ones not because the fuel is better, but because the two continents use different measurement systems. It works like Celsius and Fahrenheit: the temperature is identical, the number on the thermometer is not.
RON — Research Octane Number
Used in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America, and most of the rest of the world. It is measured by running the fuel in a standard test engine at 600 rpm under controlled conditions. This is the number printed on European pumps.
MON — Motor Octane Number
The same test engine run harder: 900 rpm, preheated intake air, variable ignition timing. MON is always lower than RON for the same fuel, typically by 8 to 12 points. It is rarely displayed on its own, but it is half of the American number.
AKI — Anti-Knock Index
Used in the United States, Canada and Brazil, and calculated as the average of the two: AKI = (RON + MON) / 2. Because MON drags the average down, an AKI figure lands roughly 4 to 6 points below the RON figure for the same fuel. US pumps sometimes print the formula as "(R+M)/2" right on the label.
Octane conversion table
Approximate equivalences between European (RON) and US or Canadian (AKI) grades. The conversion is not a fixed ratio — it depends on the composition of the batch — but these are the widely accepted mappings.
| Europe (RON) | US / Canada (AKI) | European name | US name | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 RON | 87 AKI | — | Regular | Rarely sold in Europe |
| 95 RON | 90-91 AKI | Euro 95 / Super | Mid-grade to Premium | Tracked on this site |
| 98 RON | 93 AKI | Euro 98 / Super Plus | Premium / Supreme | Live prices only |
| 100 RON | 95 AKI | V-Power Racing / Ultimate | High-performance | Not at every pump |
What petrol is called around the world
The liquid is the same everywhere; the words are not. If you are reading about fuel prices across borders, this is the short reference.
This site says "Euro 95" because that is the exact specification the European Commission tracks, and therefore the most precise label for the data shown.
A closer look at European diesel
Diesel is more standardised globally than petrol. European EN 590 diesel and US Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel are functionally the same product; both cap sulfur at 10 to 15 ppm. The real difference is market share, with diesel passenger cars far more common in Europe than in the US.
Diesel is not rated by octane at all. Its ignition quality is measured by cetane number — the higher the cetane, the more readily the fuel ignites under compression. European road diesel is typically 51 cetane or better, and premium diesel grades reach 55 or more.
One seasonal detail worth knowing: European diesel is sold in summer and winter blends. Winter diesel has a lower cold filter plugging point so it will not gel in freezing conditions, which is why the same pump can dispense a slightly different product in January and in July.
Frequently asked questions
What is Euro 95 gasoline?
Euro 95 is the standard unleaded petrol sold across Europe, rated at 95 RON (Research Octane Number). It conforms to the EN 228 specification and is the petrol grade tracked by the European Commission Oil Bulletin. In US terms it sits between mid-grade and premium, around 90-91 AKI.
What is the difference between RON and AKI octane ratings?
They are two different ways of measuring the same property. RON (Research Octane Number) is used in Europe, Australia and most of the world. AKI (Anti-Knock Index) is used in the United States and Canada and is the average of RON and MON: AKI = (RON + MON) / 2. Because MON is always lower than RON, an AKI number is roughly 4 to 6 points lower than the RON number for the same fuel.
Is Euro 95 the same as US regular gasoline?
No. US regular is 87 AKI, which corresponds to roughly 91-92 RON. Euro 95 is 95 RON, so it is closer to US mid-grade (89 AKI) or low premium (91 AKI). A grade equivalent to US regular is rarely sold in Europe.
What octane should I use in a rental car in Europe?
Unless the car requires otherwise, Euro 95 is the default petrol grade and is what almost every European petrol car runs on. Check the sticker inside the fuel filler flap: it states the fuel type and, for petrol cars, the minimum RON. Filling a petrol car with diesel, or the reverse, is the mistake to avoid.
What is the difference between E5 and E10 petrol?
E5 contains up to 5 percent ethanol and E10 up to 10 percent. Both are sold as 95 RON, so the octane classification is identical; only the ethanol content differs. E10 gives marginally lower energy content per litre. Most cars built after 2011 are E10 compatible, but some older engines are not, so check the manufacturer list before filling.
Is European diesel different from US diesel?
Functionally they are the same product. European automotive diesel meets the EN 590 standard with a maximum of 10 ppm sulfur, and US Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD #2) is capped at 15 ppm. Diesel is not rated by octane but by cetane number: European diesel is typically 51 cetane or higher.
What does Super Plus, V-Power or Ultimate mean?
These are brand names for higher-octane petrol, usually 98 RON (about 93 AKI) and sometimes 100 RON. They are premium grades and are not tracked by the EU Oil Bulletin, so they do not appear in the weekly country averages on this site. Live station prices on fuel-prices.eu do include 98 RON where the source publishes it.
Which fuel grades does fuel-prices.eu track?
The weekly country averages cover two grades: Euro 95 petrol and EN 590 diesel, as published by the European Commission Oil Bulletin. The live station map goes wider and shows, depending on the market and the official source, 95 and 98 RON petrol, E5, E10 and E85, diesel, LPG, CNG and LNG.
Now look at the prices
Now that the grades make sense, here is where the numbers live.