Ohio Sales Tax Calculator

Compute Ohio sales tax for any county in 2025. Add tax to a pre-tax price or strip it from a total.

๐Ÿ”ด Ohio Sales Tax Calculator
City / County7.500%
Custom Tax Rate (%)0%
%
Pre-Tax Price$100.00
$
$0$5,000
Tax-Inclusive Price$107.50
$
$0$5,000
Sales Tax Amount
Total Price
Pre-Tax Price
Rate Applied

๐Ÿ”ด What is Ohio Sales Tax?

Ohio sales tax is a transaction tax collected by retailers at the point of sale on most tangible personal property and certain enumerated services. It is administered by the Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) and has two components: a statewide base rate of 5.75% and a county-level permissive tax that each of Ohio's 88 counties may impose on top of the state rate. Combined rates across Ohio range from 6.5% in Stark County (Canton) to 8.0% in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Lorain County, and Lake County.

Ohio's county permissive tax system means the effective rate depends entirely on where the purchase occurs. Cuyahoga County, home to Cleveland and its suburbs such as Parma, Lakewood, and Shaker Heights, levies the maximum allowable county rate of 2.25%, resulting in the 8.0% statewide high. By contrast, Stark County, which includes Canton and Massillon, levies only a 0.75% county tax, yielding a comparatively low 6.5% combined rate. The difference can produce meaningful savings on large purchases: a $10,000 purchase at 6.5% costs $150 less in tax than the same purchase at 8.0%.

This calculator is useful in many everyday situations. As a shopper in Columbus preparing to buy a $1,000 laptop, you want to know the checkout total before you reach the register. As a small business owner in Cincinnati, you need to collect the correct 7.8% Hamilton County rate and remit it quarterly to the Ohio Department of Taxation. As an accountant reconciling travel expenses, you need to reverse-calculate the pre-tax base from receipts that show only a tax-inclusive total. As a consumer comparison-shopping across the Columbus and Cleveland metro areas, you may prefer purchasing a high-value item in a lower-rate county.

A frequent misconception is that Ohio has a uniform sales tax rate. Ohio exempts groceries intended for home preparation entirely from the sales tax, making food purchases affordable across the state regardless of county. Prescription drugs are similarly exempt. Prepared restaurant meals, however, are fully taxable at the local combined rate. Another common source of confusion is the use tax, which Ohio requires residents to pay on purchases made out of state when the seller does not collect Ohio sales tax โ€” this is essentially the consumer's equivalent of the sales tax.

๐Ÿ“ Formula

Tax  =  Price × (Rate ÷ 100)
Tax = sales tax amount in dollars
Price = pre-tax price in dollars
Rate = combined sales tax rate for the county (%)
Total = Price + Tax
Pre-Tax  =  Total ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100)
Pre-Tax = price before tax, extracted from a tax-inclusive total
Total = tax-inclusive price
Rate = combined sales tax rate for the county (%)
Tax Amount = Total − Pre-Tax
Example (Add Tax): $100 item in Columbus at 7.5% = $7.50 tax = $107.50 total
Example (Remove Tax): $107.50 total at 7.5% = $107.50 / 1.075 = $100.00 pre-tax

๐Ÿ“– How to Use This Calculator

Steps

1
Select your city: Choose from the dropdown list of 20 Ohio cities. The combined 2025 county rate appears next to the city name and updates the Rate Applied display. If your city is not listed, choose Custom Rate and enter the exact percentage.
2
Choose a calculation mode: Click Add Tax if you know the pre-tax price and want to compute what the customer pays in total. Click Remove Tax if you have a tax-included receipt total and need to separate the pre-tax price from the tax amount.
3
Enter the price: Type the amount in the input field or drag the slider. The slider range is $0 to $5,000. For larger purchases, type the value directly into the input box.
4
Read the results: The calculator displays Sales Tax Amount, Total Price, Pre-Tax Price, and Rate Applied instantly. Use the share buttons to copy, print, or send the result via WhatsApp.

๐Ÿ’ก Example Calculations

Example 1: Electronics Purchase in Columbus

$899 laptop purchased in Columbus at 7.5% combined rate (Franklin County)

1
Pre-tax price = $899.00
2
Tax = $899.00 x (7.5 / 100) = $899.00 x 0.075 = $67.43
3
Total = $899.00 + $67.43 = $966.43
Tax = $67.43 | Total = $966.43
Try this example →

Example 2: Restaurant Receipt in Cleveland

$86.40 tax-inclusive dinner bill in Cleveland at 8.0% combined rate (Cuyahoga County)

1
Tax-inclusive total = $86.40
2
Pre-tax = $86.40 / (1 + 8.0 / 100) = $86.40 / 1.08 = $80.00
3
Tax amount = $86.40 − $80.00 = $6.40
Pre-Tax = $80.00 | Tax = $6.40
Try this example →

