In 1986, according to data from state agencies, United States mines in 26 states produced 897.9 million (short) tons of coal, a slight decrease of 0.2% from the revised 900 million tons produced in 1985. Of this coal, the Eastern Coal province produced 48.5%, the Northern Great Plains, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Coast provinces and Alaska produced 29.2%, the Interior Coal province produced 16.7%, and the Gulf Coal province produced 5.6%. In rank, 0.4% was anthracite, 66.2% was bituminous, 24.9% was subbituminous, and 8.5% was lignite.

Operators of 2,465 coal mines in Kentucky led the nation by producing 165.6 million tons of coal. Wyoming ranked second with 135.7 million tons, West Virginia was third with 130.8 million tons, Pennsylvania was fourth with 73.2 million tons, Illinois was fifth with 62.6 million tons, Texas was sixth with 48.5 million tons, Virginia was seventh with 41.8 million tons, Ohio was eighth with 34.7 million tons, Montana was ninth with 33.7 million tons, and Indiana was tenth with 31.9 million tons.

A 3.6% decrease in Wyoming's coal production was the first decrease in 18 years.

Development of the nation's first underground hydraulic coal mine progressed in Colorado.

Surface mines produced 59% of United States coal production in 1986.