Last Updated: 6/7/2026

2026 U.S. Convenience Store Count

Overview of the U.S. convenience store count, including industry trends, the prevalence of fuel sales and the mix of single-store operators and large chains.

Highlights

 
151,975
convenience stores

 
122,620
stores sell motor fuels

 
80%
of the fuels sold in convenience stores

 
63%
single-store operators

  • There are 151,975 convenience stores in the United States, a slight decrease of 280 stores (0.2%) compared to the year prior, according to the 2026 NACS/NIQ TDLinx Convenience Industry Store Count.
     
  • While the overall store count dipped slightly, the number of convenience stores selling fuel increased by 768 stores (0.6%) to 122,620, the highest number in eight years. Convenience stores sell an estimated 80% of the fuel purchased by consumers in the United States. Overall, 80.7% of convenience stores sell fuel.
     
  • With the U.S. population at an estimated 343 million according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there is one convenience store per every 2,257 people in the United States.
     
  • The industry continues to be dominated by smaller operators. Overall, 95,672 stores are owned by a company that has 10 or fewer stores, 63% of the total store count. Companies operating 500-plus stores own 33,810 stores, or 22.2% of the overall total.
     
  • Texas continues to have the most convenience stores (16,504 stores), or more than one in 10 stores in the United States. The rest of the top 10 states by store count are California (12,143), Florida (9,730), New York (7,561), Georgia (7,092), Ohio (5,833), North Carolina (5,799), Michigan (4,957), Pennsylvania (4,784) and Illinois (4,708).

C-store-count-map

U.S. Convenience Stores (as of Dec. 31, 2025)

  • 2026 — 151,975 (-0.2%)
  • 2025 — 152,255 (-0.1%)
  • 2024 — 152,396 (+1.5%)
  • 2023 — 150,174 (+1.5%)
  • 2022 — 148,026 (-1.5%)
  • 2021 — 150,274 (-1.6%)
  • 2020 — 152,720 (-0.3%)
  • 2019 — 153,237 (-1.1%)
  • 2018 — 154,958 (+0.3%)
  • 2017 — 154,535 (+0.2%)
  • 2016 — 154,195 (+0.9%)
  • 2015 — 152,794 (+0.9%)
  • 2014 — 151,282 (+1.4%)
  • 2013 — 149,220 (+0.7%)

Media Inquiries

For more information, please contact:

Jeff Lenard

Vice President Media & Strategic Communications

NACS

(703) 518-4272


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Jeff Lenard oversees industry-wide external communications campaigns to advance the role of convenience stores as positive economic, social and philanthropic contributors to the communities they serve. He also serves as lead spokesperson and has conducted more than 6,000 media interviews about trends and innovations at convenience stores. In addition, he is the creator and co-host of the association’s award-winning weekly podcast, Convenience Matters.

Prior to joining NACS in 1999, Lenard served in communications and marketing functions for several energy-focused associations. He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. in marketing from Syracuse University.

NACS serves the global convenience and fuel retailing industry by providing industry knowledge, connections and issues leadership to ensure the competitive viability of its members’ businesses.


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