Ohio Reverse Sales Tax Calculator
Ohio's state sales tax is 5.75%, with counties adding between 0.75% and 2.25% on top. Unlike some states, Ohio has no city-level sales tax — it's state plus county only. That makes it more predictable than Illinois or Missouri. The combined rate in most major Ohio cities runs between 7.25% and 8.00%, with Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) topping out at 8.0% and Akron (Summit County) being lower at 6.75%.
Columbus (Franklin County) is at 7.50%, Cincinnati (Hamilton County) at 7.80%, Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) at 8.00%, Toledo (Lucas County) at 7.25%, and Akron (Summit County) at 6.75%. For expense reports from Ohio trips, you'll want the county-specific rate. The calculator defaults to the statewide average of 7.23% — change it to your specific county rate for accurate results.
Current Ohio Sales Tax Rates
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State rate | 5.75% |
| Average local rate | 1.48% |
| Average combined rate | 7.23% |
| Location | Combined Rate |
|---|---|
| Columbus | 7.50% |
| Cleveland | 8.00% |
| Cincinnati | 7.80% |
| Toledo | 7.25% |
| Akron | 6.75% |
What's Taxable in Ohio
Ohio taxes most tangible goods at the combined rate. Food for human consumption (groceries) is exempt from Ohio sales tax. Prescription drugs are exempt. Restaurant meals and prepared food are taxable at the full combined rate. Alcohol, tobacco, and most soft drinks are taxable. Ohio also taxes some services, including certain repair services and landscaping. There's no clothing exemption in Ohio — apparel is fully taxable.
Worked Example
You bought office supplies in Columbus. Total on the receipt: $143.27 at Columbus's combined rate of 7.50%.
$143.27 ÷ 1.075 = $133.27 (pre-tax price)
$143.27 − $133.27 = $10.00 (tax amount)
That's $10.00 in sales tax on a $133.27 purchase before tax. The main calculator handles this automatically — enter the total and your rate, and the pre-tax price and tax amount appear instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus (Franklin County) has a combined rate of 7.50% — 5.75% Ohio state plus 1.75% Franklin County. This is the rate for purchases anywhere in Franklin County, including Columbus suburbs like Dublin, Westerville, and Hilliard. For Columbus purchases, divide your total by 1.075 to find the pre-tax price.
Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) has a combined rate of 8.00% — 5.75% Ohio state plus 2.25% Cuyahoga County. Cuyahoga County has one of the higher county add-ons in Ohio. This rate applies throughout Cuyahoga County, including suburbs like Parma, Lakewood, and Euclid. For Cleveland purchases, divide your total by 1.08.
No. Ohio exempts food for human consumption from the 5.75% state sales tax and county taxes. This exemption covers groceries purchased for home preparation. Restaurant meals, fast food, and prepared food sold ready-to-eat are taxable at the full combined rate. Prescription drugs are fully exempt. Most non-food items at a grocery store (cleaning supplies, paper goods, personal care items) are taxable.
Divide your total by (1 + rate as a decimal). For Columbus at 7.50%: $143.27 ÷ 1.075 = $133.27 pre-tax. Tax = $143.27 − $133.27 = $10.00. For Cleveland at 8.00%, divide by 1.08. For Cincinnati at 7.80%, divide by 1.078. For the state average of 7.23%, divide by 1.0723. Use the custom rate field in the calculator above for your specific county.