Sales tax by state · Washington
Washington Sales Tax Rate
The statewide sales tax in Washington is 6.5%, the 5th-highest statewide rate (tied with 2 other states). With local taxes added, shoppers in Seattle pay 10.25%. Here’s how that compares nationally and what you pay in the state’s major cities.
- Washington state rate 6.5% statewide base rate
- National rank 5th of 51, highest first
- Seattle combined 10.25% state + local, ZIP 98101
- Tax on $100 $10.25 in Seattle
Sales tax in Washington
Washington charges a statewide sales tax of 6.5%, 1.48 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. Counties, cities and special districts can add their own taxes on top, so the total at the register is usually higher than the state rate.
Combined rates in Washington’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle 98101 | 6.5% | 0% | 3.75% | 0% | 10.25% |
| Spokane 99201 | 6.5% | 0% | 2.5% | 0% | 9% |
What sales tax adds in Seattle
At the 10.25% combined rate in Seattle, sales tax adds:
For any other address in Washington, enter its ZIP code in the sales tax calculator to get the exact combined rate.
How Washington compares
Among all 51 states and DC, Washington’s 6.5% is the 5th-highest statewide rate (tied with 2 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.
Washington sales tax — FAQ
What is the sales tax rate in Washington?
The statewide sales tax rate in Washington is 6.5%. That is the 5th-highest statewide rate (tied with 2 other states) and 1.48 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 Seattle, Washington?
The combined sales tax rate in downtown Seattle (ZIP 98101) is 10.25%: 6.5% state, 3.75% city. Rates in other parts of the city can differ.
How do I calculate sales tax in Washington?
Multiply the price by the combined rate where you buy. In Seattle, a $100 purchase carries $10.25 in tax (10.25%), for $110.25 total. For any other location, enter the ZIP code in the sales tax calculator.
Is Washington's sales tax high compared with other states?
Among all 51 states and DC, Washington’s 6.5% is the 5th-highest statewide rate (tied with 2 other states), 1.48 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/washington/ — based on State departments of revenue. CC BY 4.0.
