Wisconsin Sales Tax Calculator
Figure the tax, the total, or the pre-tax price for any U.S. state or city rate
Wisconsin levies a 5.00% state sales tax, one of the more straightforward structures in the Midwest. On top of that, 70 of Wisconsin's 72 counties add a 0.5% county sales tax, bringing the typical combined rate to 5.5% in most of the state. The Tax Foundation puts the statewide average combined rate at 5.72% for 2025 when weighting by population — placing Wisconsin among the ten lowest combined sales tax states in the country.
The outlier is Milwaukee, which stacks an extra city use tax on top of the county rate, pushing the combined rate to approximately 5.6% to 5.9% in that area. Waukesha and Winnebago counties have not adopted the county add-on, so shoppers there pay only the base 5% state rate.
A helpful note for grocery shoppers: most unprepared food is exempt from Wisconsin sales tax. Fresh produce, meat, dairy, and bread are not taxed. However, soft drinks, candy, dietary supplements, and prepared or ready-to-eat foods (like restaurant meals or deli hot foods) are fully taxable.
Worked example: You buy a new television for $100 at a store in Dane County (Madison). The county adds 0.5%, so you pay 5.5% total — that's $5.50 in sales tax, for a final register total of $105.50. In Milwaukee, the same TV could cost slightly more in tax depending on the city rate applied.
Use the calculator above to enter any purchase amount and your local combined rate to see exactly how much sales tax you'll owe.
Practical example — Wisconsin
A $100 electronics purchase in Madison (Dane County) costs $5.50 in sales tax at the 5.5% combined rate, for a total of $105.50 at the register.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the sales tax rate in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's statewide base sales tax rate is 5.00%. Most counties add an extra 0.5% county tax, making the combined rate 5.5% in 70 of 72 counties. The statewide population-weighted average combined rate is 5.72% according to the Tax Foundation (2025). Milwaukee has additional city-level taxes that push its combined rate higher.
Does Wisconsin have local sales tax on top of the state rate?
Yes. Seventy of Wisconsin's 72 counties have adopted a 0.5% county sales tax. Only Waukesha and Winnebago counties have not, so shoppers there pay only the 5% state rate. Milwaukee also applies a city-level use tax, resulting in one of the highest combined rates in the state.
Are groceries taxed in Wisconsin?
Most unprepared groceries are exempt from Wisconsin sales tax. Items like fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and bread are not taxed. However, candy, soft drinks, dietary supplements, and prepared or ready-to-eat foods (including restaurant meals and hot deli items) are subject to the full sales tax rate.
How does Wisconsin's sales tax compare to neighboring states?
Wisconsin's 5.72% average combined rate is lower than Illinois (8.86%), Iowa (6.94%), and Minnesota (7.49%), but slightly above Michigan (6.00%) and similar to Indiana (7.00%). Wisconsin ranks among the ten states with the lowest combined sales tax rates nationally.
Do I pay Wisconsin sales tax on online purchases?
Yes. Wisconsin requires out-of-state online retailers with economic nexus (over $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions into Wisconsin in a calendar year) to collect and remit sales tax. If the retailer does not collect it, Wisconsin residents are technically required to self-report and pay use tax at the same rate.