How much is council tax, and how do the bands work?
Council tax is an annual charge set by your local authority, based on which valuation band (A to H) your property sits in. The English average Band D bill is about £2,171 a year — roughly £181 a month. Band A is two-thirds of the Band D charge (£1,447), and the most expensive Band H is exactly double (£4,342). Your actual bill depends on your council, but the ratios between bands are fixed nationally.
What each band costs
| Band | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,447 | £121 |
| Band B | £1,689 | £141 |
| Band C | £1,930 | £161 |
| Band D | £2,171 | £181 |
| Band E | £2,653 | £221 |
| Band F | £3,136 | £261 |
| Band G | £3,618 | £302 |
| Band H | £4,342 | £362 |
Based on the English average Band D charge and the statutory band ratios. Your local authority's figure will differ.
How it works
- Your band is set by the property's value on a fixed historic date (1991 in England), not its current price — so a recently renovated or newly built home is banded by its equivalent 1991 value.
- The ratios between bands are fixed: Band A is 6/9 of Band D, Band H is twice Band D. Only the Band D amount changes between councils and years.
- A single adult living alone gets a 25% discount. Students, some carers and empty properties may pay less.
- If you think your band is wrong you can challenge it with the Valuation Office Agency — but a successful challenge can move your neighbours' bands too.
True Bricks pulls the council tax band for a specific address and includes the real annual charge in the monthly cost breakdown, so it's never a surprise after you move in.
Frequently asked
How much is council tax per month?
For an average Band D home, about £181 a month (£2,171 a year). Lower bands cost less — Band A is around £121 a month — and higher bands more.
How are council tax bands worked out?
By the property's value on a fixed date (1991 in England, 2003 in Wales), sorted into bands A to H. The band, not the current market price, sets your charge.
What is the council tax discount for living alone?
A 25% single-person discount applies if you're the only adult in the home. Some occupants (such as full-time students) are disregarded entirely.
Which council tax band is the cheapest?
Band A is the lowest, at about £1,447 a year on average — two-thirds of the Band D charge.
Want exact figures for a specific property? Analyse any UK address →
Figures use True Bricks' standard cost model with UK rates as of the 2025/26 year — mortgage maths, the English average Band D council tax, Ofgem energy unit rates, current SDLT bands, and rebuild-based insurance and age-based maintenance. Estimates, not financial advice. Last reviewed June 2026.