Sales Tax Calculator
The sticker price on a big purchase is rarely the final price — sales tax adds anywhere from nothing to close to 10% depending on where you're shopping. This calculator gives you the real total before you're standing at the register.
Enter a price and rate to see the total.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the pre-tax purchase price.
- Enter your combined state and local sales tax rate.
- Click "Calculate sales tax" to see the tax amount and total price.
How the calculation works
This is a straightforward multiplication: purchase price × sales tax rate = tax owed, and price plus tax = total. The only real complexity in sales tax isn't the math — it's finding your correct combined rate, since most areas stack a state rate on top of county and city rates that can vary block by block.
A worked example
Say you're buying a $1,200 laptop in an area with a combined state and local rate of 8.25%. The tax comes to $99, bringing your total to $1,299. Buy the same laptop in a state with no sales tax, like Oregon or Delaware, and you'd pay exactly $1,200 — a $99 difference purely based on location, which is exactly why some online shoppers factor location into where they make larger purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Do all states charge sales tax?
No — five states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon) have no statewide sales tax, though some allow local taxes.
Where do I find my exact local rate?
Check your state department of revenue website, or look at a recent receipt — combined state and local rates are usually printed there.
Does this apply to online purchases?
Often yes — many states now require sales tax collection on online purchases based on the buyer's location, though rules vary.
Are groceries and clothing taxed the same as other items?
Not always — many states exempt or apply reduced rates to groceries, prescription medication, and sometimes clothing. Check your specific state's exemption list.
Why do two stores in the same city sometimes charge different rates?
This usually happens near jurisdiction boundaries — special taxing districts (transit, stadium, or improvement districts) can apply an extra local rate on top of the base city and county rate within specific zones.