How long is the petrol price cycle? (2026)

Recent petrol price-cycle lengths for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, with current ACCC guidance on how to use them.

By the FuelRadar teamUpdated 11 July 20261 min read

There is no single cycle length

Petrol price cycles differ by city and change over time. A cycle runs from one low point through a price rise and the following fall to the next low point. It is a retail pricing pattern, not a timetable set by wholesale fuel costs.

Recent cycle lengths by city

City	Average duration in 2025	What the number means
Sydney	About 5 weeks	An average only; the next cycle may be shorter or longer.
Melbourne	About 6 weeks	Use the current chart rather than a weekly rule.
Brisbane	About 6.5 weeks	The cycle does not stay tied to one weekday.
Adelaide	About 2.5 weeks	Check whether the current market is rising or easing.
Perth	About 1 week	FuelWatch also publishes tomorrow's notified prices.

Why the duration changes

Retailers do not all raise or lower prices at the same time. Local competition, the size of a price reset and retailer decisions can shorten or extend a cycle. Major supply or market disruptions can also make recent historical patterns less useful.

Which fuels and places have cycles?

The ACCC publishes buying tips for regular unleaded petrol in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Similar timing can apply to E10 and premium unleaded. Diesel and automotive LPG do not follow these cycles. The ACCC does not publish cycle buying tips for Canberra, Hobart, Darwin or most regional locations.

How to use the duration

Treat the historical duration as background. Check the current cycle position, then compare reported prices at nearby stations for the exact fuel grade your vehicle uses. If prices have started rising, compare stations because some retailers may not have moved yet. If the market is easing, check again closer to the time you need fuel.

Source

The cycle lengths above are from the ACCC petrol price-cycle guidance. Western Australian drivers can use FuelWatch to compare today and tomorrow prices.