Sales Tax Calculator
Add a sales tax rate to any amount and instantly see the tax and the final total. Enter the price and the rate, and this free sales tax calculator returns the tax charged and the total you'll pay — quickly, privately and without any signup.
What is a sales tax calculator?
A sales tax calculator adds a sales tax rate to a base price to find the tax charged and the total cost. Sales tax is a percentage levy added at the point of sale, and rates vary widely between states, provinces and countries — 5%, 8.5% and 10% are common. Knowing the total before you pay makes budgeting and price comparisons much easier.
The math is simple: multiply the amount by the rate to get the tax, then add it to the amount to get the total. A $100 purchase at 8.5% carries $8.50 in tax and costs $108.50. The reverse calculation is equally useful — if you only know the total, you can divide by (1 + rate) to recover the pre-tax price.
Because this calculator runs in your browser, your amounts are processed privately with nothing uploaded.
How to use the sales tax calculator
- Enter the price or amount before tax.
- Enter the sales tax rate as a percentage (for example 8.5).
- Click Calculate to see the tax charged and the total.
Example
Enter an amount of $100 and a rate of 8.5%. The calculator shows $8.50 tax and a total of $108.50. Enter $100 at 10% instead and the results become $10 tax and a $110 total. To work backwards, divide the total by 1.10 to get the original price.
Who is this sales tax calculator for?
A sales tax calculator is handy for almost anyone handling a purchase, invoice or receipt — shoppers, students, freelancers and small businesses alike.
- Shoppers and young adults: check the real cost of an item including your local rate before you buy.
- Students: keep a field trip, project or meal budget accurate once tax is added.
- Freelancers and couples: add the correct tax to a quote or invoice for a client without doing the math by hand.
- Retirees: reconcile a receipt quickly to confirm the tax applied was correct.
Sales tax by rate
The table below shows the tax and total for a $100 purchase at a few common rates, so you can see how the rate changes the final price.
| Rate | Tax on $100 | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | $5.00 | $105.00 |
| 7.25% | $7.25 | $107.25 |
| 8.5% | $8.50 | $108.50 |
| 10% | $10.00 | $110.00 |
Common use cases
- Checking the final price of an item including your local tax rate.
- Reconciling a receipt to confirm the tax was applied correctly.
- Adding sales tax to a quote or invoice for a client.
- Comparing the real cost of a purchase across different tax rates.
Pro tips
- Use the reverse method for a 'price before tax' answer: divide the total by (1 + rate).
- Set the rate to 0 to check a tax-free purchase total.
- Look up your exact state or local rate, since it can combine state, county and city levies.
- This calculator works with any currency — read the numbers in your own currency and ignore the symbol.
FAQ
How is sales tax calculated?
Multiply the price by the tax rate to get the tax, then add it to the price. A $100 item at 8.5% has $8.50 tax and a $108.50 total.
How do I find the price before tax?
Divide the total by (1 + rate). A $108.50 total at 8.5% means $108.50 ÷ 1.085 = $100.
What does a sales tax rate mean?
It is the percentage added to a purchase. A rate of 8.5% means you pay 8.5% of the price in tax on top of the price.
Can I use any currency?
Yes. The tool formats the result as dollars, but you can treat the numbers as your own currency and ignore the symbol.
Is the tax added or included?
In most US states tax is added at checkout, but in some countries it is included in the marked price. Choose the method that matches your region.
Why do tax rates differ by place?
Sales tax is set by state, county and city governments, each adding their own layer, so rates vary widely.
Is this calculator free?
Yes, it is completely free with no signup, and it runs entirely in your browser.
Does it run in my browser?
Yes. Everything is calculated locally on your device — nothing is uploaded.
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