US Sales Tax Calculator
Estimate the sales tax and total price for a purchase in your state.
How to use
- Enter the price before tax and select your state (or enter a custom rate).
- Click Calculate.
- See the estimated tax amount and the total price instantly.
Estimates only — not financial advice. Verify important decisions with a qualified professional.
What Is a Sales Tax Calculator?
A sales tax calculator works out how much tax is added to a purchase and the total you will actually pay at the register. Sales tax looks simple — a percentage on the price — but the United States has no single sales tax. Forty-five states levy their own statewide tax, and counties and cities commonly stack their own on top, producing thousands of different combined rates. A jacket that costs one total in one city can cost measurably more across a county line, which matters for big-ticket purchases like cars, appliances, and furniture.
This calculator lets you pick your state for a typical statewide rate or enter a custom combined rate for your exact location, which is the figure that truly matters. Knowing the tax-inclusive price in advance helps when budgeting a large purchase, comparing prices between stores in different tax jurisdictions, or checking that a receipt was calculated correctly.
How to Use the Sales Tax Calculator
- Enter the price of the item before tax.
- Select your state to use its standard rate, or enter a custom tax rate if you know your exact combined local rate.
- Click Calculate to see the tax amount and the total price with tax included.
- For multiple items, add their pre-tax prices together first and enter the combined total.
Why US Sales Tax Rates Vary So Much
Sales tax in the US is set at several levels of government at once. The state takes a base rate (a handful of states have none at all), and counties, cities, transit districts, and other local authorities can each add a percentage of their own. The combined rate in some cities exceeds 10%, while shoppers in states like Oregon or Montana pay no sales tax. Rates can also differ by product — many states exempt groceries or prescription medicine, and some reduce the rate on clothing. This calculator applies a single rate to the whole purchase, so treat its result as a close estimate rather than a receipt-perfect figure.
Tips for Big Purchases
- For expensive items, the tax difference between neighboring jurisdictions can be worth real money — but remember vehicles are usually taxed where they are registered, not where they are bought.
- Watch for sales-tax holidays: many states suspend tax on categories like school supplies or clothing for a few days a year.
- Online purchases are generally taxed at the rate for the delivery address, under the rules expanded by the Supreme Court's Wayfair decision.
What is the average US sales tax rate?
Statewide base rates range from 0% in a few states to over 7%, and combined state-plus-local rates commonly land between about 6% and 9%, with some cities above 10%. Because local additions vary street by street in some areas, entering your known combined rate gives the most accurate result from this calculator.
Which states have no sales tax?
Five states have no statewide sales tax at all: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska — though some Alaska municipalities levy a local tax. Every other state has a statewide rate, with local taxes added on top in most of them.
Is sales tax charged on the price before or after discounts?
For store discounts and sales, tax is usually charged on the reduced price you actually pay. Manufacturer coupons and rebates are sometimes taxed on the original price, depending on the state. This calculator taxes the amount you enter, so enter the price after any store discount for the closest match.
Does this calculator work for services too?
It works for anything taxed at the rate you enter, but note that many services are exempt from sales tax in many states, and rules differ widely. If a service is taxable where you live, enter its price and your local rate and the math is identical.