Middletown, Ohio Sales Tax Rate
Buying in Middletown? Because it is located in Butler County, the combined sales tax rate is 6.50%. Below is the full breakdown and a calculator preset to Middletown's rate.
- Ohio state base5.75%
- Butler County & transit0.75%
- Total you pay6.50%
Middletown sits in Butler County, so its combined rate is 6.50% — Ohio's 5.75% state base plus 0.75% in Butler County and transit tax. That is the rate on an in-store purchase in Middletown, and the rate an out-of-state or marketplace seller charges on an order delivered here — an Ohio seller shipping from another county charges its own county's rate instead, because Ohio sources intrastate sales to the vendor. A $50.00 taxable item runs $53.25 out the door. Unprepared groceries and prescription drugs are exempt statewide, so they stay untaxed in Middletown no matter the local rate. Compare this against every other Ohio county rate.
Middletown has a population of about 48,760, making it the 17th largest of the 61 Ohio cities tracked here. It sits in Butler County, and its 2 ZIP codes all fall inside that county, so every address in Middletown is taxed at 6.50%.
Middletown ZIP codes at 6.50%
- 45042
- 45044
How Middletown compares to nearby cities
| City | Distance | County | Rate | vs Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown | — | Butler | 6.50% | — |
| Franklin | 5.9 mi | Warren | 6.75% | +0.25% |
| Mason | 11.7 mi | Warren | 6.75% | +0.25% |
| Lebanon | 11.8 mi | Warren | 6.75% | +0.25% |
| Hamilton | 11.8 mi | Butler | 6.50% | same |
Every nearby city charges the same as Middletown or more — Franklin in Warren County is 0.25% higher. Crossing a county line to shop will not save you tax here.
Calculate tax in Middletown
Middletown sales tax by purchase amount
| Purchase | Sales Tax (6.50%) | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.07 | $1.07 |
| $5.00 | $0.33 | $5.33 |
| $10.00 | $0.65 | $10.65 |
| $25.00 | $1.63 | $26.63 |
| $50.00 | $3.25 | $53.25 |
| $100.00 | $6.50 | $106.50 |
| $500.00 | $32.50 | $532.50 |
| $1,000.00 | $65.00 | $1,065.00 |
Groceries and prescription drugs are exempt statewide, so they carry $0 tax in Middletown. Prepared food and general merchandise are taxed at 6.50%.
Middletown sales tax FAQ
The combined sales tax rate in Middletown is 6.50% in 2026. This is based on its location in Butler County, which adds a 0.75% county and transit portion to Ohio's 5.75% state base rate.
At 6.50%, sales tax on a $100 taxable purchase in Middletown is $6.50, for a total of $106.50.
No. Unprepared groceries and prescription drugs are exempt from Ohio sales tax statewide, so they are not taxed in Middletown. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxable at 6.50%.
Middletown covers 2 ZIP codes (45042, 45044), and all of them fall in Butler County, so every one is taxed at 6.50%. A ZIP can straddle a county line, so for a specific street address confirm with Ohio's own address lookup.
Explore Ohio cities beyond Middletown
Need a different calculation? Try the reverse sales tax calculator or the car sales tax calculator.
Shipping somewhere specific? Use the Ohio ZIP code sales tax lookup to confirm the rate for any ZIP code in Butler County.
Not sure what's taxable? Read what is taxable in Ohio, Ohio sales tax exemptions, or how to calculate Ohio sales tax.