Ohio Sales Tax Calculator 2026 — 5.75% Rate
Calculate Ohio sales tax on any purchase instantly. The state sales tax rate is 5.75%, and the average combined rate (state + local) is 7.24%. Enter your purchase amount to see state tax, local tax, and the total amount due — all calculated privately in your browser.
Ohio Sales Tax Rate: State vs Combined
The Ohio state sales tax rate is 5.75%. However, most shoppers pay more than the state rate because counties and cities add their own local taxes on top. The average combined rate across all jurisdictions in Ohio is 7.24%, according to Tax Foundation 2026 data. This means a $100 purchase could cost between $105.75 (state only) and more in high-tax localities.
What Is and Isn't Taxed in Ohio
Ohio exempts most unprepared grocery items from state sales tax, which helps reduce the cost of essential food purchases. Clothing, however, is fully taxable in Ohio year-round — there is no general apparel exemption, unlike Pennsylvania next door. Prescription drugs are exempt from sales tax in Ohio.
How to Calculate Ohio Sales Tax
To calculate Ohio sales tax: multiply the purchase price by the applicable rate. For the state rate only: price × 5.75% = tax. For the combined rate: use 7.24% for an average estimate, or enter the exact local rate from your receipt or the Ohio Department of Revenue website. Example: a $200 purchase at the 7.24% combined rate = $14.48 in tax = $214.48 total.
Tips for Accurate Sales Tax Calculations
Always confirm the exact local rate for your specific city or county — the combined average (7.24%) is a statewide mean and may differ from your actual checkout rate. Large purchases like vehicles, appliances, or electronics are where the difference between state-only and combined rates matters most. Keep receipts that show the tax rate used; this helps verify correct tax was charged and supports any refund claims for exempt purchases. If you are making a business purchase, check whether your state offers a sales tax exemption certificate to avoid paying tax on resale items.
Ohio Sales Tax by Major County (2026 Rates)
Ohio's 88 counties each add a local piggyback rate on top of the 5.75% state base. The Ohio Department of Taxation rate table publishes exact county rates — these are the biggest ones:
- Cuyahoga County (Cleveland): 8.00% combined (5.75% state + 2.25% county) — highest big-county rate.
- Franklin County (Columbus): 7.50% combined (5.75% + 1.75%).
- Hamilton County (Cincinnati): 7.80% combined (5.75% + 2.05%).
- Summit County (Akron): 6.75% combined (5.75% + 1.00%).
- Montgomery County (Dayton): 7.50% combined (5.75% + 1.75%).
- Lucas County (Toledo): 7.75% combined (5.75% + 2.00%).
Use the Ohio Department of Taxation address-based lookup for the exact rate at any Ohio street address. Retailers must charge the destination rate (buyer's ship-to address) under Ohio's Streamlined Sales Tax rules. Updated 2026-07-07.
Ohio Sales Tax on Cars and Vehicle Purchases
A car is the largest sales-tax bill most Ohioans ever pay, and it does not work like a shop purchase. You do not pay the dealer’s local rate — Ohio charges vehicle sales tax at the rate of the county where you live and register the car, and it is collected by the county Clerk of Courts when the title transfers, not at the point of sale. Buy in Summit County (6.75%) and register in Cuyahoga (8.00%) and you owe the Cuyahoga rate. The single biggest saving is the trade-in allowance: when you trade a vehicle in to a licensed Ohio dealer, tax is charged only on the difference, so a $35,000 car against a $12,000 trade-in is taxed on $23,000 — at 8.00% that is $1,840 instead of $2,800, a $960 saving. Selling the old car privately and buying with cash forfeits that break entirely, which is why a private-sale price needs to beat the dealer’s trade offer by more than the tax saving to be worth it. Manufacturer rebates do not reduce the taxable price, and neither do dealer documentation fees. A private-party purchase between two individuals is still taxable — the Clerk of Courts collects it at titling based on the price you declare. Confirm your own county rate with The Finder and the titling steps with the Ohio BMV before you sign.
Ohio Sales Tax Holiday 2026 and Recurring Exemptions
Ohio runs an annual sales tax holiday under Ohio Revised Code § 5739.02(B)(58). The 2026 holiday runs 10 consecutive days in early August and exempts most tangible personal property priced at $500 or less per item — no clothing-only or school-supply cap like other states, and it includes food service, restaurants, and dine-in meals. The exemption applies to state (5.75%) + all local piggyback rates, so a Cuyahoga County shopper saves the full 8.00% during the window. Motor vehicles, watercraft, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana products are excluded. Beyond the holiday, Ohio has permanent exemptions for prescription drugs, most groceries (unprepared food), newspapers, and manufacturing machinery. Confirm the exact 2026 dates on the Ohio Department of Taxation site before the trip — the legislature can shorten or extend the window each budget cycle. Updated 2026-07-14.
Ohio Sales Tax Calculator in Reverse: Back Out Tax From a Total
Switch Calculation Mode to Remove tax from a total (reverse) when you already know what you paid and need the pre-tax price — the number bookkeepers, expense reports, and OH business filings actually ask for. The formula is pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate), not total minus the rate, which is the mistake that leaves receipts a few cents off. Example at the 7.24% average combined rate: a $107.00 receipt divides to $99.78 pre-tax plus $7.22 in sales tax. Confirm your exact local rate with the Ohio Department of Taxation before filing. Updated 2026-07-29.
