Delaware sales tax at a glance
| State base rate | 0% |
| Average combined rate | ~0% (state + county + city + districts) |
| National rank | 48 of 51 by average combined rate (all-state average 6.61%) |
| Groceries | Generally exempt |
| Major cities | Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Middletown, Smyrna |
Worked examples — what you actually pay in Delaware
Using the average combined rate of 0% (your exact city rate may be higher or lower):
| Purchase | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $0.00 | $25.00 |
| $100 | $0.00 | $100.00 |
| $500 | $0.00 | $500.00 |
| $1,000 | $0.00 | $1000.00 |
| $10,000 | $0.00 | $10000.00 |
Sales tax rates
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How Delaware compares with other states
The states closest to Delaware on average combined rate, plus the national extremes — all rates are average combined (state + local):
| State | Average combined rate | Tax on $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware (this page) | 0% | $0.00 |
| Alaska | 1.82% | $18.20 |
| Montana | 0% | $0.00 |
| New Hampshire | 0% | $0.00 |
| Oregon | 0% | $0.00 |
| Louisiana — highest in the US | 9.56% | $95.60 |
| Oregon — lowest in the US | 0% | $0.00 |
What this means in Delaware
Delaware charges no sales tax at the state or local level. A $10,000 purchase that carries about $661 of tax at the all-state average combined rate of 6.61% carries $0 here. That arithmetic is why no-sales-tax states draw cross-border shoppers for cars, appliances and electronics — and why the saving is largest exactly on the purchases households plan in advance.
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 Delaware's combined rate would collect about $0 a year from it; in Delaware 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 Delaware sales tax (3 steps)
- Find your combined rate. Start with the 0% 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 Delaware
No sales tax in Delaware. Prescription medicines are exempt in almost every state; clothing, services and digital goods follow state-specific rules, so check the Delaware Department of Revenue for category detail before assuming an item is tax-free.
Selling into Delaware? Read this
If you sell online and ship to Delaware, economic nexus rules generally require you to collect tax once your Delaware 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.