Use this free sales tax calculator to add sales tax to a price or back the pre-tax price out of a total — pre-filled with each state's 2026 average combined (state + local) sales tax rate. No sign-up required.
Total with tax
$0.00
This uses your state's average combined rate as an estimate. Your exact register rate depends on your specific city, county, or ZIP code — edit the rate field above if you know it.
What is a sales tax calculator and why it matters
Sales tax in the US isn't one number — it's a state rate plus whatever county, city, and special district taxes are stacked on top, which is why the same $100 purchase can cost $100 flat in Oregon and over $109 in parts of Louisiana or Tennessee. A sales tax calculator removes the guesswork, whether you're budgeting for a big purchase, comparing prices across state lines, figuring out what a receipt total means, or estimating costs before checkout. It's especially useful for online shoppers, people relocating between states, and small business owners quoting prices to out-of-state customers.
How this calculator works
Selecting a state auto-fills the 2026 average combined sales tax rate — the state's base rate plus the population-weighted average of local city, county, and district taxes. In "Add tax to a price" mode, the calculator multiplies your price by the tax rate to get the tax amount, then adds it to get your total. In "Remove tax from a total" mode, it works backward: it divides your total by 1 plus the tax rate to find the pre-tax price, then calculates the tax as the difference. Because local rates vary by city and ZIP code, you can always overwrite the auto-filled rate with your exact local rate for a precise result.
Common searches this calculator answers
- How much is sales tax on $100 in [state]?
- Reverse sales tax calculator from total
- What state has the highest sales tax?
- Which states have no sales tax?
- How to calculate sales tax backwards
- Sales tax calculator by ZIP code alternative
How to use it
- Choose "Add tax to a price" if you have a pre-tax price, or "Remove tax from a total" if you already have a receipt total.
- Select your state — the average combined tax rate fills in automatically.
- Optionally edit the tax rate if you know your exact city or county rate.
- Enter your price or total amount.
- Click "Calculate" to see the full breakdown of pre-tax price, tax amount, and total.
Frequently asked questions
Which states have no sales tax?
Five states have no statewide general sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska is the exception within that group, since many of its local jurisdictions still charge their own local sales tax.
Why is the tax rate for my state an estimate?
Most states let counties, cities, and special districts add their own local sales tax on top of the state rate. This tool pre-fills each state's average combined rate, but your exact rate depends on your specific city or ZIP code, so you can override it if you know your local rate.
How do I calculate sales tax backwards from a total?
Switch to "Remove tax from a total" mode, enter the total amount you paid and the tax rate, and the calculator divides the total by 1 plus the tax rate to find the pre-tax price and the tax amount separately.
Does this calculator account for grocery or clothing exemptions?
No. It calculates a standard taxable purchase at your state's average combined rate. Many states exempt or reduce tax on groceries, prescription drugs, or clothing, so those specific purchases may be taxed differently than this estimate.
Can I use this for business or online sales tax filing?
This tool is built for quick personal estimates, not for multi-state business compliance. If you sell across state lines, use dedicated sales tax software to track economic nexus, exemptions, and filing by jurisdiction.
Rates are 2026 averages for planning purposes only, not tax advice. Verify your exact local rate with your state's department of revenue before filing or budgeting a large purchase.
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