WTI Crude Oil Price Today (Live)
The current WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude oil price in US dollars per barrel, live from the front-month NYMEX futures contract. WTI is the US oil benchmark and the most actively traded crude oil futures contract in the world.
WTI crude oil price chart, live
TradingView symbol TVC:USOIL tracks the front-month NYMEX WTI (CL) futures contract. More timeframes are on the WTI crude oil price chart page.
What is WTI crude oil?
West Texas Intermediate is a grade of light, sweet crude, with an API gravity of about 39–40° and sulfur content around 0.2–0.4%. It is produced mainly in Texas, New Mexico and neighbouring states, with the Permian Basin as the largest source. It is a high-quality refinery feedstock that yields a large share of gasoline and diesel.
As a price, "WTI" usually means the NYMEX Light Sweet Crude Oil futures contract (CL). Unlike Brent, it is physically delivered at Cushing, Oklahoma, a tank-farm and pipeline hub with close to 80 million barrels of working storage capacity (EIA estimate). Storage levels at Cushing, reported every Wednesday by the EIA, have a direct effect on the WTI price and on the shape of its futures curve.
| Exchange | NYMEX, part of CME Group |
|---|---|
| Ticker | CL (Micro WTI: MCL, 100 barrels) |
| Contract size | 1,000 barrels |
| Price quotation | US dollars and cents per barrel |
| Minimum price move | $0.01 per barrel, which is $10 per contract |
| Settlement | Physical delivery at Cushing, Oklahoma |
| Last trading day | Three business days before the 25th calendar day of the month before delivery. If the 25th is not a business day, it is three business days before the last business day preceding the 25th. |
| Trading hours (CME Globex) | Sunday to Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, with a 60-minute break each day starting at 5:00 p.m. |
Source: CME Group contract specifications. See WTI crude oil futures for the expiry calendar and curve.
What moves the WTI price
- EIA weekly inventories. Every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. ET, the Weekly Petroleum Status Report shows US commercial crude stocks, Cushing stocks, refinery utilisation, production and exports. Surprise builds or draws often move WTI by more than $1 within minutes.
- US production. US output reached record levels above 13 million barrels per day in 2024–2025. The rig count and shale company capital budgets signal where it is heading.
- Exports. The US became a major crude exporter after the export ban was lifted in December 2015. Export flows now link WTI closely to Brent.
- Refinery demand. Seasonal maintenance in spring and autumn reduces crude demand, while the summer driving season raises it.
- Global factors. OPEC+ policy, geopolitics and the dollar affect WTI much as they do Brent. See what moves oil prices.
The day WTI went negative
On 20 April 2020, the expiring May WTI futures contract settled at −$37.63 per barrel, the first negative price in the contract's history. Pandemic lockdowns had cut fuel demand by roughly a fifth, and storage at Cushing was close to full. Traders holding long positions into expiry had no place to take delivery, so they paid others to take the oil. Brent, which is cash-settled, never went below zero. The episode shows how much WTI depends on physical delivery and storage at a single inland hub.
WTI vs Brent
WTI normally trades at a discount to Brent. Since 2016 the gap has mostly been between $2 and $8 per barrel, roughly the cost of moving US crude to the Gulf Coast and shipping it overseas. Before 2010 WTI often traded above Brent. A Midwest supply glut in 2011 pushed the discount beyond $25. Read more on the Brent vs WTI spread.
| WTI milestone | Date | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Record intraday high | 11 July 2008 | $147.27 |
| Lowest settlement on record | 20 April 2020 | −$37.63 |
| 2022 intraday high | 7 March 2022 | ~$130 |
| Annual average | 2022 | $94.90 |
| Annual average | 2024 | $76.63 |
Annual averages: U.S. EIA Cushing WTI spot price series.
WTI crude oil price FAQ
What is the WTI crude oil price today?
The live quote at the top of the page shows today's WTI crude oil price per barrel in US dollars, based on the front-month NYMEX futures contract. It updates in real time almost 24 hours a day on weekdays.
What does WTI stand for?
WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, a light, sweet crude oil grade produced in the US. It is also the name of the benchmark price set by NYMEX crude oil futures delivered at Cushing, Oklahoma.
Why does Cushing, Oklahoma matter for the oil price?
Cushing is the delivery point for NYMEX WTI futures. When storage there fills up, near-term WTI prices fall relative to later months. When it runs low, near-term prices rise. The EIA publishes Cushing stocks every Wednesday.
Is WTI or Brent the "real" oil price?
Both are real benchmarks. WTI prices US domestic crude. Brent prices most seaborne crude elsewhere. US gasoline prices respond to both, because US refiners also compete with the international market.
When does the WTI contract roll?
Each month's contract stops trading three business days before the 25th of the prior month. Most quote services, including the live price above, switch to the next contract around that date. That is why continuous charts can show a small jump at each roll.
Related pages
WTI Chart
Live WTI crude oil price chart from intraday to monthly, with a technical summary, 5-year performance and WTI's key historical levels.
WTI Futures
WTI crude oil futures (NYMEX CL): live price, contract specs, last trading day rule, Cushing delivery, Micro WTI and the futures curve.
Brent vs WTI
Brent vs WTI compared: live prices, why Brent trades at a premium, quality and delivery differences, and how the spread has moved since 2010.
Brent Crude Oil Price
Current Brent crude oil price live in USD per barrel, with a real-time chart, ICE Brent contract facts and what is driving today's move.