MA

Calculate Massachusetts Sales Tax

6.25% state 6.25% avg combined
Tax rates updated monthly
%
Default: 6.25% avg combined. Enter your city/county rate for precision.
Sales tax -
Total price -
Rate used -
Results are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. Consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.
Quick answer

Massachusetts's state sales tax rate is 6.25%. When city and county taxes are added, the average combined rate across the state is 6.25%, and rates can reach as high as 6.25% in some areas. Use the calculator above to find the exact tax and total for any purchase.

Key takeaways
  • State rate: 6.25% - average combined (state + local): 6.25%
  • Groceries: Exempt | Prescription drugs: Exempt
  • Massachusetts has no local sales taxes. Clothing items up to $175 per piece are exempt - a significant saving on everyday apparel. Groceries and medicines are also fully exempt.
  • The national average combined rate is 7% (Tax Foundation, 2026).

How to calculate Massachusetts sales tax

Enter your ZIP code in the calculator above for the exact local rate at your address - the tool matches it instantly and auto-fills the rate. Without a ZIP, it defaults to Massachusetts's 6.25% average combined rate. At that average, a $100 item costs $106.25 total.

The formula is straightforward:

  • Tax amount = Pre-tax price x (Rate / 100)
  • Total price = Pre-tax price + Tax amount

To reverse the calculation (find the pre-tax price from a total you already paid), switch to Remove tax mode. The formula is: Pre-tax price = Total / (1 + Rate / 100).

The default rate in the calculator is 6.25% - Massachusetts's statewide average combined rate. If you know your specific city or county rate, enter it in the rate override field for a more precise result. City rates for Massachusetts's major areas are listed in the table below.

Massachusetts sales tax rates 2026

Massachusetts's tax structure puts it below the national average combined rate of 7%. Here is a breakdown of the rate structure (Tax Foundation, 2026):

Rate type Rate Notes
State rate 6.25% Applies statewide on all taxable items
Average combined 6.25% State + typical local - what most residents pay
Maximum combined 6.25% Highest rate found anywhere in the state
National average 7% For comparison

What is exempt from Massachusetts sales tax?

Not all purchases are taxed equally in Massachusetts. Key exemptions reduce the tax burden on essentials. Prescription drugs are exempt - a standard exemption in most states. Groceries are exempt, which has a significant impact on household budgets.

Category Massachusetts treatment
Groceries / food Exempt
Prescription drugs Exempt
OTC medications Exempt
Clothing Exempt under $175

Exemptions are set at the state level but may not override local taxes. When a category is "exempt" from the state rate, local taxes may still apply in some jurisdictions. Always confirm with your local tax authority for high-value purchases.

Remove tax: find the pre-tax price

If you have a receipt and want to know what the item cost before tax, you need the reverse sales tax calculation. This is common when comparing advertised prices, calculating business expenses, or verifying a charge.

The reverse formula divides the total by (1 + rate). At Massachusetts's 6.25% average rate: Pre-tax = Total / 1.0625. For example, if you paid $106.25, the pre-tax price was $100.00 and the tax was $6.25.

Use the Remove tax mode in the calculator above. Enter what you paid, and the tool instantly splits out the pre-tax price and the tax amount.

Massachusetts sales tax tips

A few practical tips for shopping and doing business in Massachusetts:

  • Use the combined rate, not just the state rate. The 6.25% state rate understates what you actually pay in most of Massachusetts. The 6.25% average combined rate is the more useful benchmark.
  • Check for tax-free weekends. Several states run annual tax holidays on clothing and school supplies. Check the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website for current year dates.
  • Exemption documentation. If you are buying exempt items (resale, manufacturing, agriculture), you typically need to provide an exemption certificate. Keep copies for your records.
  • Online purchases. If you buy from an online seller with economic nexus in Massachusetts, Massachusetts sales tax applies at your delivery address rate. Small sellers below the economic nexus threshold (usually $100,000 in annual sales) may not collect it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the sales tax rate in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts's state sales tax rate is 6.25%. When local taxes are factored in, most residents pay around 6.25% - the statewide average combined rate. Rates can reach as high as 6.25% in some cities or counties.

Are groceries taxed in Massachusetts?

Groceries in Massachusetts are: Exempt. Prescription drugs are exempt, and OTC medications are exempt.

How do I calculate sales tax in Massachusetts?

Multiply the pre-tax price by the decimal form of the rate. At Massachusetts's 6.25% average: Tax = Price x 0.0625. A $50 item has a $3.13 tax, making the total $53.13. Use the calculator on this page for instant results.

