Pennsylvania Sales Tax Calculator
Combined state + local average: 6.34% (6.00% state + 0.34% avg local)
Calculator Inputs
Choose which value you enter; the calculator derives the rest.
Rate auto-fills with the state + average local combined rate.
Calculates the sales tax and total
= State 6.00% + Avg local 0.34%
Sales Tax
$6.34
Total $106.34
Breakdown
β’ The US has no federal VAT β sales tax is state + local only.
β’ 5 states have no statewide sales tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska.
β’ City and county rates add to the state rate; combined rates above use state averages.
* This calculator is for estimation only β verify with the state Department of Revenue for filing.
Quick reference β current state rate Γ common amounts
| Pre-tax | Tax (6.34%) | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.63 | $10.63 |
| $25.00 | $1.59 | $26.59 |
| $50.00 | $3.17 | $53.17 |
| $100.00 | $6.34 | $106.34 |
| $250.00 | $15.85 | $265.85 |
| $500.00 | $31.70 | $531.70 |
| $1,000.00 | $63.40 | $1,063.40 |
| $5,000.00 | $317.00 | $5,317.00 |
How this calculator works
- Combined rate = Pennsylvania state rate (6.00%) + the average local/district add-on (0.34%).
- Local rates vary by city and ZIP code, so use "Custom rate" mode for an exact total from your receipt.
- Reverse mode extracts the pre-tax price from a tax-included total: pre-tax = total Γ· (1 + rate).
Pennsylvania sales tax in context
Pennsylvania charges a flat 6.00% statewide with almost no local additions β the state average is just 6.34%. Only two jurisdictions add local tax: Philadelphia adds 2.00% (total 8.00%) and Allegheny County, including Pittsburgh, adds 1.00% (total 7.00%). Everywhere else in Pennsylvania, you pay exactly 6%. Pennsylvania is also notable for broad exemptions: clothing, unprepared groceries, and prescription drugs are tax-free, which keeps the effective burden lower than the headline rate suggests.
Pennsylvania-specific FAQs
No β Pennsylvania exempts most everyday clothing and footwear from sales tax entirely, with no price cap. This is one of the broadest clothing exemptions in the country. Exceptions that ARE taxed include formalwear/gowns rented or bought for special occasions, fur, athletic gear and sporting equipment (e.g. football pads, ski boots), and accessories like handbags and jewelry.
Both cities add a local tax on top of the 6% state rate, but at different levels. Philadelphia levies an extra 2.00% (total 8.00%), while Allegheny County β which contains Pittsburgh β levies 1.00% (total 7.00%). These are the only two local sales taxes in the entire state; every other Pennsylvania county and city charges the plain 6% state rate.
Unprepared groceries (the food you cook at home) are exempt from Pennsylvania sales tax, as are prescription and most over-the-counter drugs. However, prepared food, restaurant meals, and ready-to-eat items are taxable at the full combined rate, and soft drinks are taxed even when bought at a grocery store. Candy and gum, by contrast, are generally exempt. Most household necessities and non-prescription medical supplies are also tax-free.
Yes. Under Pennsylvania's economic nexus rules, remote sellers and marketplace facilitators with more than $100,000 in annual Pennsylvania sales must collect sales tax at the buyer's local rate (6%, 7% in Allegheny County, or 8% in Philadelphia). Marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay collect automatically on behalf of their third-party sellers, so most online shoppers see Pennsylvania tax applied at checkout.
Other state pages
Combined rate data: Tax Foundation, January 2025.