Honolulu 4.712% · rest of Hawaii 4.166% · Hawaii uses GET not sales tax
Hawaii does not have a traditional sales tax. Instead, Hawaii uses a General Excise Tax (GET) levied on businesses, which is typically passed on to consumers. The state GET rate is 4% (4.5% for financial institutions). Honolulu County adds 0.5% for 4.5% total. After accounting for how GET applies to itself (pyramiding), the effective consumer rate in Honolulu is approximately 4.712%.
The calculator below lets you add tax to a price or remove tax from a receipt total. Pick a city when available, or type the exact local rate from the official source.
State base rate
4%
Average combined
4.44%
Honolulu rate
4.712% combined
Calculator
%
Change this anytime — no extra click. Verify final rates with your state or country tax authority.
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Quick amounts
Enter an amount to see the result.
Educational tool only — not tax advice. Confirm rates before filing or pricing for customers.
Hawaii combined rates by city — 2026 reference
Honolulu
Honolulu County · State GET 4% + County 0.5% (4.712% effective with pyramiding)
4.712%
Hilo
Hawaii County County · State GET 4% (4.166% effective with pyramiding)
4.166%
Kailua-Kona
Hawaii County County · State GET 4% (4.166% effective)
4.166%
Lihue
Kauai County · State GET 4% (4.166% effective)
4.166%
Kahului
Maui County · State GET 4% (4.166% effective)
4.166%
Pearl City
Honolulu County · State GET + County (4.712% effective)
Multiply the taxable price by the combined state and local rate. Then add the tax amount to the original price to get the final checkout total.
Sales tax formula
Sales tax = item price x (rate / 100)
Final total = item price + sales tax
Enter the item price before tax.
Use the city rate above or type the exact local rate from the official source.
Calculate the sales tax amount and final total instantly.
Example
Formula
Tax
Total
$100 purchase in Honolulu
$100.00 x 4.712%
$4.71
$104.71
$250 purchase in Hilo
$250.00 x 4.166%
$10.42
$260.42
Reverse tax from $104.71 in Honolulu
$104.71 ÷ 1.04712 ≈ $100.00 pre-tax; about $4.71 was sales tax.
$100.00 before tax
$100.00 before tax
Hawaii sales tax examples
Common receipt calculations using high-search city rates.
$100 purchase in Honolulu
$104.71 total
$100.00 × 4.712% = $4.71 sales tax in Honolulu, Hawaii.
$250 purchase in Hilo
$260.42 total
$250.00 × 4.166% = $10.42 sales tax in Hilo, Hawaii.
Reverse tax from $104.71 in Honolulu
$100.00 before tax
$104.71 ÷ 1.04712 ≈ $100.00 pre-tax; about $4.71 was sales tax.
State rate: 4%
Avg combined: 4.44%
Economic nexus: $100,000 in sales OR 200 transactions in Hawaii
Filing: Monthly, Quarterly, or Semi-Annual
Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET)
Hawaii uses a General Excise Tax (GET) instead of a sales tax. The GET applies to virtually all business activities including sales of goods and services. Unlike a sales tax, GET is technically levied on the seller but is typically passed to consumers. The effective rate in Honolulu is approximately 4.712% after accounting for how GET applies to itself.
Hawaii combined rates by city
Combined rates vary across Hawaii. Reference cities on this page include: Honolulu (4.712%), Hilo (4.166%), Kailua-Kona (4.166%), Lihue (4.166%), Kahului (4.166%), Pearl City (4.712%). ZIP codes and special districts can differ — use the official lookup linked above for address-level filing.
Common exemptions in Hawaii
Common exemptions include: Prescription drugs; Some medical services; Export sales. Restaurant meals, prepared food, and many services are often taxable even when groceries are exempt.
Online sellers and economic nexus
Out-of-state sellers that exceed $100,000 in sales OR 200 transactions in Hawaii in Hawaii generally must register and collect tax on taxable sales delivered into the state. Marketplace facilitators often remit tax on behalf of third-party sellers.
How to use this calculator
Pick a city from the list or type the combined percentage from your HI tax lookup. Enter a pre-tax amount to add sales tax, or use reverse mode to split tax from a receipt total. Businesses should validate address-level rates in certified tax software before filing returns.
Often taxable in Hawaii
• Virtually all goods and services — GET is very broad
Common exemptions
• Prescription drugs
• Some medical services
• Export sales
Common mistakes to avoid
Using only the state rate
Hawaii's 4% state rate is only the starting point. Honolulu is 4.712% combined.
Subtracting tax from a gross total
To reverse sales tax, divide by 1 + (rate ÷ 100). Do not subtract the percentage from the tax-inclusive price.
Treating groceries and clothing the same
Exemptions differ by item. Review Hawaii rules for food, apparel, medicine, and digital goods before invoicing.
Quoting the average rate for every address
The 4.44% average is useful for estimates; use address-level rates for compliance and customer quotes.
Official Hawaii sales tax source
Rates and rules on this page were last reviewed in January 2026 against Hawaii Dept. of Revenue. Use the linked authority for filing, registrations, or address-specific compliance.
•Rates on this page were compared to Hawaii official Department of Revenue publications as of January 2026.
•Honolulu is listed at 4.712% combined (State GET 4% + County 0.5% (4.712% effective with pyramiding)). Confirm ZIP-level rates before filing.
•Destination-based rules usually apply to shipped orders — use the delivery address rate, not the seller's warehouse rate, unless official guidance says otherwise.
Hawaii sales tax — frequently asked questions
What is the Hawaii sales tax rate in 2026?
Hawaii's state base rate is 4%. The average combined rate is about 4.44%. Honolulu is approximately 4.712% combined. City and county taxes can change the final rate.
Does Hawaii have a sales tax?
Hawaii does not have a traditional sales tax. Hawaii uses a General Excise Tax (GET) on businesses at 4%. With Honolulu County's 0.5% surcharge and GET pyramiding, the effective consumer rate in Honolulu is approximately 4.712%.
Are groceries taxed in Hawaii?
Hawaii GET applies broadly including to groceries, unlike most states. This is one reason Hawaii has a higher cost of living.
What is the sales tax rate in Honolulu, HI?
Honolulu uses about 4.712% combined sales tax (State GET 4% + County 0.5% (4.712% effective with pyramiding)). Always verify the current rate for your exact address.
Is clothing taxable in Hawaii?
Clothing and footwear are generally taxable in Hawaii at the combined state and local rate unless a specific exemption applies.
Does Hawaii charge sales tax on online purchases?
Remote sellers and marketplaces that exceed Hawaii's economic nexus threshold ($100,000 in sales OR 200 transactions in Hawaii) generally must collect Hawaii sales tax based on the delivery address.
How do I reverse Hawaii sales tax from a receipt total?
Divide the tax-inclusive total by 1 plus the combined rate as a decimal. At 4.44% combined: $108 ÷ 1.08 ≈ $100 before tax.
Is shipping taxable in Hawaii?
Rules differ by state. See our shipping tax calculator and Hawaii Department of Revenue guidance to learn whether delivery, freight, and handling are taxable on your order.
Use this page for quick Hawaii sales tax estimates, receipt checks, and reverse tax calculations. For the most accurate result, choose the closest city rate or verify the exact address-level rate with the official source, then enter that percentage in the calculator.
Disclaimer: Rates are for informational and educational purposes and may be incomplete or outdated. Always verify with the official Hawaii revenue authority or a qualified professional before filing or making business decisions.