Add VAT Calculator – Add VAT to Any Price Instantly
Enter a net (pre-VAT) amount below to instantly calculate the VAT and the gross price.
Need to extract VAT from a gross amount instead? Try our Remove VAT Calculator →
Enter a net (pre-VAT) amount above, press ‘Add VAT’, and this calculator instantly works out the VAT and the VAT-inclusive gross price — at the current UK standard rate of 20%, or any rate you set. No formulas to remember, no spreadsheet, no risk of a misplaced decimal on an invoice.
Who Needs to Add VAT to a Price?
Adding VAT the right way matters most in a handful of everyday situations — and getting it wrong in any of them costs real money or looks unprofessional on a client-facing document:
- Freelancers and contractors turning a day rate or project quote into a VAT-inclusive invoice total.
- Small businesses pricing a product for retail, where the shelf or listing price needs to include VAT.
- Tradespeople quoting a job, where materials and labour are priced net and VAT needs adding before the customer sees a final figure.
- Anyone converting a wholesale or trade price into a VAT-inclusive price for an end customer.
- Bookkeepers and account managers double-checking that a supplier or colleague has added VAT correctly on a draft invoice.
How to Add VAT: The Formula
To add VAT to a net price, multiply it by 1 plus the VAT rate (as a decimal). At the standard UK rate of 20%, that means multiplying by 1.20.
Gross price = Net price × (1 + VAT rate)
Example: a net price of £250 × 1.20 = £300 gross price, with £50 being the VAT.
Common mistake to avoid: some people simply add 20% of the net price as a flat addition without multiplying — which actually gives the same result at 20% VAT, but people often make an error when the rate isn't a round number, or when working backward from a gross figure instead. Using × 1.20 (or × 1.05 at the reduced rate) keeps the calculation consistent whichever rate you're working with.
Adding VAT at Every UK Rate
Here's how a £200 net price looks once VAT is added at each active UK rate:
| VAT Rate | Multiplier | Net | VAT Added | Gross Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard – 20% | × 1.20 | £200.00 | £40.00 | £240.00 |
| Reduced – 5% | × 1.05 | £200.00 | £10.00 | £210.00 |
| Zero – 0% | × 1.00 | £200.00 | £0.00 | £200.00 |
Common Scenarios for Adding VAT
Turning a Quote Into an Invoice
You've agreed a job at £1,500 net with a client. Enter £1,500, press Add VAT at the standard rate, and you get a £1,800 gross invoice total (£300 VAT) — ready to put straight on the invoice without second-guessing the maths.
Pricing a Product for Retail
If your cost-plus-margin calculation gives you a net price of £24.99 and you sell direct to consumers, you'll usually want to display the VAT-inclusive price. Adding 20% VAT gives a shelf price of £29.99 — use the calculator to check this instantly whenever your net pricing changes.
Converting Trade Prices to Retail
Wholesalers often quote net, trade prices to other VAT-registered businesses, who then add their own margin and VAT before selling on. If you're the one selling to the end customer, remember you're adding VAT to your own retail price — not simply passing on VAT that was already added to the trade price you paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add VAT to a price?
Multiply the net price by 1 plus the VAT rate as a decimal — at the standard UK rate, multiply by 1.20. Enter the net amount above and press ‘Add VAT’ to get the result instantly.
How do I add 20% VAT to a price?
Multiply the net price by 1.20. For example, £100 × 1.20 = £120, meaning £20 of VAT has been added.
What's the difference between adding VAT and removing VAT?
Adding VAT starts from a net (pre-VAT) price and works out the VAT-inclusive total by multiplying by 1 + the rate. Removing VAT does the reverse — starting from a gross (VAT-inclusive) price and dividing by 1 + the rate to find the net amount. If you need to remove VAT instead, use our dedicated Remove VAT Calculator.
Do I add VAT before or after applying a discount?
Apply the discount to the net price first, then add VAT to the discounted net amount — not the other way around. For example, a £100 item with a 10% discount becomes £90 net, and VAT is then calculated on that £90, not on the original £100.
Should I add VAT if I'm not yet VAT registered?
No — only VAT-registered businesses can legally charge VAT on their invoices. If you're not registered, you should not add VAT to your prices at all, even if your turnover is approaching the £90,000 threshold.
How do I add VAT to a price that already includes some VAT-exempt items?
Add VAT only to the portion of the price that's actually taxable. If an invoice mixes standard-rated and exempt items, calculate each portion separately — apply the 20% multiplier only to the standard-rated goods or services, and leave the exempt portion untouched.
A Note on Accuracy
This calculator and the formulas above reflect the current UK standard, reduced and zero VAT rates. This page is for general guidance only and does not constitute tax advice — always confirm your specific VAT treatment with HMRC or a qualified accountant if you're unsure which rate applies to your goods or services.