How do I estimate sales tax?

Take the listed price and the rate that applies where you are, then multiply: estimated tax = price × rate ÷ 100. Add the estimated tax to the price for the expected total. This works for any rate you enter, for any location.

How do I add sales tax to a price?

Multiply the pre-tax price by (1 + rate ÷ 100). For a $250 price at 7.5%, the tax is $18.75 and the total is $268.75. You can also calculate the tax amount first and add it to the price.

How do I remove sales tax from a total?

Divide the tax-inclusive total by (1 + rate ÷ 100) to recover the pre-tax amount. For a $108 total at 8%, the pre-tax amount is $100 and the tax is $8. Do not subtract the percentage directly from the total.

Is sales tax calculated before or after a discount?

In most jurisdictions, sales tax applies to the price after any discounts or coupons are applied, so you discount first and then add tax to the discounted price. Rules can vary, so confirm the order that applies to your sale — and use the discount calculator to find the discounted price first.

Are sales tax rates the same everywhere?

No. Sales tax varies by country, state, city and sometimes by product category. Some locations have no sales tax, others combine state and local rates, and some goods are exempt or taxed at a reduced rate. Always enter the rate that applies to the specific sale.

Does CalcMetrio automatically know my local sales tax rate?

No. This calculator does not look up your location or use hard-coded rate tables. You enter the applicable rate yourself, which keeps it accurate for any jurisdiction once you know the correct rate for the sale.

Sales Tax Calculator

Q: How do I calculate sales tax?

Multiply the pre-tax price by the tax rate divided by 100 to find the tax amount, then add it to the price. For a $100 item at 8%, the tax is $8 and the final price is $108.

Use this sales tax calculator to calculate sales tax, estimate sales tax before a purchase, add tax to a pre-tax price, or remove tax from a tax-inclusive total as a reverse sales tax calculator. Find the pre-tax amount or tax-inclusive total using any custom rate — no hard-coded local tax tables — so it works for any state, country or product category.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-29

Sales Tax Calculator inputs

Fill in the fields below, then select Calculate. Nothing is submitted automatically.

Pre-Tax Price

The price before sales tax.

Sales Tax Rate %

Enter the applicable rate for your location.

Quantity (optional)

Number of units. Defaults to 1.

Currency

Changing the currency changes formatting only. It does not convert values between currencies.

Calculations run locally in your browser. Your figures are not sent to a server or stored by us.

Results

Enter your figures above and select Calculate. Results appear here with clear labels — never colour alone.

What is sales tax?

Sales tax is a consumption tax charged on the sale of goods and services, collected from the buyer at the point of purchase. The rate varies by country, state, city and sometimes by product category. In the US, sales tax is added at checkout; in many other countries, tax is built into the displayed price.

This sales tax calculator lets you calculate sales tax, estimate sales tax before a purchase, add tax to a pre-tax price, remove tax from a tax-inclusive total, and find the pre-tax amount or final price. Enter any custom rate and the tool works for any jurisdiction — it does not assume a particular state or country.

Sales Tax Formula

Tax Amount = Price × Tax Rate ÷ 100
Total Price = Price + Tax Amount
Pre-Tax Price = Total ÷ (1 + Tax Rate ÷ 100)

The first two lines add tax to a pre-tax price. The third line reverses the calculation, dividing a tax-inclusive total by (1 + rate) to recover the pre-tax amount — you cannot simply subtract the tax percentage from a total.

How to Calculate Sales Tax

To calculate sales tax, multiply the pre-tax price by the tax rate divided by 100 to find the tax amount, then add it to the price.

Price = $100, Tax rate = 8%
Tax = $100 × 8 ÷ 100 = $8
Final price = $100 + $8 = $108

The same arithmetic works for any rate and any price. See also the VAT calculator for value-added tax, or the discount calculator when a discount and tax apply together.

How to Estimate Sales Tax

To estimate sales tax before completing a purchase, take the listed price and the rate that applies where you are, then multiply: estimated tax = price × rate ÷ 100. For a $60 item in a 6.5% area, the estimated sales tax is about $3.90 and the final price about $63.90.

This calculator accepts any custom tax percentage and does not assume a particular state or country, so you can estimate sales tax for any location once you know the rate that applies.

Sales tax rates and rules vary by location and product type. Enter the applicable rate yourself and verify it with the relevant authority.

Sales Tax Included vs Sales Tax Excluded

Three figures describe any taxed sale, and keeping them straight is the key to correct sales tax math: the pre-tax price is the amount before tax; the tax amount is what the tax adds; the tax-inclusive total is what the customer actually pays.

Tax-exclusive pricing shows the pre-tax price and adds tax at checkout — common in the US. Tax-inclusive pricing builds the tax into the displayed total — common in many other countries. The effective tax rate (tax as a percentage of the total) is lower than the nominal rate (tax as a percentage of the pre-tax price), which matters when comparing the two pricing styles.

Common Sales Tax Calculation Mistakes

Applying the percentage incorrectly. Multiply the price by the rate, do not add the rate to the price directly.
Dividing instead of multiplying. To add tax you multiply; only when removing tax from a total do you divide by (1 + rate).
Subtracting the tax percentage from an inclusive total. Removing 10% from $110 gives $99, but the correct pre-tax amount is $100 — divide by 1.10 instead.
Using the wrong local tax rate. Sales tax varies by state, city and product. Enter the rate that actually applies to the sale.
Forgetting exemptions or product-specific rules. Some goods are exempt or taxed at a reduced rate. Verify category rules with the relevant authority.

How to Add Sales Tax to a Price

Adding sales tax to a price means multiplying the pre-tax price by (1 + rate ÷ 100). Worked step by step:

Price = $250, Tax rate = 7.5%
Tax = $250 × 7.5 ÷ 100 = $18.75
Total = $250 × (1 + 0.075) = $268.75

The tax amount ($18.75) and the total ($268.75) are the two figures you need for an invoice or receipt. The percentage calculator performs the same percentage-of-number math if you need it in another form.

Reverse Sales Tax: How to Remove Sales Tax From a Total

When a total already includes sales tax, a reverse sales tax calculation recovers the pre-tax amount by dividing by (1 + rate ÷ 100), not by subtracting the rate from the total.

Total = $108, Tax rate = 8%
Pre-tax amount = $108 ÷ (1 + 0.08) = $100
Tax = $108 − $100 = $8

The tax ($8) is the same whether you add 8% to $100 or remove 8% from $108, because the percentages are consistent in both directions. Use the VAT calculator for the same operation on VAT-inclusive amounts.

Frequently asked questions

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Disclaimer

Results from this calculator are estimates for general information only and are not financial, accounting, tax, investment or legal advice. Verify important figures with a qualified professional. Read our full disclaimer.