Last updated: March 2026
What Is a Sales Tax Calculator?
A sales tax calculator computes the tax amount and total price for any purchase based on the applicable tax rate. Sales tax in the US varies widely — from 0% in states like Oregon and Delaware to combined rates exceeding 10% in parts of Louisiana and Tennessee when local taxes are added.
Sales tax rates in the U.S. range from 0% in states like Oregon and Montana to over 10% in some jurisdictions when state and local rates are combined.
This calculator includes all 50 US state base rates with a local tax add-on field, a reverse mode to extract pre-tax prices, and multi-item support for calculating tax on entire shopping lists. All calculations happen instantly in your browser.
US Sales Tax Rates by State
Sales tax in the US is a combination of state and local taxes. The state sets a base rate, and cities and counties can add their own rates on top. This means two cities in the same state can have very different total tax rates. For example, in California, the state base rate is 7.25%, but with local additions, rates range from 7.25% to over 10.75% depending on the city.
Five states have no state sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska is unique in that it allows local jurisdictions to levy their own sales taxes despite having no state tax. Some items are also exempt in many states — groceries, prescription drugs, and clothing are commonly exempt or taxed at a reduced rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate sales tax?
Multiply the price by the tax rate as a decimal. For example, a $50 item with 8.25% tax: $50 × 0.0825 = $4.13 tax, for a total of $54.13. This calculator handles the math — just enter the price and select your state or enter a custom rate.
Which states have no sales tax?
Five states have no state-level sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local jurisdictions to charge sales tax up to 7.5%, so you may still pay sales tax on purchases in some Alaskan cities.
What is the highest sales tax state?
Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana, and Rhode Island tie for the highest base state rate at 7%. However, when you factor in average local taxes, Louisiana has the highest combined average rate at around 9.55%, followed by Tennessee at about 9.55% and Arkansas at approximately 9.47%.
How do I calculate the price before tax?
Divide the total by (1 + tax rate as decimal). If you paid $108.25 total and the tax rate is 8.25%: $108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100.00 pre-tax price. Use the 'Reverse Tax' mode in this calculator to do this instantly.
Do online purchases have sales tax?
Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, states can require online retailers to collect sales tax even if they don't have a physical presence in the state. Most major online retailers now collect sales tax based on your shipping address.
What's the difference between sales tax and use tax?
Sales tax is collected by the seller at the point of sale. Use tax is owed by the buyer when sales tax wasn't collected — for example, when buying from an out-of-state seller who doesn't collect your state's tax. The rate is usually the same. Most states require you to report and pay use tax on your income tax return.