Calculator
🇬🇧 UK onlyVAT Calculator (UK)
Add VAT to a net price, or strip the VAT out of a gross (VAT-inclusive) price, at the 20% standard, 5% reduced or 0% zero rate. You get the net, the VAT, and the gross in an instant. Rates are UK VAT for 2025/26.
Amount
Standard rate 20%, reduced rate 5% (e.g. domestic energy), zero rate 0% (e.g. most food and books). Some supplies are VAT-exempt, which is different from zero-rated.
Breakdown
How to calculate VAT
VAT (Value Added Tax) is a percentage added to the price of most goods and services. The two things people need most often are adding VAT to a price that doesn't yet include it, and removing VAT to find the original pre-tax price. Both are simple once you know the rate.
UK VAT rates (2025/26)
- Standard rate — 20%: most goods and services.
- Reduced rate — 5%: domestic fuel and power, children's car seats, some energy-saving materials.
- Zero rate — 0%: most food, books and newspapers, children's clothing. Still VAT-taxable, just at 0%.
Adding VAT
Net price × (1 + rate) = gross price.
£100 net + 20% VAT → £100 × 1.20 = £120 gross, of which £20 is VAT.
Removing VAT (working backwards)
Gross price ÷ (1 + rate) = net price.
£120 gross ÷ 1.20 = £100 net, so the VAT element is £20.
Shortcut: at 20%, the VAT in a gross figure is exactly one sixth (1/6) — £120 ÷ 6 = £20.
Registering for VAT
You must register for VAT once your VAT-taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period (or if you expect to pass it in the next 30 days). Below that you can register voluntarily — useful if you want to reclaim VAT on your purchases, though it means adding VAT to your prices. The deregistration threshold is £88,000.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add VAT to a price?
Multiply the net (VAT-exclusive) price by 1.20 for standard-rate VAT — that's the gross price including 20% VAT. The VAT itself is the net price × 0.20. So £100 net becomes £120 gross, of which £20 is VAT. For the 5% reduced rate, multiply by 1.05 instead.
How do I remove VAT from a price?
Divide the gross (VAT-inclusive) price by 1.20 to get the net price at standard rate; the VAT element is the gross minus the net. £120 ÷ 1.20 = £100 net, with £20 VAT. Divide by 1.05 to remove the 5% rate.
What are the UK VAT rates?
Three rates: standard 20% (most goods and services), reduced 5% (such as domestic energy and children's car seats), and zero 0% (most food, books and children's clothing). Some supplies are exempt from VAT entirely, which is different from zero-rated — exempt sales can't reclaim input VAT.
When do I have to register for VAT?
Once your VAT-taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period, or if you expect to pass it within the next 30 days. You can also register voluntarily below the threshold to reclaim VAT on purchases. The deregistration threshold is £88,000.
Is the VAT fraction really 1/6?
Yes — for standard-rate 20% VAT, the VAT portion of a gross price is exactly one sixth. On £120 gross the VAT is £120 ÷ 6 = £20. That shortcut only works for 20%; for the 5% rate the fraction is 1/21.