Hawaii sales tax at a glance
| State base rate | 4% |
| Average combined rate | ~4.44% (state + county + city + districts) |
| National rank | 46 of 51 by average combined rate (all-state average 6.61%) |
| Groceries | Taxed at full rate |
| Major cities | Honolulu, Pearl City, Hilo, Kailua, Waipahu |
Worked examples — what you actually pay in Hawaii
Using the average combined rate of 4.44% (your exact city rate may be higher or lower):
| Purchase | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $1.11 | $26.11 |
| $100 | $4.44 | $104.44 |
| $500 | $22.20 | $522.20 |
| $1,000 | $44.40 | $1044.40 |
| $10,000 | $444.00 | $10444.00 |
Sales tax rates
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How Hawaii compares with other states
The states closest to Hawaii on average combined rate, plus the national extremes — all rates are average combined (state + local):
| State | Average combined rate | Tax on $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (this page) | 4.44% | $44.40 |
| Virginia | 5.77% | $57.70 |
| Wisconsin | 5.7% | $57.00 |
| Maine | 5.5% | $55.00 |
| Wyoming | 5.44% | $54.40 |
| Louisiana — highest in the US | 9.56% | $95.60 |
| Oregon — lowest in the US | 0% | $0.00 |
What this means in Hawaii
At 4.44% average combined, Hawaii is a low-sales-tax state — rank 46 of 51, 2.17 points below the all-state average of 6.61%. On a $10,000 purchase the tax is about $444, roughly $217 less than at the average state's rate. The saving is modest on weekly shopping and material on vehicles, appliances and building materials.
Hawaii taxes groceries at the full rate — one of the few states that do. A $150 weekly food shop at the average combined rate of 4.44% carries about $6.66 of tax a week, roughly $346.32 a year, before any credits the state offers residents on their income tax return. Households comparing states on cost of living should count this: it is a recurring charge, not a one-off.
How to calculate Hawaii sales tax (3 steps)
- Find your combined rate. Start with the 4% 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 Hawaii
Hawaii's general excise tax (GET) applies to almost everything, including groceries — it is a tax on businesses that is usually passed to shoppers. Prescription medicines are exempt in almost every state; clothing, services and digital goods follow state-specific rules, so check the Hawaii Department of Revenue for category detail before assuming an item is tax-free.
Selling into Hawaii? Read this
If you sell online and ship to Hawaii, economic nexus rules generally require you to collect tax once your Hawaii 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.