VAT Calculator UK — Add or Remove VAT Online, Free

By VAT Calculatorz · Last updated 6 October 2026

Definition: A UK VAT calculator is a free online tool that adds VAT to a price before tax (the net price) or removes VAT from a price that already includes it (the gross price), at the UK VAT rates of 20%, 5% and 0% — showing the net amount, the VAT amount and the total side by side.

Quick answer: To add VAT, multiply the net price by 1.2 at the standard 20% rate, or by 1.05 at the reduced 5% rate. To remove VAT from a price that already includes it, divide by 1.2 (20%) or divide by 1.05 (5%). At 0% there is no VAT to add or take off.

Example: £100 net + 20% VAT = £120 gross. Going the other way, £120 ÷ 1.2 = £100 net, with £20 of VAT inside it.

Skip the maths — use the free calculator directly below, or the full VAT calculator on our homepage.

Try it: VAT Calculator

Enter an amount, pick a rate, and see the full breakdown instantly.

Amount (£) VAT rate My amount is

Need more options? Use the full UK VAT Calculator — it's free.

UK VAT Rates at a Glance

VAT rate	Name	What it applies to
20%	Standard rate	Most goods and services
5%	Reduced rate	Some goods and services — for example children's car seats and home energy
0%	Zero rate	Zero-rated goods and services — for example most food, children's clothes, and books and newspapers

Not sure which rate applies to something you sell or buy? The rate depends on the goods or services, so check the official list on GOV.UK before you calculate (linked below). A few things are exempt from VAT altogether — for example postage stamps and financial and property transactions — so no VAT is added in the first place.

One current exception to note: qualifying domestic electricity in Great Britain is temporarily charged at 0% from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, instead of the usual 5% for home energy — see our guide to VAT on domestic electricity bills. Gas and Northern Ireland electricity stay at 5%.

How to Add VAT — Step by Step

Start with the net price — the price before VAT.
Pick the rate: 20% for most goods and services, 5% reduced rate, or 0% zero rate.
Multiply: net × 1.2 (at 20%) or net × 1.05 (at 5%). The result is the gross price your customer pays.
Show the split: the VAT amount is gross − net. A VAT invoice should show the net, the VAT and the total separately.

In a hurry? Put the net amount into the VAT calculator, choose "Before VAT", and it does steps 3 and 4 for you.

How to Remove VAT — Step by Step

Start with the gross price — the total on the receipt or invoice, with VAT already in it.
Confirm the rate that was charged — 20% for most things, 5% for reduced-rate items.
Divide: gross ÷ 1.2 (at 20%) or gross ÷ 1.05 (at 5%). The result is the net price.
Find the VAT: gross − net = the VAT amount. Cross-check with the VAT fraction: at 20%, the VAT inside a gross price is always one sixth (1/6) of it.

For a fuller walkthrough with more examples, see our dedicated guide on how to remove VAT from a price.

Worked Examples

Example 1 — Adding 20% VAT to a price

You charge £250 before VAT for a job, at the standard rate.

VAT: £250 × 20% = £50
Total to invoice: £250 × 1.2 = £300
Check: £250 + £50 = £300 ✓

Example 2 — Removing 20% VAT from a total

A laptop costs £480 including VAT, and you need the net cost for your accounts.

Net: £480 ÷ 1.2 = £400
VAT: £480 − £400 = £80
Check with the fraction: £480 × 1/6 = £80 ✓

Example 3 — Removing VAT at the reduced 5% rate

A children's car seat costs £105 including 5% VAT.

Net: £105 ÷ 1.05 = £100
VAT: £105 − £100 = £5
Check with the fraction: £105 × 1/21 = £5 ✓

Working at the 5% rate a lot? Our guide to calculating VAT at 5% covers the reduced rate in more depth.

Common Mistakes

Taking a percentage of the total. 20% of £480 is £96 — but the VAT inside £480 is £80. VAT is charged on the net price, so removing it is a division (÷ 1.2), never a straight percentage of the total.
Using 20% for everything. Children's car seats and home energy are 5%, and most food and children's clothes are 0%. Using the wrong rate gives the wrong answer however careful the maths is.
Charging VAT when you're not registered. Only VAT-registered businesses add VAT to their prices. Registration is compulsory once your taxable turnover passes £90,000 — our VAT registration threshold guide explains how the limit works.
Losing pennies to rounding. Work to the nearest penny on the final figures. A difference of 1p from rounding is normal and nothing to worry about.

Sources and references

FAQs

What is the standard rate of VAT in the UK?

The standard rate of VAT in the UK is 20%, and it applies to most goods and services. Some goods and services are charged at the reduced rate of 5%, such as children's car seats and home energy, and others are zero-rated at 0%, such as most food and children's clothes.

How do I add 20% VAT to a price?

Multiply the price before VAT (the net price) by 1.2. For example, £100 × 1.2 = £120: the VAT is £20 and the total including VAT is £120. To have it done for you, enter the net amount in the calculator on this page and choose the 'Before VAT (add VAT)' option.

How do I take VAT off a price?

Divide the price including VAT by 1.2 if VAT was charged at 20%, or by 1.05 at 5%. For example, £240 ÷ 1.2 = £200, so the price before VAT is £200 and the VAT inside it is £40. Never take 20% of the total instead — VAT is worked out on the net price, so that gives the wrong answer.

Is this VAT calculator free to use?

Yes. The calculator on this page is completely free, and so is the full VAT calculator on our homepage. There is no sign-up and no limit on the number of calculations.

What is the VAT fraction for 20%?

One sixth (1/6). Multiply any price that includes VAT at 20% by 1/6 to find the VAT inside it: the VAT in £240 is £240 × 1/6 = £40. At the 5% rate the VAT fraction is 1/21.

Try it now: enter any amount in our free UK VAT calculator to add or remove VAT and see the full breakdown instantly.