Sales Tax Calculator (By State)
Find the sales tax and total price for any purchase, using 2026 state and average local sales tax rates.
Built and maintained by Jefferson Almeida · Last updated
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How US sales tax works
Sales tax in the US is levied at the state level and frequently again at county, city, and special-district levels. The rate you actually pay is the sum of all applicable layers, which is why two stores twenty minutes apart can charge different amounts on the same item.
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska is a partial exception - it has no state tax but permits local sales taxes, and many municipalities levy them.
On a large purchase that spread is real money: the same car bought in Louisiana rather than Oregon can differ by thousands, and the auto loan calculator folds sales tax into the amount you finance.
Combined rates range from 0% to over 10% depending on locality. As of midyear 2026 the highest combined averages are Louisiana (10.13%), Tennessee (9.61%), Washington (9.57%), Arkansas (9.48%), and Alabama (9.46%).
The math
Tax = price × rate. Total = price × (1 + rate).
A $50 item at 7.25% is $3.63 in tax, $53.63 total.
Working backwards from a total: divide, don't subtract. On a $53.63 total at 7.25%, the pre-tax price is $53.63 ÷ 1.0725 = $50.00. Subtracting 7.25% from the total gives $49.74 - wrong, and a common error on expense reports.
What's commonly exempt
Exemptions vary enormously by state, but recurring categories include:
- Groceries - fully exempt in many states, taxed at a reduced rate in others, fully taxed in a few. Prepared food is almost always taxed regardless.
- Prescription drugs - exempt in nearly every state.
- Clothing - exempt in Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; exempt below a price threshold in New York and Massachusetts.
- Medical devices, agricultural equipment, and manufacturing inputs - commonly exempt.
Several states also run sales tax holidays, typically before the school year, temporarily exempting clothing, school supplies, and sometimes computers.
Online purchases
Following South Dakota v. Wayfair (2018), states can require out-of-state sellers to collect sales tax once they exceed economic nexus thresholds - commonly $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions in the state. In practice, most online purchases from established retailers now include sales tax at your local rate.
If a seller doesn't collect it, you technically owe use tax directly to your state at the same rate. Compliance is famously low, but the obligation exists and appears on many state income tax returns.
FAQ
Why is there a range instead of one exact number?
Sales tax in most states is a combination of a state rate plus city/county/district rates that vary by location - sometimes down to the specific ZIP code. This tool uses a population-weighted average local rate as a reasonable estimate; your specific city may be higher or lower.
Does this account for groceries or clothing exemptions?
No - many states exempt or reduce tax on groceries, clothing, or other categories. This calculator assumes a standard taxable purchase.
Which rate applies - where I live or where I bought it?
For in-person purchases, generally the store's location. For shipped goods, generally the destination address.
Is sales tax deductible?
You may deduct either state income tax or state sales tax on a federal return, not both - and only if you itemize. The sales tax option mainly benefits residents of states with no income tax. The paycheck calculator shows what your state withholds, which is the figure you would be comparing against.
💡 Did you know?
The first general sales tax in the U.S. was introduced by Mississippi in 1932, a response to the revenue crisis of the Great Depression. Roughly two dozen states had followed suit by the end of that decade. Vermont held out the longest of the states that eventually adopted one, waiting until 1969.