Is Clothing Taxed in Ohio? Yes — and That Surprises Cross-Border Shoppers
Ohio taxes clothing and footwear at the full rate all year. There is no everyday apparel exemption, so a $100 pair of shoes costs $105.75 at the state rate alone and $108.00 in Cuyahoga County at 8.00%. Two exceptions matter. First, the August sales tax holiday under Ohio Revised Code § 5739.02(B)(58) exempts tangible personal property priced $500 or less per item from both state and county tax. Second, Pennsylvania, immediately east, exempts everyday clothing year-round — which is why Ohio residents near the border shop apparel across the line, though Ohio use tax is still owed on goods brought home. Current rates: Ohio Department of Taxation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the sales tax rate in Ohio?
The Ohio state sales tax rate is 5.75%. When combined with local county and city taxes, the average rate across Ohio is 7.24% (Tax Foundation 2026).
Does Ohio tax groceries?
Ohio exempts most unprepared grocery items from state sales tax, which helps reduce the cost of essential food purchases.
Is clothing taxed in Ohio?
No — Ohio has no general clothing exemption. Clothing and footwear are fully taxable at 5.75% state plus your county piggyback rate, so a $100 jacket in Cuyahoga County costs $108.00. The only relief is the annual August sales tax holiday, when tangible personal property priced $500 or less per item is exempt from state and local tax. This differs from neighbouring Pennsylvania, which exempts everyday clothing year-round.
What is the combined sales tax rate in Ohio?
The average combined (state + local) sales tax rate in Ohio is 7.24%. The state portion is 5.75%; the remainder comes from county and municipal taxes that vary by location.
How do I calculate sales tax in Ohio?
Multiply the purchase price by the rate. For state tax only: price × 0.0575. For the average combined rate: price × 0.0724. Example: $50 × 0.0724 = $3.62 tax, total $53.62.
Which Ohio counties have the highest sales tax rate in 2026?
Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) has the highest big-county rate at 8.00% combined (5.75% state + 2.25% county piggyback). Hamilton County (Cincinnati) is 7.80%, Lucas County (Toledo) 7.75%, Franklin (Columbus) and Montgomery (Dayton) 7.50%, and Summit (Akron) 6.75%. Check the Ohio Department of Taxation address-based lookup for the exact rate at your street address.
Does Ohio use destination or origin sales tax sourcing?
Ohio uses destination-based sourcing under Streamlined Sales Tax rules for most sales — retailers must charge the tax rate at the buyer's ship-to address, not the store's location. This matters for e-commerce and delivery sales where the buyer and seller are in different Ohio counties. A retailer in Franklin County (7.50%) shipping to Cuyahoga County must charge 8.00%.
When is the Ohio sales tax holiday in 2026?
Ohio's 2026 sales tax holiday runs 10 consecutive days in early August under Ohio Revised Code § 5739.02(B)(58). Most tangible personal property $500 or less per item is exempt from both state (5.75%) and all local piggyback taxes — including restaurant/dine-in meals. Motor vehicles, watercraft, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are excluded. Confirm the exact dates on the Ohio Department of Taxation website before you shop.
How does the Ohio sales tax calculator handle county rate differences?
This Ohio sales tax calculator lets you pick between the 5.75% state-only rate and the 7.24% statewide combined average. For exact county math, use the state rate + your county piggyback: Cuyahoga 8.00%, Hamilton 7.80%, Lucas 7.75%, Franklin/Montgomery 7.50%, Summit 6.75%. Retailers under Streamlined Sales Tax rules must charge the destination-address rate, so an online order shipped to Cleveland pays 8.00% regardless of the seller's Ohio county.
How do I reverse calculate Ohio sales tax from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate — do not subtract the percentage. At the 7.24% average combined OH rate, a $107.00 total divides to $99.78 pre-tax and $7.22 in sales tax. Set Calculation Mode on this page to 'Remove tax from a total (reverse)' and enter the amount you actually paid; the calculator returns the pre-tax price, the state share, the local share, and the total tax.
How much is sales tax on a car in Ohio?
Ohio charges vehicle sales tax at the rate of the county where you live and register the car, not where the dealer is. It is collected by the county Clerk of Courts at title transfer. Rates run from 6.75% in Summit County to 8.00% in Cuyahoga. On a $30,000 car that is $2,025 to $2,400. A trade-in to a licensed Ohio dealer reduces the taxable amount to the difference in price, but manufacturer rebates and dealer doc fees do not.
Does an Ohio trade-in reduce the sales tax on a new car?
Yes. Trading a vehicle in to a licensed Ohio dealer means tax is charged only on the price difference. A $35,000 car against a $12,000 trade-in is taxed on $23,000 — at the 8.00% Cuyahoga rate that is $1,840 rather than $2,800, a $960 saving. Selling the old car privately loses that break, so a private buyer needs to beat the dealer trade-in offer by more than the tax saving before it is worth doing.
Why does subtracting 7.24% from my Ohio total give the wrong pre-tax price?
Because the tax was charged on the smaller pre-tax figure, not on the total. Subtracting 7.24% of $107.00 removes more than was ever added, leaving you short by a few cents on small receipts and by dollars on large ones. The correct reverse formula is total ÷ (1 + rate). This is the most common error on expense reports and OH sales-tax returns, and the reverse mode in this calculator applies the correct formula automatically.