How do I remove sales tax from a total in Massachusetts?

Divide the total by 1.0625 to get the pre-tax price. For example, if you paid $106.25, the pre-tax price was $100.00. Switch to Remove Tax mode in the calculator above to do this automatically.

How does Massachusetts's sales tax compare to other states?

Massachusetts's 6.25% average combined rate is below the national average of 7%. See our US sales tax map to compare all 50 states side by side.

Massachusetts sales tax rates by city 2026

Combined sales tax rates vary significantly across Massachusetts's cities and counties. The figures below represent the total combined rate (state + county + city) as of 2026. Use the rate override field in the calculator to apply your exact local rate.

City Combined rate vs. state avg
Boston 6.25% avg
Springfield 6.25% avg
Worcester 6.25% avg
Cambridge 6.25% avg
Lynn 6.25% avg
New Bedford 6.25% avg
Brockton 6.25% avg
Chicopee 6.25% avg
Fall River 6.25% avg
Framingham 6.25% avg
Lowell 6.25% avg
Andover 6.25% avg
Haverhill 6.25% avg
Lawrence 6.25% avg
Quincy 6.25% avg
Waltham 6.25% avg
Woburn 6.25% avg
Amherst 6.25% avg
Dorchester 6.25% avg
Middleboro 6.25% avg
Northampton 6.25% avg
Pittsfield 6.25% avg
Plymouth 6.25% avg
Somerville 6.25% avg
Watertown 6.25% avg
Arlington 6.25% avg
Billerica 6.25% avg
Braintree 6.25% avg
Bridgewater 6.25% avg
Brookline 6.25% avg
Burlington 6.25% avg
Buzzards Bay 6.25% avg
Centerville 6.25% avg
Dalton 6.25% avg
Dedham 6.25% avg
Duxbury 6.25% avg
Falmouth 6.25% avg
Gloucester 6.25% avg
Greenfield 6.25% avg
Hingham 6.25% avg
Holyoke 6.25% avg
Lakeville 6.25% avg
Lexington 6.25% avg
Longmeadow 6.25% avg
Medford 6.25% avg
Nantucket 6.25% avg
North Attleboro 6.25% avg
North Easton 6.25% avg
North Reading 6.25% avg
Peabody 6.25% avg
Salem 6.25% avg
Shrewsbury 6.25% avg
Somerset 6.25% avg
Stockbridge 6.25% avg
West Springfield 6.25% avg
Westfield 6.25% avg
Westminster 6.25% avg
Abington 6.25% avg
Accord 6.25% avg
Acton 6.25% avg
Acushnet 6.25% avg
Adams 6.25% avg
Agawam 6.25% avg
Allston 6.25% avg
Amesbury 6.25% avg
Arlington Heights 6.25% avg
Ashburnham 6.25% avg
Ashby 6.25% avg
Ashfield 6.25% avg
Ashland 6.25% avg
Ashley Falls 6.25% avg
Assonet 6.25% avg
Athol 6.25% avg
Attleboro 6.25% avg
Attleboro Falls 6.25% avg
Auburn 6.25% avg
Auburndale 6.25% avg
Avon 6.25% avg
Ayer 6.25% avg
Babson Park 6.25% avg
Baldwinville 6.25% avg
Barnstable 6.25% avg
Barre 6.25% avg
Becket 6.25% avg
Bedford 6.25% avg
Belchertown 6.25% avg
Bellingham 6.25% avg
Belmont 6.25% avg
Berkley 6.25% avg
Berkshire 6.25% avg
Berlin 6.25% avg
Bernardston 6.25% avg
Beverly 6.25% avg
Blackstone 6.25% avg
Blandford 6.25% avg
Bolton 6.25% avg
Bondsville 6.25% avg
Boxborough 6.25% avg
Boxford 6.25% avg
Boylston 6.25% avg
Brant Rock 6.25% avg
Brewster 6.25% avg
Brighton 6.25% avg
Brimfield 6.25% avg
Brookfield 6.25% avg
Brookline Village 6.25% avg
Bryantville 6.25% avg
Buckland 6.25% avg
Byfield 6.25% avg
Canton 6.25% avg
Carlisle 6.25% avg
Carver 6.25% avg
Cataumet 6.25% avg
