California Sales Tax Calculator
Enter a purchase price and choose your county to see the exact California sales tax amount, the full rate breakdown, and the final total. Switch to reverse mode to work backward from a tax-inclusive total and find the original pre-tax price. Rates reflect the CDTFA schedule effective April 1, 2026.
How California sales tax works
California imposes a layered sales tax. The foundation is a 6.00% state rate plus a mandatory 1.25% uniform local rate, giving a statewide floor of 7.25%. On top of that, counties, cities, and special districts can add voter-approved district taxes. As of April 2026 those surcharges range from zero (in counties like Alpine, Glenn, and Ventura) to more than 3.00% in high-tax jurisdictions, pushing some combined rates past 10.75%. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) publishes the official rate schedule and updates it quarterly.
How to use this calculator
Choose your calculation mode first. In forward mode, enter the price before tax and select your county: you get the itemized breakdown of state, mandatory local, and district portions, plus the total you will pay. In reverse mode, enter the final amount you paid and your county: the calculator strips out the tax and tells you the original pre-tax price. If your city has a rate that differs from the county default (for example, some city boundaries carry extra measures), enter the exact rate in the override field and the calculator will use that instead.
What is and is not subject to California sales tax
Most tangible goods sold in California are taxable. Key exemptions include most unprepared food (groceries), prescription drugs, and certain agricultural and manufacturing equipment. Services are generally not taxable unless they involve the creation of a tangible product. Online purchases delivered to a California address are subject to use tax at the same combined rate as if bought locally; since 2019 sellers above $500,000 in annual California sales must collect and remit use tax. If your transaction falls in a gray area, the CDTFA's publication 61 ("Sales and Use Taxes: Exemptions and Exclusions") is the authoritative reference.
Why rates differ across counties and cities
California allows local governments to place additional district taxes on the ballot. Voters in Alameda County, for example, have approved multiple measures over the years that push the combined county rate to 10.25%. Cities can layer their own measures on top of county measures, which is why Oakland (within Alameda County) and Long Beach (within Los Angeles County) carry rates above the county unincorporated area default. Rates change on quarterly boundaries (January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1) as new measures take effect or old ones expire. Always verify with the CDTFA address lookup for a specific transaction.
California sales tax rates by county (April 2026)
| County | Combined rate | District surcharge above 7.25% |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 10.250% | +3.000% |
| Alpine | 7.250% | None |
| Amador | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Butte | 8.250% | +1.000% |
| Calaveras | 8.250% | +1.000% |
| Colusa | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Contra Costa | 8.750% | +1.500% |
| Del Norte | 8.250% | +1.000% |
| El Dorado | 7.250% | None |
| Fresno | 7.975% | +0.725% |
| Glenn | 7.250% | None |
| Humboldt | 8.750% | +1.500% |
| Imperial | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Inyo | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Kern | 8.250% | +1.000% |
| Kings | 7.250% | None |
| Lake | 7.250% | None |
| Lassen | 7.250% | None |
| Los Angeles | 9.500% | +2.250% |
| Madera | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Marin | 8.250% | +1.000% |
| Mariposa | 8.250% | +1.000% |
| Merced | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Modoc | 7.250% | None |
| Mono | 7.250% | None |
| Monterey | 8.750% | +1.500% |
| Napa | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Nevada | 7.500% | +0.250% |
| Orange | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Placer | 7.250% | None |
| Plumas | 7.250% | None |
| Riverside | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Sacramento | 8.750% | +1.500% |
| San Benito | 8.250% | +1.000% |
| San Bernardino | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| San Diego | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| San Francisco | 8.625% | +1.375% |
| San Joaquin | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| San Luis Obispo | 7.250% | None |
| San Mateo | 9.375% | +2.125% |
| Santa Barbara | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Santa Clara | 9.125% | +1.875% |
| Santa Cruz | 9.500% | +2.250% |
| Shasta | 7.250% | None |
| Sierra | 7.250% | None |
| Siskiyou | 7.250% | None |
| Solano | 7.375% | +0.125% |
| Sonoma | 9.250% | +2.000% |
| Stanislaus | 7.875% | +0.625% |
| Sutter | 7.250% | None |
| Tehama | 7.250% | None |
| Trinity | 7.250% | None |
| Tulare | 7.750% | +0.500% |
| Tuolumne | 7.250% | None |
| Ventura | 7.250% | None |
| Yolo | 7.250% | None |
| Yuba | 8.250% | +1.000% |
Combined rates (state 6% + mandatory local 1.25% + district surcharges) from the CDTFA schedule effective April 1, 2026. City rates within a county may differ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the California state sales tax rate in 2026?
The California statewide minimum is 7.25%, made up of a 6.00% state base rate and a 1.25% mandatory uniform local rate. Most Californians pay more than 7.25% because their county or city has added voter-approved district taxes on top of that floor. The statewide average combined rate is roughly 8.7% in 2026.
Which California county has the highest sales tax?
As of April 2026, Alameda County has one of the highest combined rates at 10.25%. Some individual cities such as Long Beach (Los Angeles County) also reach 10.25% or above due to city-level measures. Rates are fluid because new ballot measures can take effect quarterly.
Which California county has the lowest sales tax?
Several counties sit at the 7.25% state minimum because they have passed no additional district measures. These include Alpine, El Dorado, Glenn, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Placer, Plumas, San Luis Obispo, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo counties.
Are groceries taxable in California?
Most unprepared food intended for home consumption is exempt from California sales tax. This covers items like fresh produce, meat, bread, and canned goods. Hot prepared food sold ready to eat (like a rotisserie chicken from a grocery deli) is generally taxable. Soft drinks and candy are also taxable even when cold.
How do I find the exact sales tax rate for my address?
The CDTFA provides a free address-level rate lookup at maps.cdtfa.ca.gov. Enter the street address and it returns the exact combined rate for that location, including any city-level measures that may differ from the broader county rate. This is the authoritative source and is updated whenever rates change.
What is reverse sales tax calculation?
Reverse (or "tax-inclusive") calculation starts with the final total you paid, including tax, and works backward to the original pre-tax price. The formula is: pre-tax price = total paid / (1 + combined rate / 100). This is useful for verifying a receipt, computing margins, or filing expense reports when only the total is available.
Does California sales tax apply to online purchases?
Yes. California is a destination-based state, so sales tax is based on the delivery address. Since April 2019, out-of-state sellers with more than $500,000 in annual California sales must collect California use tax at the same rate as the buyer's local combined rate. Purchases from sellers below that threshold are technically subject to consumer use tax, which buyers are supposed to self-report on their state income tax return.