Council tax bands A–H — national comparison
Every English council's annual charge for bands A to H, derived from the real MHCLG Band D figure via the fixed statutory ratios set by the Local Government Finance Act 1992. Covers all 296 billing authorities for 2026-27.
Which English councils have the cheapest and most expensive council tax for each band A to H?
As of 2026-27, the England average Band D council tax is £2,391.52, ranging from £1,028.21 (Wandsworth) to £2,765.02 (Dorset Council) across 296 billing authorities, per MHCLG official statistics. Gera re-dates this annually on MHCLG publication.
Browse by band
Each band page ranks all 296 English councils from cheapest to most expensive, with the Gera Council Tax Band Index showing how far each council sits above or below the England average for that band.
| Band | Ratio of Band D | Annual charge (England avg) | Typical property (1991 value) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | 6/9 | £1,594.35 | Under £40k |
| Band B | 7/9 | £1,860.07 | £40k–£52k |
| Band C | 8/9 | £2,125.80 | £52k–£68k |
| Band D | 9/9 | £2,391.52 | £68k–£88k |
| Band E | 11/9 | £2,922.97 | £88k–£120k |
| Band F | 13/9 | £3,454.42 | £120k–£160k |
| Band G | 15/9 | £3,985.87 | £160k–£320k |
| Band H | 18/9 | £4,783.04 | Over £320k |
5 cheapest Band D councils
- 1Wandsworth£1,028.21
- 2Westminster£1,049.55
- 3City of London£1,329.56
- 4Hammersmith & Fulham£1,519.51
- 5Kensington & Chelsea£1,666.65
5 most expensive Band D councils
- 1Dorset Council£2,765.02
- 2Lewes£2,756.17
- 3City of Nottingham UA£2,755.39
- 4Rutland UA£2,737.58
- 5Wealden£2,728.43
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Find your council tax band charge
Pick your council and band to see the exact annual charge, the Gera Council Tax Band Index, and cheaper alternatives nearby.
Adur — Band D council tax
£2,548.28
per year (2026-27, MHCLG)
Gera Council Tax Band Index: -6.6 — 6.6% more expensive than England average
England average Band D: £2,391.52 · Index = (England − area) / England × 100
Cheaper Band D councils in South East
- Windsor & Maidenhead UA£1,952.62
- Basingstoke & Deane£2,255.21
- Bracknell Forest UA£2,264.80
- Fareham£2,270.55
- Portsmouth UA£2,291.71
Frequently asked questions
- What are council tax bands A to H?
- Council tax bands A to H classify properties by their estimated value as at 1 April 1991. Band A covers the lowest-value properties and pays 6/9 of the Band D charge; Band H covers the highest-value properties and pays 18/9 (double) the Band D charge. The ratios are set in law by the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and are identical across England.
- Which council in England has the cheapest Band D council tax?
- Wandsworth (London) has the cheapest Band D council tax in England: £1,028.21 for 2026-27, according to MHCLG official statistics. The England average Band D is £2,391.52.
- Which council in England has the most expensive Band D council tax?
- Dorset Council (South West) has the highest Band D council tax in England: £2,765.02 for 2026-27. This is 169% more than the cheapest authority (Wandsworth at £1,028.21).
- How are bands A–C and E–H calculated from Band D?
- Each band is a fixed legal fraction of the Band D charge. Band A = 6/9, B = 7/9, C = 8/9, D = 9/9 (the baseline), E = 11/9, F = 13/9, G = 15/9, H = 18/9. These ratios are set by the Local Government Finance Act 1992 s.5 and cannot be varied by local councils. The Band D figure comes from MHCLG's official statistics; the other bands are a legal arithmetic transform of it.
- What is the Gera Council Tax Band Index?
- The Gera Council Tax Band Index (GCTBI) measures how far each council's charge for a specific band is above or below the England average for the same band. GCTBI = ((England band amount − area band amount) / England band amount) × 100. A positive GCTBI means the area is cheaper than the England average; negative means more expensive. The index uses only the real MHCLG Band D figures and the statutory ratios — no estimates.
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Contains public sector information published by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027 (MHCLG) (2026-27, published May 2026).