Charlemont 6.25% avg
Charlestown 6.25% avg
Charlton 6.25% avg
Charlton City 6.25% avg
Charlton Depot 6.25% avg
Chartley 6.25% avg
Chatham 6.25% avg
Chelmsford 6.25% avg
Chelsea 6.25% avg
Cherry Valley 6.25% avg
Cheshire 6.25% avg
Chester 6.25% avg
Chesterfield 6.25% avg
Chestnut Hill 6.25% avg
Chilmark 6.25% avg
Clinton 6.25% avg
Cohasset 6.25% avg
Colrain 6.25% avg
Concord 6.25% avg
Conway 6.25% avg
Cotuit 6.25% avg
Cummaquid 6.25% avg
Cummington 6.25% avg
Cuttyhunk 6.25% avg
Danvers 6.25% avg
Dartmouth 6.25% avg
Deerfield 6.25% avg
Dennis 6.25% avg
Dennis Port 6.25% avg
Devens 6.25% avg
Dighton 6.25% avg
Dorchester Center 6.25% avg
Douglas 6.25% avg
Dover 6.25% avg
Dracut 6.25% avg
Drury 6.25% avg
Dudley 6.25% avg
Dunstable 6.25% avg
East Bridgewater 6.25% avg
East Brookfield 6.25% avg
East Dennis 6.25% avg
East Falmouth 6.25% avg
East Freetown 6.25% avg
East Longmeadow 6.25% avg
East Orleans 6.25% avg
East Otis 6.25% avg
East Sandwich 6.25% avg
East Taunton 6.25% avg
East Templeton 6.25% avg
East Walpole 6.25% avg
East Wareham 6.25% avg
East Weymouth 6.25% avg
Eastham 6.25% avg
Easthampton 6.25% avg
Easton 6.25% avg
Edgartown 6.25% avg
Elmwood 6.25% avg
Erving 6.25% avg
Essex 6.25% avg
Everett 6.25% avg
Fairhaven 6.25% avg
Fayville 6.25% avg
Feeding Hills 6.25% avg
Fiskdale 6.25% avg
Fitchburg 6.25% avg
Florence 6.25% avg
Forestdale 6.25% avg
Foxboro 6.25% avg
Franklin 6.25% avg
Gardner 6.25% avg
Georgetown 6.25% avg
Gilbertville 6.25% avg
Gill 6.25% avg
Glendale 6.25% avg
Goshen 6.25% avg
Grafton 6.25% avg
Granby 6.25% avg
Granville 6.25% avg
Great Barrington 6.25% avg
Green Harbor 6.25% avg
Greenbush 6.25% avg
Groton 6.25% avg
Groveland 6.25% avg
Hadley 6.25% avg
Halifax 6.25% avg
Hamilton 6.25% avg
Hampden 6.25% avg
Hanover 6.25% avg
Hanscom Afb 6.25% avg
Hanson 6.25% avg
Hardwick 6.25% avg
Harvard 6.25% avg
Harwich 6.25% avg
Harwich Port 6.25% avg
Hatfield 6.25% avg
Hathorne 6.25% avg
Haydenville 6.25% avg
Heath 6.25% avg
Hinsdale 6.25% avg
Holbrook 6.25% avg
Holden 6.25% avg
Holland 6.25% avg
Holliston 6.25% avg
Hopedale 6.25% avg
Hopkinton 6.25% avg
Housatonic 6.25% avg
Hubbardston 6.25% avg
Hudson 6.25% avg
Hull 6.25% avg
Humarock 6.25% avg
Huntington 6.25% avg
Hyannis 6.25% avg
Hyannis Port 6.25% avg
Hyde Park 6.25% avg
Indian Orchard 6.25% avg
Ipswich 6.25% avg
Jamaica Plain 6.25% avg
Jefferson 6.25% avg
Kingston 6.25% avg
Lake Pleasant 6.25% avg
Lancaster 6.25% avg
Lanesboro 6.25% avg
Lee 6.25% avg
Leeds 6.25% avg
Leicester 6.25% avg
Lenox 6.25% avg
Lenox Dale 6.25% avg
Leominster 6.25% avg
Leverett 6.25% avg
Lincoln 6.25% avg
Linwood 6.25% avg
Littleton 6.25% avg
Ludlow 6.25% avg
Lunenburg 6.25% avg
Lynnfield 6.25% avg
Malden 6.25% avg
Manchaug 6.25% avg
Manchester 6.25% avg
Manomet 6.25% avg
Mansfield 6.25% avg
Marblehead 6.25% avg
Marion 6.25% avg
Marlborough 6.25% avg
Marshfield 6.25% avg
Marshfield Hills 6.25% avg
Marstons Mills 6.25% avg
Mashpee 6.25% avg
Mattapan 6.25% avg
Mattapoisett 6.25% avg
Maynard 6.25% avg
Medfield 6.25% avg
