Sales tax by state · Kentucky
Kentucky Sales Tax Rate
The statewide sales tax in Kentucky is 6%, the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states). Here’s how that compares nationally and what you pay in the state’s major cities.
- Kentucky state rate 6% statewide base rate
- National rank 8th of 51, highest first
- Louisville combined 6% state + local, ZIP 40202
- Tax on $100 $6.00 in Louisville
Sales tax in Kentucky
Kentucky charges a statewide sales tax of 6%, 0.98 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. In the cities sampled for this study, no local tax is added, so the state rate is what shoppers pay.
Combined rates in Kentucky’s major cities
The combined rate for one downtown ZIP code in each city, broken down by who charges it:
| City | State | County | City | Special | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville 40202 | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 6% |
| Lexington 40507 | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 6% |
What sales tax adds in Louisville
At the 6% combined rate in Louisville, sales tax adds:
For any other address in Kentucky, enter its ZIP code in the sales tax calculator to get the exact combined rate.
How Kentucky compares
Among all 51 states and DC, Kentucky’s 6% is the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states). The average statewide rate is 5.02%, and the highest is California’s 7.25%. See every state ranked on sales tax by state.
Kentucky sales tax — FAQ
What is the sales tax rate in Kentucky?
The statewide sales tax rate in Kentucky is 6%. That is the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states) and 0.98 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. Local taxes can add more depending on where you shop.
What is the sales tax in Louisville, Kentucky?
The combined sales tax rate in downtown Louisville (ZIP 40202) is 6%: 6% state. Rates in other parts of the city can differ.
How do I calculate sales tax in Kentucky?
Multiply the price by the combined rate where you buy. In Louisville, a $100 purchase carries $6.00 in tax (6%), for $106.00 total. For any other location, enter the ZIP code in the sales tax calculator.
Is Kentucky's sales tax high compared with other states?
Among all 51 states and DC, Kentucky’s 6% is the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states), 0.98 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. The highest is California’s 7.25%.
Rates as of September 2026. City rates are for one downtown ZIP code and can differ elsewhere in the city.
Data: State departments of revenue, via APIVerve. Our tables, charts and text are licensed CC BY 4.0: reuse them freely, including commercially, as long as you credit us. Cite as: Digest Your Finances, “Sales Tax by State”, https://digestyourfinances.com/studies/sales-tax-by-state/kentucky/ — based on State departments of revenue. CC BY 4.0.
