Cushing, Oklahoma held 27.0 million barrels of crude oil in the week ending October 23, 2026, down 0.6 million barrels on the week, according to the EIA. That is 4.4 million barrels above the same week a year earlier.
| Week ending | Cushing stocks (million bbl) | Weekly change |
|---|---|---|
| October 23, 2026 | 27.0 | −0.6 |
| October 16, 2026 | 27.6 | +1.0 |
| October 9, 2026 | 26.6 | +1.9 |
| October 2, 2026 | 24.7 | +0.4 |
| September 25, 2026 | 24.3 | +0.6 |
| September 18, 2026 | 23.7 | +2.3 |
| September 11, 2026 | 21.5 | −0.3 |
| September 4, 2026 | 21.8 | −0.7 |
| August 28, 2026 | 22.5 | +0.1 |
| August 21, 2026 | 22.4 | +1.2 |
| August 14, 2026 | 21.3 | −1.3 |
| August 7, 2026 | 22.6 | +1.6 |
Source: EIA, Cushing, OK ending stocks excluding SPR of crude oil. New data normally arrives on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. ET.
How Full Is Cushing?
Reported stocks mean little without a sense of scale. The EIA's last storage capacity report, using March 2024 data, put Cushing working capacity at about 78.4 million barrels and net available shell capacity at about 97.7 million. Not all of that can be drawn down: tanks need a minimum volume, known as tank bottoms, to keep operating.
| Working capacity (March 2024) | ≈78.4 million barrels |
| Record high (April 7, 2017) | 69.4 million barrels |
| 2026 low (July 24, 2026) | 18.6 million barrels |
What the Number Means for WTI
The NYMEX WTI contract settles by physical delivery at Cushing, so stocks there affect nearby futures directly. Falling stocks tend to support WTI and narrow its discount to Brent; rising stocks tend to do the opposite. The relationship is a tendency, not a rule: in October 2026, Cushing stocks rose while prices climbed on the Strait of Hormuz crisis. For the background, read Cushing, Oklahoma: the WTI oil hub explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much oil is at Cushing right now?
The table at the top of this page shows the latest EIA figure and the previous 11 weeks. The EIA updates it weekly, normally on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Does Cushing include the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?
No. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is stored in salt caverns on the Gulf Coast. Cushing stocks are commercial crude held in above-ground tanks in Oklahoma.
What is the storage capacity at Cushing?
The EIA's last report, using March 2024 data, put working capacity at about 78.4 million barrels and net available shell capacity at about 97.7 million barrels.
Sources
- EIA — Weekly Cushing, OK ending stocks excluding SPR of crude oil
- EIA — Working and Net Available Shell Storage Capacity
- EIA Today in Energy — What are tank bottoms?
Disclaimer: This page is for general information only and is not investment advice.