Medway 6.25% avg
Melrose 6.25% avg
Mendon 6.25% avg
Menemsha 6.25% avg
Merrimac 6.25% avg
Methuen 6.25% avg
Middlefield 6.25% avg
Middleton 6.25% avg
Milford 6.25% avg
Mill River 6.25% avg
Millbury 6.25% avg
Millers Falls 6.25% avg
Millis 6.25% avg
Millville 6.25% avg
Milton 6.25% avg
Milton Village 6.25% avg
Minot 6.25% avg
Monponsett 6.25% avg
Monroe Bridge 6.25% avg
Monson 6.25% avg
Montague 6.25% avg
Monterey 6.25% avg
Monument Beach 6.25% avg
Nahant 6.25% avg
Natick 6.25% avg
Needham 6.25% avg
Needham Heights 6.25% avg
New Braintree 6.25% avg
New Salem 6.25% avg
New Town 6.25% avg
Newbury 6.25% avg
Newburyport 6.25% avg
Newton 6.25% avg
Newton Center 6.25% avg
Newton Highlands 6.25% avg
Newton Lower Falls 6.25% avg
Newton Upper Falls 6.25% avg
Newtonville 6.25% avg
Nonantum 6.25% avg
Norfolk 6.25% avg
North Adams 6.25% avg
North Amherst 6.25% avg
North Andover 6.25% avg
North Billerica 6.25% avg
North Brookfield 6.25% avg
North Carver 6.25% avg
North Chatham 6.25% avg
North Chelmsford 6.25% avg
North Dartmouth 6.25% avg
North Dighton 6.25% avg
North Eastham 6.25% avg
North Egremont 6.25% avg
North Falmouth 6.25% avg
North Grafton 6.25% avg
North Hatfield 6.25% avg
North Marshfield 6.25% avg
North Oxford 6.25% avg
North Pembroke 6.25% avg
North Scituate 6.25% avg
North Truro 6.25% avg
North Uxbridge 6.25% avg
North Waltham 6.25% avg
North Weymouth 6.25% avg
Northborough 6.25% avg
Northbridge 6.25% avg
Northfield 6.25% avg
Norton 6.25% avg
Norwell 6.25% avg
Norwood 6.25% avg
Nutting Lake 6.25% avg
Oak Bluffs 6.25% avg
Oakham 6.25% avg
Ocean Bluff 6.25% avg
Onset 6.25% avg
Orange 6.25% avg
Orleans 6.25% avg
Osterville 6.25% avg
Otis 6.25% avg
Oxford 6.25% avg
Palmer 6.25% avg
Paxton 6.25% avg
Pembroke 6.25% avg
Pepperell 6.25% avg
Petersham 6.25% avg
Pinehurst 6.25% avg
Plainfield 6.25% avg
Plainville 6.25% avg
Plympton 6.25% avg
Pocasset 6.25% avg
Prides Crossing 6.25% avg
Princeton 6.25% avg
Provincetown 6.25% avg
Randolph 6.25% avg
Raynham 6.25% avg
Raynham Center 6.25% avg
Reading 6.25% avg
Readville 6.25% avg
Rehoboth 6.25% avg
Revere 6.25% avg
Richmond 6.25% avg
Rochdale 6.25% avg
Rochester 6.25% avg
Rockland 6.25% avg
Rockport 6.25% avg
Roslindale 6.25% avg
Rowe 6.25% avg
Rowley 6.25% avg
Roxbury 6.25% avg
Roxbury Crossing 6.25% avg
Royalston 6.25% avg
Russell 6.25% avg
Rutland 6.25% avg
Sagamore 6.25% avg
Sagamore Beach 6.25% avg
Salisbury 6.25% avg
Sandisfield 6.25% avg
Sandwich 6.25% avg
Saugus 6.25% avg
Savoy 6.25% avg
Scituate 6.25% avg
Seekonk 6.25% avg
Sharon 6.25% avg
Sheffield 6.25% avg
Shelburne Falls 6.25% avg
Sheldonville 6.25% avg
Sherborn 6.25% avg
Shirley 6.25% avg
Shutesbury 6.25% avg
Siasconset 6.25% avg
South Barre 6.25% avg
South Carver 6.25% avg
South Chatham 6.25% avg
South Dartmouth 6.25% avg
South Deerfield 6.25% avg
South Dennis 6.25% avg
South Easton 6.25% avg
South Egremont 6.25% avg
South Grafton 6.25% avg
South Hadley 6.25% avg
South Hamilton 6.25% avg
South Harwich 6.25% avg
South Lancaster 6.25% avg
South Lee 6.25% avg
