● UK VAT · 20% standard · 5% reduced

VAT Calculator

Q: How do I add 20% VAT to a price?

Multiply the net price by 1.20. For example, £100 plus 20% VAT is £100 × 1.20 = £120, of which £20 is VAT.

Q: How do I remove VAT from a gross price?

Divide the VAT-inclusive price by 1.20 to get the net amount. For £120 including 20% VAT, the net price is £120 ÷ 1.20 = £100, and the VAT is £20.

Q: What is the standard rate of UK VAT?

The standard rate of UK VAT is 20%. A reduced rate of 5% applies to some goods and services such as domestic energy and children's car seats, and some items are zero-rated or exempt.

Add VAT to a net figure, or strip VAT out of a VAT-inclusive price, in a single tap. Perfect for invoices, expenses and quick checkout maths — with the net, VAT and gross amounts shown clearly.

➕ Add VAT ➖ Remove (reverse) VAT 🔁 20% or 5% rate

Calculate VAT

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Net amount

VAT rate

How to add and remove VAT

VAT (Value Added Tax) is charged on most goods and services in the UK at a standard rate of 20%. Whether you’re raising an invoice or checking a receipt, the maths comes down to two simple operations.

You want to…	Formula	Example (£100 / £120)
Add 20% VAT	net × 1.20	£100 → £120
Find the VAT element	net × 0.20	£100 → £20 VAT
Remove 20% VAT	gross ÷ 1.20	£120 → £100
VAT inside a gross price	gross ÷ 6	£120 → £20 VAT

Handy shortcut: to find the VAT already included in a 20% gross price, just divide by 6. £120 ÷ 6 = £20 of VAT. To get the net, divide by 1.2.

UK VAT rates

Not everything is charged at 20%. The UK uses several VAT rates:

Standard rate — 20%: most goods and services.
Reduced rate — 5%: domestic gas and electricity, children’s car seats, some home energy-saving products.
Zero rate — 0%: most food, children’s clothes, books and newspapers — still VAT-taxable, but at 0%.
Exempt: items like insurance, postage stamps and some financial services fall outside VAT entirely.

When does a business have to register for VAT?

A UK business must register for VAT once its taxable turnover exceeds the registration threshold (currently £90,000 in a rolling 12-month period). Once registered, you charge VAT on sales, reclaim VAT on purchases, and pay the difference to HMRC — usually quarterly. This calculator is ideal for working out those line items.

VAT calculator FAQs

How do I add 20% VAT to a price?

Multiply the net price by 1.20. £100 + 20% VAT = £100 × 1.20 = £120, of which £20 is VAT.

How do I remove VAT from a gross price?

Divide the VAT-inclusive price by 1.20. £120 ÷ 1.20 = £100 net, leaving £20 of VAT. (You can also divide a 20% gross price by 6 to get the VAT directly.)

What is the standard rate of UK VAT?

The standard rate is 20%. A 5% reduced rate applies to items like domestic energy, and many essentials such as most food and children’s clothes are zero-rated.

Is VAT the same across the whole UK?

Yes — VAT is a UK-wide tax set by HM Treasury, so the same rates apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Net amount (excl. VAT)	£0
VAT (20%)	£0
Gross amount (incl. VAT)	£0