🧾 VAT Calculator: Add or Remove VAT from Any Price
By Shihab Mia · Updated 2026-07-04
| Country | Standard VAT rate |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 20% |
| Germany | 19% |
| France | 20% |
| Spain | 21% |
| Ireland | 23% |
This VAT calculator works both ways: enter a net price to add VAT and see the tax and gross total, or enter a VAT-inclusive total to remove VAT and find the original net price. At the UK standard rate of 20%, a 100.00 net price carries 20.00 of VAT for a 120.00 gross total, and a 120.00 gross total divides back to a 100.00 net price. Set your own rate and the net, VAT amount and gross update instantly.
What is the VAT Calculator?
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a consumption tax charged as a percentage of a sale price, and this VAT calculator handles the two directions people most often need. To add VAT to a net (VAT-exclusive) amount you multiply by the rate: VAT = net x rate / 100, and the gross = net + VAT. At the 20% rate used across the UK, a 100.00 net price gives 20.00 of VAT and a 120.00 gross total. That is the simple direction, and it is the one most quotes and invoices start from.
The direction that trips people up is removing VAT from a price that already includes it, sometimes called a reverse VAT calculation. You cannot just take 20% off a VAT-inclusive total, because the 20% was charged on the smaller net figure, not on the gross. Instead you divide by (1 + rate / 100). At 20% you divide the gross by 1.2, so a 120.00 inclusive total becomes a 100.00 net price with 20.00 of VAT. Taking a flat 20% off 120.00 would wrongly give 96.00, which is why this VAT calculator uses the divide-back method whenever you switch to remove mode.
VAT rates are not the same everywhere, so the rate box matters. The UK standard rate is 20%, with a reduced rate of 5% on items such as domestic energy and a zero rate on most food and children's clothing. Across the European Union standard rates typically sit between 17% and 27%, for example 19% in Germany, 21% in Spain and 23% in Ireland. Because this VAT calculator lets you type any rate or tap a quick-rate button, the same tool covers a UK invoice, an EU purchase or a reduced-rate line without any change to the arithmetic.
Because VAT is ultimately paid by the final consumer, VAT-registered businesses generally charge it on their sales (output VAT) and reclaim it on their purchases (input VAT), then pay the difference to the tax authority. Working cleanly between net, VAT and gross figures is therefore a routine part of pricing, invoicing and bookkeeping. Use the add mode to build a quote from a net price, and the reverse VAT calculator mode to split the tax out of a receipt or a shelf price for your records.
When to use it
- Adding 20% VAT to a net quote so a UK customer sees the net price, the VAT and the gross total they will pay.
- Removing VAT from a VAT-inclusive shelf price or receipt to record the net amount in your bookkeeping.
- Checking that the VAT line on a supplier invoice has been worked out correctly.
- Comparing a VAT-exclusive quote with a VAT-inclusive one so you are comparing like with like.
- Applying a reduced 5% rate or an EU country rate to a specific line without recalculating by hand.
How to use the VAT Calculator
- Choose a mode: Add VAT to work from a net price, or Remove VAT to work back from a VAT-inclusive gross total.
- Enter the amount (the net price in Add mode, or the gross total in Remove mode).
- Enter the VAT rate, or tap a quick-rate button. The default is 20%.
- Read off the net amount, the VAT amount and the gross total.
- Use Copy result to paste the three figures straight into an invoice or spreadsheet.
Formula & method
Worked examples
Add 20% VAT to a net price of 250.00.
- VAT = 250 x 20 / 100 = 50.00
- gross = 250 + 50 = 300.00
Result: Net 250.00, VAT 50.00, gross 300.00
Remove 20% VAT from a VAT-inclusive total of 90.00 (a reverse VAT calculation).
- net = 90 / (1 + 20 / 100) = 90 / 1.2 = 75.00
- VAT = 90 - 75 = 15.00
Result: Net 75.00, VAT 15.00, gross 90.00
Adding VAT at 20% to common net amounts
| Net amount | VAT (20%) | Gross (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 50.00 | 10.00 | 60.00 |
| 100.00 | 20.00 | 120.00 |
| 250.00 | 50.00 | 300.00 |
| 1,000.00 | 200.00 | 1,200.00 |
Standard VAT rates in selected countries (confirm the current rate before use)
| Country | Standard rate | Notable reduced or zero rates |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 20% | 5% on domestic energy, 0% on most food |
| Germany | 19% | 7% reduced |
| France | 20% | 5.5% and 10% reduced |
| Spain | 21% | 10% and 4% reduced |
| Ireland | 23% | 13.5% and 9% reduced |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Subtracting the rate to remove VAT. Taking 20% off a 120.00 VAT-inclusive total gives 96.00, which is wrong. The 20% was charged on the 100.00 net price, not on the 120.00 gross, so you must divide by 1.2 to get 100.00 back.
- Mixing inclusive and exclusive prices. Comparing a VAT-exclusive quote against a VAT-inclusive one makes the inclusive one look dearer than it is. Put both prices on the same basis, either net or gross, before you compare.
- Using the wrong rate. VAT rates differ by country, and some items are reduced-rated, zero-rated or exempt. Using 20% for a 5% reduced-rate line, or for a zero-rated item, will overstate the tax.
- Ignoring rounding rules. VAT is usually rounded to the nearest penny or cent, and some jurisdictions round per line rather than per invoice. Small rounding differences are normal, so match the convention your tax authority requires.
Glossary
- VAT
- Value Added Tax, a consumption tax added as a percentage of the price of most goods and services.
- Net (VAT-exclusive)
- The price before VAT is added.
- Gross (VAT-inclusive)
- The price after VAT has been added, which is what the customer actually pays.
- Output VAT
- The VAT a business charges on its sales and collects from customers.
- Input VAT
- The VAT a business pays on its purchases, which it can usually reclaim against its output VAT.
- Zero-rated
- A category of goods taxed at a 0% VAT rate, such as most food and children's clothing in the UK, which still counts as taxable for reclaim purposes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add VAT to a price?
Multiply the net price by the VAT rate and divide by 100 to get the VAT, then add it to the net price for the gross total. At 20%, a 100.00 net price gives 20.00 of VAT and a 120.00 gross. The Add VAT mode of this VAT calculator does it for you.
How do I remove VAT from a VAT-inclusive price?
Divide the VAT-inclusive gross by (1 + rate / 100). At 20% you divide by 1.2, so a 120.00 inclusive total becomes a 100.00 net price with 20.00 of VAT. Switch to the Remove VAT mode to do this reverse VAT calculation automatically.
Why can I not just subtract 20% to remove VAT?
Because the 20% was charged on the smaller net amount, not on the larger gross total. Subtracting 20% from 120.00 gives 96.00, but the correct net price is 100.00. You must divide by 1.2 instead of subtracting 20%.
What is the UK VAT rate?
The UK standard VAT rate is 20%. A reduced rate of 5% applies to items such as domestic energy and children's car seats, and a zero rate applies to most food and children's clothing. Use the rate box to switch between them.
How do I calculate the VAT amount on its own from a gross price?
For a gross that includes 20% VAT, the VAT portion is gross x 1 / 6, because 20% of the net equals one sixth of the gross. For example, 120.00 gross contains 120 / 6 = 20.00 of VAT. This VAT calculator shows the VAT amount directly in Remove mode.
Does this VAT calculator store my figures or send them anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser, so your amounts never leave your device and nothing is sent to a server. Refreshing the page clears the inputs.
Sources
- How VAT works , UK Government (GOV.UK)
- VAT rates on different goods and services , UK Government (GOV.UK)