South Orleans 6.25% avg
South Walpole 6.25% avg
South Wellfleet 6.25% avg
South Weymouth 6.25% avg
South Yarmouth 6.25% avg
Southampton 6.25% avg
Southborough 6.25% avg
Southbridge 6.25% avg
Southfield 6.25% avg
Southwick 6.25% avg
Spencer 6.25% avg
Sterling 6.25% avg
Still River 6.25% avg
Stoneham 6.25% avg
Stoughton 6.25% avg
Stow 6.25% avg
Sturbridge 6.25% avg
Sudbury 6.25% avg
Sunderland 6.25% avg
Sutton 6.25% avg
Swampscott 6.25% avg
Swansea 6.25% avg
Taunton 6.25% avg
Templeton 6.25% avg
Tewksbury 6.25% avg
Thorndike 6.25% avg
Three Rivers 6.25% avg
Topsfield 6.25% avg
Townsend 6.25% avg
Truro 6.25% avg
Turners Falls 6.25% avg
Tyngsboro 6.25% avg
Tyringham 6.25% avg
Upton 6.25% avg
Uxbridge 6.25% avg
Village Of Nagog Woods 6.25% avg
Vineyard Haven 6.25% avg
Waban 6.25% avg
Wakefield 6.25% avg
Wales 6.25% avg
Walpole 6.25% avg
Ware 6.25% avg
Wareham 6.25% avg
Warren 6.25% avg
Warwick 6.25% avg
Waverley 6.25% avg
Wayland 6.25% avg
Webster 6.25% avg
Wellesley 6.25% avg
Wellesley Hills 6.25% avg
Wellfleet 6.25% avg
Wendell 6.25% avg
Wendell Depot 6.25% avg
Wenham 6.25% avg
West Barnstable 6.25% avg
West Boxford 6.25% avg
West Boylston 6.25% avg
West Bridgewater 6.25% avg
West Brookfield 6.25% avg
West Chatham 6.25% avg
West Chesterfield 6.25% avg
West Dennis 6.25% avg
West Falmouth 6.25% avg
West Groton 6.25% avg
West Harwich 6.25% avg
West Hatfield 6.25% avg
West Hyannisport 6.25% avg
West Medford 6.25% avg
West Millbury 6.25% avg
West Newbury 6.25% avg
West Newton 6.25% avg
West Roxbury 6.25% avg
West Stockbridge 6.25% avg
West Tisbury 6.25% avg
West Townsend 6.25% avg
West Wareham 6.25% avg
West Warren 6.25% avg
West Yarmouth 6.25% avg
Westborough 6.25% avg
Westford 6.25% avg
Weston 6.25% avg
Westport 6.25% avg
Westport Point 6.25% avg
Westwood 6.25% avg
Weymouth 6.25% avg
Whately 6.25% avg
Wheelwright 6.25% avg
White Horse Beach 6.25% avg
Whitinsville 6.25% avg
Whitman 6.25% avg
Wilbraham 6.25% avg
Williamsburg 6.25% avg
Williamstown 6.25% avg
Wilmington 6.25% avg
Winchendon 6.25% avg
Winchester 6.25% avg
Windsor 6.25% avg
Winthrop 6.25% avg
Woods Hole 6.25% avg
Woodville 6.25% avg
Woronoco 6.25% avg
Worthington 6.25% avg
Wrentham 6.25% avg
Yarmouth Port 6.25% avg

To find the combined rate for a specific address in Massachusetts, use the Avalara rate lookup tool or check your city or county government website.

Massachusetts sales tax rates by county 2026

County-level combined rates across Massachusetts, sourced from Avalara AvaTax (updated 2026-04). The combined rate shown is the median across ZIP codes in each county - individual addresses may vary by special district.

County Combined rate vs. state avg
Barnstable County 6.25% avg
Berkshire County 6.25% avg
Bristol County 6.25% avg
Dukes County 6.25% avg
Essex County 6.25% avg
Franklin County 6.25% avg
Hampden County 6.25% avg
Hampshire County 6.25% avg
Middlesex County 6.25% avg
Nantucket County 6.25% avg
Norfolk County 6.25% avg
Plymouth County 6.25% avg
Suffolk County 6.25% avg
Worcester County 6.25% avg