Skip to content
KazamTools

Maine Sales Tax Calculator 2026

Maine charges a 5.5% sales tax on most goods, and towns cannot add their own, so the rate is the same in Portland, Bangor and every coastal village. Several purchases have their own state rates: 8% on prepared food, 9% on lodging and 10% on short-term car rentals. Grocery staples and prescription drugs are exempt. In 2026 Maine also repealed its separate Service Provider Tax. Enter a price below to add 5.5%, or a receipt total to remove it.

By , Founder and editor-in-chiefLast reviewed

$

Total with tax

$105.50

Sales tax $5.50 at 5.5%

Price before tax
$100.00
Sales tax
$5.50
Total
$105.50

How this was calculated

Rate = 5.5% state = 5.5%

Tax = $100.00 × 5.5% = $5.50 (rounded half up to the cent)

Total = $100.00 + $5.50 = $105.50

Maine rate checked 2026-10-28. Average and highest local rates: Tax Foundation, midyear 2026. We do not have a ZIP code or address database, so type the local rate for the place of sale from the Maine Revenue Services: Sales and use tax rates. Online orders are taxed at the delivery address.

Maine sales tax at a glance

Maine sales tax rules
Type of taxSales and use tax
State rate5.5%
Local ratesNone: one rate statewide
Average combined rate5.50%
GroceriesExempt (grocery staples)Grocery staples are exempt. Prepared food is taxed at 8%, and items that are not staples, such as candy and soft drinks, at 5.5%.
Prescription drugsExemptPrescription drugs are exempt. Over-the-counter drugs are taxable.
ClothingTaxedClothing is taxed at 5.5%. Maine has no sales tax holiday.

Official rates: Maine Revenue Services: Sales and use tax rates.

Worked examples

A $400 kayak paddle set in Portland (5.5%)

A $400 kayak paddle set in Portland (5.5%)
Rate5.5%
Price before tax$400.00
Sales tax$22.00
Total$422.00

Working: $400.00 × 5.5% = $22.00. General goods pay 5.5% everywhere in Maine. A restaurant meal on the same trip would be taxed at 8% instead.

Working back from a $52.75 receipt at 5.5%

Working back from a $52.75 receipt at 5.5%
Rate5.5%
Price before tax$50.00
Sales tax$2.75
Total$52.75

Working back: $52.75 ÷ 1.055 = $50.00, so the tax was $2.75. Divide by 1.055 for the price before tax. For a restaurant bill, use the 8% rate and divide by 1.08.

Maine's rate table

Maine Revenue Services publishes one rate table for the whole state. From 1 January 2026 it lists 5.5% on general sales, 8% on prepared food, 9% on lodging, 10% on short-term auto rentals and 5.5% on long-term auto rentals. Adult-use cannabis rose from 10% to 14% on 1 January 2026. The Service Provider Tax, which applied to certain services, was repealed from the same date. There are no local sales taxes.

Groceries and medicine

Maine exempts grocery staples, such as bread, milk, meat, fruit and vegetables bought to prepare at home. Food that is not a staple, such as candy and soft drinks, is taxed at 5.5%, and prepared food from restaurants and stores is taxed at 8%. Prescription drugs are exempt, but over-the-counter medicines are taxable. Maine does not hold a sales tax holiday.

Maine vs. neighboring states

Maine sales tax compared with neighboring states
StateState rateAvg. combinedGroceries
Maine5.5%5.50%Exempt (grocery staples)
New Hampshire0%0.00%No sales tax

Average combined rates are from the Tax Foundation, midyear 2026 report. See sales tax rates for every state for the full table.

Frequently asked questions

Does Maine have local sales tax?

No. Maine towns and cities do not add sales tax, so the general 5.5% rate applies everywhere in the state.

What is the Maine meals tax?

Prepared food, including restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food from stores, is taxed at 8% instead of the general 5.5% rate.

What is the lodging tax in Maine?

Hotel rooms, vacation rentals and other lodging are taxed at 9%. Short-term car rentals are taxed at 10%.

Are groceries taxed in Maine?

Grocery staples are exempt. Items that are not staples, such as candy and soft drinks, are taxed at 5.5%, and prepared food is taxed at 8%.

What is the sales tax rate in Maine in 2026?

The statewide rate is 5.5%. There are no local sales taxes, so 5.5% is the rate everywhere in the state.

How do I calculate Maine sales tax on a purchase?

Add the state and local rates, then multiply the price by that rate as a decimal. At 5.5%, tax on $100 is 100 × 0.055 = $5.50, for a total of $105.50. To go back from a receipt total, divide it by 1 plus the rate.

How we keep this tool accurate

Written and checked by
Awais, founder and editor-in-chief
Last reviewed

Sources

Results are estimates for general information only and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules and rates change; check official sources or a qualified professional before you act. See how we build and check our calculators.

Related tools

Sales Tax CalculatorAdd tax to a price or pull it out of a total, with every state’s 2026 base rate.Discount CalculatorSale price, savings and the true total of stacked discounts, with the working shown.VAT CalculatorAdd or remove VAT in one step, with current rates for the UK, EU, Gulf and Pakistan.Tip CalculatorThe tip, the total and what each person pays, rounded the way you want.Paycheck CalculatorSee your take-home pay per paycheck and per year, with every deduction explained.Property Tax CalculatorEstimate your yearly and monthly property tax from your home’s value, your state’s rate and any exemptions.