Council Tax Bands Explained: How A–H Work and What Each Band Pays
Every home in England, Scotland and Wales is placed in a Council Tax band from A to H (A to I in Wales), and that band decides how much you pay each year. The band isn't based on what your home is worth today — it's based on its value on a fixed date decades ago. Band D is the benchmark: your council sets one Band D charge, and every other band is a fixed proportion of it. Band A pays two-thirds of Band D; Band H pays double.
Use the live calculator below. Enter your area's Band D charge and it instantly shows what every band A–H pays per year and per month.
🏠 Council Tax by band · live
| Band | Per year | Per month* |
|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,520 | £127 |
| Band B | £1,773 | £148 |
| Band C | £2,027 | £169 |
| Band D (you) | £2,280 | £190 |
| Band E | £2,787 | £232 |
| Band F | £3,293 | £274 |
| Band G | £3,800 | £317 |
| Band H | £4,560 | £380 |
On a Band D charge of £2,280, a Band D home pays about £2,280 a year (£190 a month). Band A always pays two-thirds of Band D; Band H pays double.
*Many councils bill over 10 months, so monthly bills can be higher than the 12-month figure shown. Enter your own council’s Band D amount (on your bill or your council’s website) for your area. Wondering if you’re in the right band? See our guide to checking your 1991 valuation.
At a glance
- Bands in England & Scotland
- A to H
- Valuation date (England & Scotland)
- 1 April 1991
- Valuation date (Wales)
- 1 April 2003
- Band D
- The benchmark band
Key Takeaways
- Council Tax bands in England and Scotland are based on the property's open-market value on 1 April 1991. Wales uses 1 April 2003 values and has an extra Band I.
- Band D is the benchmark. Every council sets a Band D charge, then scales the other bands up or down from it using fixed national ratios.
- Band A pays two-thirds (6/9) of the Band D amount; Band H pays exactly double (18/9). So the highest band pays three times as much as the lowest.
- Two identical homes in different council areas can pay very different bills, because each council sets its own Band D figure — the band ratio stays the same, but the underlying charge doesn't.
How Council Tax bands are set
Council Tax launched in April 1993 to replace the "poll tax". To get it running, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) placed every home into a band based on its estimated open-market value on 1 April 1991 in England and Scotland. Wales was re-banded to 1 April 2003 values and has an extra band (I) at the top.
Here's the part that catches people out: those valuations have never been redone. A house built last year is still given a notional "what would it have been worth in 1991" figure so it can be banded. Whether your home is 200 years old or brand new, its band traces back to those historic values. If you want to understand where your figure comes from, see our guide to what your house was worth in 1991.
The band value ranges (England)
For homes in England, the band is set by the value on 1 April 1991:
| Band | Value on 1 April 1991 |
|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 |
| B | £40,001 – £52,000 |
| C | £52,001 – £68,000 |
| D | £68,001 – £88,000 |
| E | £88,001 – £120,000 |
| F | £120,001 – £160,000 |
| G | £160,001 – £320,000 |
| H | Over £320,000 |
Scotland uses the same 1991 date but different thresholds (Band A is up to £27,000, Band H over £212,000). Wales uses 2003 values and its own ranges. You can check your current band free on gov.uk.
How your bill is worked out
Your council doesn't set eight separate prices. It sets one Band D charge, and the law fixes the ratio between the bands. Expressed in ninths of Band D:
| Band | Proportion of Band D |
|---|---|
| A | 6/9 (two-thirds) |
| B | 7/9 |
| C | 8/9 |
| D | 9/9 (the benchmark) |
| E | 11/9 |
| F | 13/9 |
| G | 15/9 |
| H | 18/9 (double) |
So if your area's Band D is set at a given figure, Band A pays two-thirds of it and Band H pays exactly twice as much. The calculator above does this maths for you — pop in your Band D charge and read off every band.
Why two identical homes pay different amounts
Because each council sets its own Band D figure, the same house in two different areas can have very different bills even though it's in the same band. The band ratio never changes; the underlying Band D charge does. That's why we don't quote a single national bill — always check the figure on your own council's website.
What your Council Tax pays for
Council Tax funds local services: rubbish and recycling collection, road maintenance, libraries, social care, and often a share for the police, fire service and — where you have one — a parish or town council. These "precepts" are added on top of the main council charge. Two neighbouring areas can differ partly because of different precepts.
Could you be in the wrong band?
Because bands were set quickly in the early 1990s, some homes were banded incorrectly and have stayed that way ever since. If your home looks a band higher than similar neighbours, you may be able to get it lowered — and refunds can be backdated. Read our step-by-step guide on how to challenge your Council Tax band before you do anything, because a review can move your band up as well as down.
You may also be able to cut your bill without touching the band at all — through the single person discount, a student exemption, or Council Tax Reduction if you're on a low income.
Frequently asked questions
What is Band D and why does it matter?
Band D is the benchmark band. Councils set a single Band D charge each year, and every other band is a fixed fraction of it. It's the figure used to compare Council Tax levels between areas.
Which is the cheapest Council Tax band?
Band A is the lowest and pays two-thirds of the Band D charge. Band H is the highest and pays double — so the most expensive band pays three times as much as the cheapest.
How do I find out my Council Tax band?
Check free on gov.uk (England and Wales) or the Scottish Assessors site. You'll need your address or postcode. Your band is also printed on your annual Council Tax bill.
Are Council Tax bands based on current house prices?
No. In England and Scotland they're based on 1 April 1991 values, and in Wales on 1 April 2003 values. Rising house prices since then don't move your band.
General information only, not financial advice. Council Tax rules vary by council — check your local council's website.
