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Council tax in Dorset

Not legal advice. This page has not been reviewed by a solicitor. The figures are official statistics run through our calculators, not a quote.

Data as of: official 2026-27 council tax tables published 25 March 2026.

How much is council tax in Dorset?

As of 2026-27, the average Band D council tax in Dorset is £2,765 a year, up 5.1% on last year. Band A is £1,843 and Band H £5,530. These are averages including the county, police, fire and parish or town council precepts; your bill depends on your band and parish.

Updated

Council tax by band in Dorset, 2026-27

Valuation bands are set by law (Local Government Finance Act 1992, section 5 (bands and proportions)) on values at 1 April 1991. Amounts are the area average; published by band in the official table.
BandValue at 1 April 1991Proportion of Band DA year
AUp to £40,0006/9£1,843
B£40,001 to £52,0007/9£2,151
C£52,001 to £68,0008/9£2,458
D£68,001 to £88,0009/9£2,765
E£88,001 to £120,00011/9£3,379
F£120,001 to £160,00013/9£3,994
G£160,001 to £320,00015/9£4,608
HOver £320,00018/9£5,530

Don't know your band? You can check your council tax band on GOV.UK, and find your local council for its exact charges by parish.

More questions about council tax in Dorset

How much has council tax gone up in Dorset?

Up 5.1% on 2025-26, to an average £2,765.02 at Band D for 2026-27 (England: £2,391.52).

Source: MHCLG, council tax levels 2026-27, published 2026-03-25.

How much is Band A and Band H council tax in Dorset?

£1,843.35 at Band A (6/9 of Band D) and £5,530.04 at Band H (18/9), fractions set by law.

Source: MHCLG, council tax levels 2026-27, published 2026-03-25.

Do second homes pay more council tax in Dorset?

Yes: the council reported charging a second homes premium in its October 2025 council taxbase return.

Source: MHCLG, Council Taxbase 2025 in England, published 2025-11-06.

How much does it cost to buy a home in Dorset?

The average home sold for £328,589 in August 2026, and a home mover paying the local average for movers, £393,599, pays £9,680 in stamp duty. Tax and legal fees for each kind of buyer in Dorset.

Nearby areas

Average Band D council tax, 2026-27
AreaAverage Band D
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole£2,436
East Devon£2,595
Bath and North East Somerset£2,383
Wiltshire£2,572

Buying in Dorset? See house prices in Dorset and conveyancing costs.

Buying in Dorset? We'll introduce you to an independent SRA-regulated conveyancing solicitor, who sends you their own quote.

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Questions

How much is council tax in Dorset?
For 2026-27, the average Band D across Dorset is £2,765.02 a year, including precepts. Band A £1,843, Band B £2,151, Band C £2,458, Band D £2,765, Band E £3,379, Band F £3,994, Band G £4,608, Band H £5,530 on average.
Why is my bill different from this figure?
The figures are averages across the area. Parish or town council precepts differ from place to place, and your band sets your share of Band D.

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Welsh Government; The Scottish Government; legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives). Official 2026-27 tables published 25 March 2026, retrieved 2026-11-02. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This page is general information, not legal advice, and hasn't been reviewed by a solicitor. Instrukt is not a law firm.