Hawaii Sales Tax Calculator
Figure basis: Official Hawaii Department of TaxationHawaii sales tax applies to most retail sales of tangible goods and some services. This calculator shows the combined state and local sales tax rate for any location in Hawaii and lets you work out the tax on a given purchase price or reverse-calculate the pre-tax amount from a total. Select your county or city to load the exact local rate on top of the Hawaii statewide base rate, then enter any purchase amount to see the tax and total immediately. Rates and jurisdictions are sourced from Hawaii Department of Taxation and reflect current Hawaii law. Sales tax in Hawaii applies at the point of sale for most tangible personal property; groceries, prescription drugs, and other categories may be exempt or taxed at a reduced rate depending on state law. Use the calculator to compare totals across different jurisdictions, or to verify a receipt. The combined rate shown is the rate applicable at a specific location and accounts for any special district taxes layered on top of the county or municipal rate.
Hawaii's state sales tax base rate is 4%. In Honolulu (Oahu) the combined rate is 4.5%, so $100 of goods has $4.50 in sales tax, for a total of $104.50. Pick your county below for the exact combined rate.
How sales tax works in Hawaii
Hawaii charges a statewide base sales tax of 4%. Hawaii does not levy a sales tax; it charges a 4% General Excise Tax (GET) on the business, plus a county surcharge of up to 0.5%, and the GET is commonly passed on to buyers at retail. Choose your county above to load its sourced combined rate, or switch to Remove tax to work back from a tax-inclusive total. Your result updates the page link, so you can copy a permalink to any calculation.
sales tax = pre-tax price x (state rate + local rate) / 100
total = pre-tax price + sales tax
Worked example
A $250.00 purchase in Honolulu (Oahu), at the 4.5% combined rate (4% state + 0.5% local):
- Combined rate = 4% + 0.5% = 4.5%.
- Sales tax = 250 x 0.0450 = $11.25.
- Total = 250 + 11.25 = $261.25.
What is taxed in Hawaii
| Groceries | Taxable |
|---|---|
| Prescription drugs | Exempt |
| Clothing | Taxable |
Hawaii has no general grocery exemption: the GET applies to food. Prescription drugs and prosthetic devices are exempt.
Source: Hawaii Department of Taxation.
Hawaii sales tax rates by county
Combined rates (4% state plus local), sourced from the Hawaii Department of Taxation and verified Jun 11, 2026. For an exact rate by address use the official Hawaii Department of Taxation rate lookup; local rates can vary within a county and change over time.
| County (main city) | Combined rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (Oahu) | 4.5% | Hawaii Department of Taxation |
| Maui County | 4.5% | Hawaii Department of Taxation |
| Hawaii County | 4.5% | Hawaii Department of Taxation |
| Kauai County | 4.5% | Hawaii Department of Taxation |
The GET, the county surcharge, and that 4.712% figure
Hawaii is the classic 'it looks like a sales tax but it is not' case. The state charges a 4% General Excise Tax (GET) on the business rather than a sales tax on the buyer, and because the GET applies to almost everything (retail goods, services, professional fees, commissions, and even rent), its base is far broader than a typical sales tax. Groceries are taxed, which surprises visitors from mainland states that exempt food; only prescription drugs and prosthetic devices are clearly exempt.
Two quirks explain the numbers on your receipt. First, each county adds a surcharge of up to 0.5%, so the combined rate on Oahu (Honolulu), Maui, Hawaii Island, and Kauai reaches 4.5%. Second, because the GET is a tax on the seller's gross income, merchants are allowed to gross up the amount they pass on to cover the tax on the tax, which is why the visible rate is commonly shown as about 4.712% rather than 4.5%. If you are reconciling a receipt and the figure looks slightly high, that gross-up is almost always the reason. Enter your amount above and the calculator handles both the county surcharge and the pass-on math for you.
Hawaii sales tax: frequently asked questions
What is the sales tax rate in Hawaii?
Hawaii's statewide base rate is 4%. Hawaii's GET is a single statewide 4% tax on business activity, raised by a county surcharge of up to 0.5% in each county. Because GET is levied on the seller and passed on, the visible retail rate reaches up to about 4.712%.
How much is sales tax on $100 in Honolulu (Oahu)?
At Honolulu (Oahu)'s combined rate of 4.5%, sales tax on $100 is $4.50, for a total of $104.50. Enter your own amount above for an exact figure.
Are groceries taxed in Hawaii?
Hawaii has no general grocery exemption: the GET applies to food. Prescription drugs and prosthetic devices are exempt.
How do I remove sales tax from a total in Hawaii?
Switch the calculator to Remove tax and enter the tax-inclusive total. It divides by 1 plus the combined rate to find the pre-tax price, then shows the tax.
Does Hawaii have a sales tax?
No. Hawaii does not have a sales tax. Instead it levies a General Excise Tax (GET) at 4%, charged on the business rather than the buyer, plus a county surcharge of up to 0.5%. Businesses commonly pass the GET on to customers at retail.
Why is the Hawaii tax shown as 4.712% on my receipt?
Because GET is a tax on the business's gross income, sellers gross up the amount they pass on to cover the tax on the tax. In the counties with a 0.5% surcharge, the Department of Taxation allows a maximum pass-on rate of about 4.712%.
Official sources
- State base rate (4%): Hawaii Department of Taxation, as at Jun 11, 2026.
- Local combined rates: Hawaii Department of Taxation, as at Jun 11, 2026.
- Address-level lookup: Hawaii Department of Taxation rate lookup.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 11 June 2026. See our methodology. General information, not financial or tax advice.