California Sales Tax Calculator
Figure the tax, the total, or the pre-tax price for any U.S. state or city rate
California has one of the highest sales tax rates in the United States. The state base rate is 7.25%, which itself is already a blended figure: a 6% state levy plus a mandatory 1.25% uniform local rate collected statewide. On top of that, California counties and cities are permitted to add their own district taxes, and most do. According to the Tax Foundation, the average combined (state + local) sales tax rate in California is approximately 8.99% — but your actual rate depends on exactly where you shop.
District taxes vary widely. In cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and many Bay Area municipalities, the combined rate commonly reaches 10.25% or higher. Some cities in Los Angeles County hit 11.25%, the highest in the state. Meanwhile, shoppers in rural areas with no additional district taxes pay the floor rate of 7.25%.
Worked example: Buy a $100 item in a city with the average 8.99% combined rate and you will pay $8.99 in sales tax, for a total of $108.99. The same item in downtown Los Angeles at 10.25% would add $10.25, totaling $110.25.
California does exempt certain items from sales tax, including most unprepared groceries (food sold for home preparation), prescription medications, and certain medical devices. However, restaurant meals, prepared food, and most consumer goods are fully taxable.
Use this calculator to quickly find the sales tax on any purchase. Enter the applicable rate for your city and the purchase amount to see the exact tax and grand total.
Practical example — California
A $500 laptop purchased in San Jose (combined rate 9.375%) would incur $46.88 in sales tax, bringing the total to $546.88 — a real-world reminder that California's local taxes can add meaningful cost to big-ticket purchases.
Calculator
Fill in the fields and click "Calculate" for instant results.
Embed this calculator on your site
Copy the code below and paste it into the HTML of your site or blog.
<iframe src="https://www.calcnimbus.com/embed/sales-tax-calculator" width="100%" height="500" frameborder="0" style="border:1px solid #eee;border-radius:12px"></iframe>
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the sales tax rate in California?
California's statewide base sales tax rate is 7.25% (6% state + 1.25% mandatory local). When city and county district taxes are included, the average combined rate across the state is about 8.99%, though individual cities can reach as high as 11.25%.
Does California have local sales tax on top of the state rate?
Yes. California allows counties and cities to impose additional district taxes. Most jurisdictions do add extra taxes, which is why the average combined rate (8.99%) is noticeably higher than the base state rate (7.25%). Always check the rate for your specific city or ZIP code.
Are groceries taxed in California?
Most unprepared food items (groceries sold for home preparation) are exempt from California sales tax. However, prepared food sold at restaurants, hot food from grocery deli counters, and snack foods such as candy and soft drinks are generally taxable.
Are prescription drugs taxed in California?
No. Prescription medicines and many medical devices are exempt from California sales tax. Over-the-counter medications, however, are generally subject to the standard sales tax rate.
Which city in California has the highest sales tax?
Several cities in Los Angeles County, including Lancaster and Palmdale, have reached combined rates of 11.25%, among the highest in the state. Los Angeles city itself sits at 10.25%. Rates change periodically as voters approve new district taxes.