Pennsylvania Sales Tax Calculator 2026: 6% + Local Rates

Pennsylvania Sales Tax Calculator 2026

Pennsylvania charges a 6% sales tax almost everywhere. Only two places add a local tax: Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) adds 1% for a 7% total, and Philadelphia adds 2% for 8%. The state is unusually generous with exemptions: everyday clothing, most groceries and both prescription and over-the-counter medicines are tax-free. Set the local rate to 0, 1 or 2 below depending on where you buy, then add the tax to a price or work it back out of a receipt.

By AwaisLast reviewed October 28, 2026

Pennsylvania sales tax at a glance

Pennsylvania sales tax rules
Type of tax	Sales and use tax
State rate	6%
Local rates	Average 0.34%, highest 2.00%
Average combined rate	6.34%
Groceries	ExemptMost food for home consumption is exempt. Soft drinks, alcohol and ready-to-eat or catered food are taxable.
Prescription drugs	ExemptPrescription drugs are exempt, and so are most nonprescription medicines.
Clothing	Exempt (everyday clothing)Everyday clothing and shoes are exempt with no price cap. Accessories, formal wear, furs and sporting goods are taxable.

Local averages are population-weighted figures from the Tax Foundation: State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (rates as of 1 July 2026). They are a guide, not the rate at any one address. For the exact rate where you buy, use the PA Department of Revenue: Sales, use and hotel occupancy tax.

Worked examples

A $750 TV in Philadelphia (8%)

A $750 TV in Philadelphia (8%)
Rate	6% state + 2% local = 8%
Price before tax	$750.00
Sales tax	$60.00
Total	$810.00

Working: $750.00 × 8% = $60.00. Philadelphia adds 2% to the 6% state rate. Buying the same TV in a suburb outside the city would cost 2% less in tax.

Working back from a $64.20 receipt in Pittsburgh (7%)

Working back from a $64.20 receipt in Pittsburgh (7%)
Rate	6% state + 1% local = 7%
Price before tax	$60.00
Sales tax	$4.20
Total	$64.20

Working back: $64.20 ÷ 1.07 = $60.00, so the tax was $4.20. Allegheny County adds 1%, so divide by 1.07. Remember that everyday clothing on the same receipt would not have been taxed at all.

Only two local rates

Unlike most states, Pennsylvania does not let every county or city add its own sales tax. The law allows just two local add-ons: 1% in Allegheny County and 2% in Philadelphia. Everywhere else the rate is the flat 6% state rate. That is why the Tax Foundation's average local rate is only 0.34% even though Philadelphia shoppers pay 8%. Pennsylvania has no address lookup tool because the rule is this simple: check whether the sale or delivery is in Allegheny County or Philadelphia.

Clothing is tax-free, with exceptions

Pennsylvania is one of the few states that exempts everyday clothing and shoes with no price limit, so a $300 winter coat carries no sales tax. The exemption does not cover everything you wear: accessories such as jewelry and handbags, formal day or evening wear, fur articles and sporting goods like ski boots and cleats are taxable. Most groceries are exempt too, but soft drinks, alcohol and ready-to-eat food from a store or restaurant are taxed.

Pennsylvania vs. neighboring states

Pennsylvania sales tax compared with neighboring states
State	State rate	Avg. combined	Groceries
Pennsylvania	6%	6.34%	Exempt
New York	4%	8.54%	Exempt
New Jersey	6.625%	6.60%	Exempt
Delaware	0%	0.00%	No sales tax
Maryland	6%	6.00%	Exempt
West Virginia	6%	6.60%	Exempt
Ohio	5.75%	7.29%	Exempt

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

What is the sales tax in Philadelphia?

8%. Philadelphia adds a 2% local sales tax to the 6% state rate. Pittsburgh and the rest of Allegheny County pay 7%, and the rest of Pennsylvania pays 6%.

Is clothing taxed in Pennsylvania?

Everyday clothing and shoes are exempt, with no price cap. Accessories, formal wear, fur items and sports equipment such as cleats and ski boots are taxable at 6% or more.

Are groceries taxed in Pennsylvania?

Most food for home use is exempt. Soft drinks, alcohol and ready-to-eat food, such as a deli sandwich or a restaurant meal, are taxed at the normal rate.

Are over-the-counter medicines taxed in Pennsylvania?

No. Pennsylvania exempts both prescription drugs and most nonprescription medicines, so cold medicine and pain relievers bought at a pharmacy are usually tax-free.

What is the sales tax rate in Pennsylvania in 2026?

The statewide rate is 6%. Local taxes add 0.34% on average and up to 2.00%, so the average combined rate is 6.34% (Tax Foundation, rates as of 1 July 2026).

How do I calculate Pennsylvania sales tax on a purchase?

Add the state and local rates, then multiply the price by that rate as a decimal. At 6.34% (the state rate plus the average local rate), tax on $100 is 100 × 0.0634 = $6.34, for a total of $106.34. To go back from a receipt total, divide it by 1 plus the rate.