Washington Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Washington sales tax with the current 6.5% state rate and average local rate — add tax to a price or remove it from a total.
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How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter the amount.
- 2
Use the state average local rate, no local tax, or enter your own city or county rate.
- 3
Choose whether to add tax to a price or remove it from a total.
- 4
Read the Washington sales tax, pre-tax price and total.
Frequently asked questions
What is the sales tax rate in Washington?
The Washington state rate is 6.5%. With the average local rate of 3.07%, the average combined rate is 9.57%. Your exact rate depends on your city and county.
Where does Washington rank for sales tax?
Washington ranks number 3 of 51 (50 states and DC) for average combined sales tax, from highest to lowest. The median is 7%, so Washington is 2.57 percentage points above it.
Which states have a combined rate close to Washington's?
By the table's average combined rates, the nearest are Tennessee at 9.61% and Arkansas at 9.48%, compared with 9.57% for Washington.
How much does the local rate change the tax in Washington?
On $1,000, no local tax gives $65.00 and the 3.07% average local rate gives $95.70. A local rate 1% above the average would give $105.70.
How do I remove sales tax from a Washington receipt?
Divide the total by 1.09570, which is 1 plus the 9.57% combined rate. A $250.00 total becomes $228.16 before tax, with $21.84 of tax included. The "Remove tax from a total" option does it for you.
How is the tax rounded?
At 9.57%, $19.99 carries $1.91 of tax, which shows as $21.90 in total once rounded to the cent. A Washington register may round per line item or per receipt, so a store total can differ by a cent or two.
How do I find the exact local rate?
Check the Washington Department of Revenue rate lookup for your address, then enter it using the "Enter my own local rate" option.
Is food or clothing taxed in Washington?
Washington has no state income tax, so the sales tax matters more here. The state rate is 6.5% and cities and transit districts add local rates averaging about 3%. Most groceries and prescription drugs are exempt, while prepared food is taxable.
Washington sales tax — 6.5% state rate
Washington sales tax rate stack
On the average combined rate Washington ranks number 3 of 51 (50 states and DC). That is 2.57 percentage points above the median combined rate of 7% (Indiana). Local tax is a large piece of the Washington picture: the average local rate of 3.07% is about 32% of the 9.57% average combined rate, on top of a 6.5% state rate. Nearest on combined rate are Tennessee (9.61%) and Arkansas (9.48%). Rates as of July 1, 2026 (local averages as of January 1, 2026), from the Tax Foundation. Local rates vary by city and county, so the average is an estimate — use the custom option for your exact local rate. The Washington Department of Revenue governs what applies to a specific sale.
| State | State rate | Average local | Combined | Rank of 51 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 7% | 2.61% | 9.61% | 2 |
| Washington | 6.5% | 3.07% | 9.57% | 3 |
| Arkansas | 6.5% | 2.98% | 9.48% | 4 |
Worked Washington sales tax examples
Backing tax out of a receipt means dividing the total by 1.09570 (1 plus the 9.57% rate), not subtracting 9.57% of it. A $500.00 Washington total therefore holds $43.67 of tax on a $456.33 price. Going the other way, $100 becomes $109.57, and every $1,000 of pre-tax price adds about $95.70.
| Purchase | State tax only | Tax at combined rate | Total at combined rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $1.30 | $1.91 | $21.91 |
| $100 | $6.50 | $9.57 | $109.57 |
| $500 | $32.50 | $47.85 | $547.85 |
| $2,500 | $162.50 | $239.25 | $2,739.25 |
Removing tax from Washington receipts
Receipt totals that include tax convert back to the pre-tax price at the same 9.57% combined rate.
| Receipt total | Price before tax | Tax included |
|---|---|---|
| $108.25 | $98.80 | $9.45 |
| $500.00 | $456.33 | $43.67 |
| $1,250.00 | $1,140.82 | $109.18 |
Local rates and the $2,500 purchase in Washington
Every extra percentage point of local tax costs $10.00 on a $1,000 purchase in Washington. Skipping local tax gives $65.00, the state average gives $95.70, and a rate 1% above the average gives $105.70. A $2,500 purchase shows how much the 3.07% local layer matters in Washington. The state rate alone gives $162.50, but the average combined rate gives $239.25, so $76.75 of the bill comes from local tax. At the nearest peers' combined rates the tax would be Tennessee $240.25 and Arkansas $237.00.
| Local option | Combined rate | Sales tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| No local tax | 6.5% | $65.00 | $1,065.00 |
| State average local (3.07%) | 9.57% | $95.70 | $1,095.70 |
| Average plus 1% (4.07% local) | 10.57% | $105.70 | $1,105.70 |
What this Washington calculator does and does not do
Without a local rate of your own, the tool assumes Washington's 3.07% average. That is a population-weighted estimate for Washington, not the rate at any one address. Every Washington amount is rounded to the cent and one 9.57% rate covers the whole amount, so a basket mixing taxable and exempt items has to be split by hand. The tool does not apply item exemptions. About what is taxed: Washington has no state income tax, so the sales tax matters more here. The state rate is 6.5% and cities and transit districts add local rates averaging about 3%. Most groceries and prescription drugs are exempt, while prepared food is taxable.
Learn more from an authoritative source:
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Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial, medical, legal, or technical advice. Read full disclaimer →