California sales tax at a glance
| State base rate | 7.25% |
| Average combined rate | ~8.85% (state + county + city + districts) |
| National rank | 8 of 51 by average combined rate (all-state average 6.61%) |
| Groceries | Generally exempt |
| Major cities | Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno |
Worked examples — what you actually pay in California
Using the average combined rate of 8.85% (your exact city rate may be higher or lower):
| Purchase | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $2.21 | $27.21 |
| $100 | $8.85 | $108.85 |
| $500 | $44.25 | $544.25 |
| $1,000 | $88.50 | $1088.50 |
| $10,000 | $885.00 | $10885.00 |
Sales tax rates
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How California compares with other states
The states closest to California on average combined rate, plus the national extremes — all rates are average combined (state + local):
| State | Average combined rate | Tax on $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| California (this page) | 8.85% | $88.50 |
| Kansas | 9.04% | $90.40 |
| Oklahoma | 8.98% | $89.80 |
| Illinois | 8.83% | $88.30 |
| New York | 8.53% | $85.30 |
| Louisiana — highest in the US | 9.56% | $95.60 |
| Oregon — lowest in the US | 0% | $0.00 |
What this means in California
At 8.85% average combined, California sits near the top of the national table — rank 8 of 51, 2.24 points above the all-state average of 6.61%. On a $10,000 purchase the tax is about $885, roughly $224 more than the same purchase at the average state's rate. For big-ticket items, confirming the exact local rate before you buy is worth real money.
Groceries for home consumption are exempt, so the weekly food shop is largely outside this tax. A state that taxed a $150 weekly basket at California's combined rate would collect about $690.3 a year from it; in California that charge falls only on non-food items and prepared food. Sellers should still check category rules — the exemption covers food, not everything in a supermarket.
How to calculate California sales tax (3 steps)
- Find your combined rate. Start with the 7.25% state rate, then add your county, city and any special-district rates for the exact purchase location.
- Multiply. Tax = taxable price × (combined rate ÷ 100). Shipping and discounts change the taxable base in some cases — discounts usually reduce it, delivery charges vary.
- Add (or extract). Total = price + tax. Working backwards from a tax-inclusive price: pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100). Our calculator does both directions instantly.
Groceries and exemptions in California
Groceries are generally exempt from the state sales tax; local rules can differ. Prescription medicines are exempt in almost every state; clothing, services and digital goods follow state-specific rules, so check the California Department of Revenue for category detail before assuming an item is tax-free.
Sales tax in major California cities
Combined rates inside California are set city by city:
- Los Angeles sales tax — 9.5% combined
- San Diego sales tax — 7.75% combined
- San Jose sales tax — 9.375% combined
- San Francisco sales tax — 8.625% combined
Selling into California? Read this
If you sell online and ship to California, economic nexus rules generally require you to collect tax once your California sales pass the state's threshold (commonly $100,000). You collect at the rate for the buyer's delivery address — which is why combined-rate accuracy matters more than the state base rate. The full calculator lets you test any rate, extract tax from totals, and model VAT for international sales.