Example 3: Furniture Purchase โ€” Canton vs. Cleveland

$2,500 sofa: comparing Canton (6.5%) vs. Cleveland (8.0%)

1
Canton tax = $2,500.00 x 0.065 = $162.50 | Total = $2,662.50
2
Cleveland tax = $2,500.00 x 0.08 = $200.00 | Total = $2,700.00
3
Savings by buying in Canton = $200.00 − $162.50 = $37.50
Canton Total = $2,662.50 | Cleveland Total = $2,700.00
Try this example →

โ“ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ohio sales tax rate in 2025?+
Ohio's statewide base rate is 5.75%. Each county adds a permissive tax, so combined rates range from 6.5% in Stark County (Canton) to 8.0% in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Lorain County, and Lake County. Most major Ohio cities have combined rates between 7% and 8%. Use the city dropdown above to find the exact combined rate for your location.
How do I calculate Ohio sales tax on a purchase?+
Multiply the pre-tax price by the combined rate as a decimal. For a $200 item in Columbus (7.5%): Tax = $200 x 0.075 = $15.00, Total = $215.00. For Cleveland (8.0%): Tax = $200 x 0.08 = $16.00, Total = $216.00. This calculator handles both add-tax and remove-tax scenarios instantly for any Ohio county.
How do I remove sales tax from a price in Ohio?+
Divide the tax-inclusive total by (1 + Rate/100). For a $107.50 total at 7.5%: Pre-tax = $107.50 / 1.075 = $100.00. The Remove Tax mode in this calculator handles this automatically. It is useful when an invoice shows the total price and you need to separate the tax for reimbursement or bookkeeping purposes.
Are groceries taxable in Ohio?+
No. Food sold for off-premises consumption โ€” meaning groceries purchased at a supermarket, grocery store, or convenience store for home preparation โ€” is fully exempt from Ohio sales tax at both the state and county level. This exemption does not apply to prepared foods served for immediate consumption, such as restaurant meals, hot bar foods, or fountain drinks sold at the counter.
What is the sales tax rate in Columbus in 2025?+
Columbus is in Franklin County, which levies a 1.75% county permissive tax on top of Ohio's 5.75% state base, for a combined rate of 7.5% in 2025. Franklin County is Ohio's most populous county and the fastest-growing major metro area in the Midwest.
What is the sales tax rate in Cleveland in 2025?+
Cleveland is in Cuyahoga County, which levies a 2.25% county permissive tax โ€” the maximum allowed. The combined sales tax rate in Cleveland is 8.0% in 2025, the highest of any major Ohio city. This rate applies throughout Cuyahoga County, including Parma, Lakewood, and Shaker Heights.
Why do Ohio counties have different sales tax rates?+
Ohio law allows each of its 88 counties to levy a permissive sales tax of up to 3% on top of the state's 5.75% base rate. County commissioners impose these taxes by resolution to fund local services such as county roads, children's services, criminal justice, and economic development. Because each county board independently sets its rate, combined rates vary from 6.5% to 8.0% across the state.
Are prescription drugs exempt from Ohio sales tax?+
Yes. Prescription drugs are fully exempt from Ohio sales tax at both the state and county levels. Over-the-counter medications sold without a prescription are generally taxable at the full combined rate. Durable medical equipment and certain mobility aids prescribed by licensed healthcare professionals may also qualify for exemption.
Is there sales tax on cars in Ohio?+
Yes. Vehicle purchases in Ohio are subject to the combined sales tax rate of 5.75% state plus the applicable county permissive tax, based on where the buyer registers the vehicle. Trade-in allowances can reduce the taxable price. Ohio also assesses separate title and registration fees. New car buyers should verify the exact amount with their county title office.
What is Ohio's use tax?+
Ohio's use tax is the consumer-side equivalent of the sales tax. If you purchase taxable goods from an out-of-state retailer who does not collect Ohio sales tax (such as certain online sellers), you are legally required to self-report and pay use tax to the Ohio Department of Taxation. The use tax rate equals the applicable Ohio sales tax rate for your county. Ohio residents can report use tax on their annual state income tax return.
What is the sales tax rate in Cincinnati in 2025?+
Cincinnati is in Hamilton County, which levies a 2.05% county permissive tax. The combined sales tax rate in Cincinnati is 7.8% in 2025. Hamilton County borders Kentucky across the Ohio River and is Ohio's third-most-populous county. The combined rate applies throughout Hamilton County, including Norwood, Blue Ash, and Loveland.
Does Ohio charge sales tax on services?+
Ohio sales tax generally applies to sales of tangible personal property. Certain services are also taxable, including landscaping and lawn care, janitorial and cleaning services, employment placement services, and certain entertainment services. Most professional services such as legal, medical, accounting, and engineering services are not subject to Ohio sales tax.