Quick answer: “+ VAT” means VAT has not been included yet. To get the total, multiply by 1.2 (20% VAT). £450 + VAT = £450 × 1.2 = £540, of which £90 is VAT.
What does “plus VAT” mean?
A price quoted as “£1,000 + VAT”, “£1,000 plus VAT” or “£1,000 ex VAT” is the net price. VAT is added on top at checkout or on the invoice. At the UK standard rate of 20% you pay the net price plus one fifth of it. A few goods and services use the 5% reduced rate, and some are zero-rated. See UK VAT rates explained.
Formula to add 20% VAT
- VAT = net price × 0.2
- Total = net price × 1.2
- Example: £280 × 0.2 = £56 VAT, so the total is £336
Want any other amount? Use the UK VAT calculator.
Plus VAT table: 20% VAT added to £50 to £10,000
| Price | VAT (20%) | Total including VAT |
|---|---|---|
| £50 + VAT | £10.00 | £60.00 |
| £100 + VAT | £20.00 | £120.00 |
| £145 + VAT | £29.00 | £174.00 |
| £150 + VAT | £30.00 | £180.00 |
| £185 + VAT | £37.00 | £222.00 |
| £200 + VAT | £40.00 | £240.00 |
| £229 + VAT | £45.80 | £274.80 |
| £250 + VAT | £50.00 | £300.00 |
| £280 + VAT | £56.00 | £336.00 |
| £300 + VAT | £60.00 | £360.00 |
| £350 + VAT | £70.00 | £420.00 |
| £399 + VAT | £79.80 | £478.80 |
| £400 + VAT | £80.00 | £480.00 |
| £450 + VAT | £90.00 | £540.00 |
| £490 + VAT | £98.00 | £588.00 |
| £500 + VAT | £100.00 | £600.00 |
| £550 + VAT | £110.00 | £660.00 |
| £600 + VAT | £120.00 | £720.00 |
| £610 + VAT | £122.00 | £732.00 |
| £650 + VAT | £130.00 | £780.00 |
| £700 + VAT | £140.00 | £840.00 |
| £750 + VAT | £150.00 | £900.00 |
| £800 + VAT | £160.00 | £960.00 |
| £850 + VAT | £170.00 | £1,020.00 |
| £900 + VAT | £180.00 | £1,080.00 |
| £950 + VAT | £190.00 | £1,140.00 |
| £1,000 + VAT | £200.00 | £1,200.00 |
| £1,100 + VAT | £220.00 | £1,320.00 |
| £1,200 + VAT | £240.00 | £1,440.00 |
| £1,300 + VAT | £260.00 | £1,560.00 |
| £1,350 + VAT | £270.00 | £1,620.00 |
| £1,400 + VAT | £280.00 | £1,680.00 |
| £1,480 + VAT | £296.00 | £1,776.00 |
| £1,500 + VAT | £300.00 | £1,800.00 |
| £1,600 + VAT | £320.00 | £1,920.00 |
| £1,700 + VAT | £340.00 | £2,040.00 |
| £1,800 + VAT | £360.00 | £2,160.00 |
| £1,900 + VAT | £380.00 | £2,280.00 |
| £2,000 + VAT | £400.00 | £2,400.00 |
| £2,250 + VAT | £450.00 | £2,700.00 |
| £2,500 + VAT | £500.00 | £3,000.00 |
| £3,000 + VAT | £600.00 | £3,600.00 |
| £3,500 + VAT | £700.00 | £4,200.00 |
| £4,000 + VAT | £800.00 | £4,800.00 |
| £4,500 + VAT | £900.00 | £5,400.00 |
| £5,000 + VAT | £1,000.00 | £6,000.00 |
| £5,500 + VAT | £1,100.00 | £6,600.00 |
| £6,000 + VAT | £1,200.00 | £7,200.00 |
| £6,500 + VAT | £1,300.00 | £7,800.00 |
| £7,000 + VAT | £1,400.00 | £8,400.00 |
| £7,500 + VAT | £1,500.00 | £9,000.00 |
| £8,000 + VAT | £1,600.00 | £9,600.00 |
| £8,500 + VAT | £1,700.00 | £10,200.00 |
| £9,000 + VAT | £1,800.00 | £10,800.00 |
| £9,500 + VAT | £1,900.00 | £11,400.00 |
| £10,000 + VAT | £2,000.00 | £12,000.00 |
Plus VAT table at the 5% reduced rate
| Price | VAT (5%) | Total including VAT |
|---|---|---|
| £100 + VAT | £5.00 | £105.00 |
| £250 + VAT | £12.50 | £262.50 |
| £500 + VAT | £25.00 | £525.00 |
| £1,000 + VAT | £50.00 | £1,050.00 |
| £2,500 + VAT | £125.00 | £2,625.00 |
| £5,000 + VAT | £250.00 | £5,250.00 |
| £10,000 + VAT | £500.00 | £10,500.00 |
Worked examples
- Contractor quote of £1,350 + VAT: VAT is £270, so the client pays £1,620.
- Part priced £229 + VAT: VAT is £45.80, total £274.80.
- Fee of £25,000 + VAT: VAT is £5,000, total £30,000.
When an amount has pence, VAT is worked out on the invoice total and rounded as set out in the VAT rounding rules.
Going the other way
If a price already includes VAT, divide by 1.2 instead. £540 inc VAT ÷ 1.2 = £450. Read how to remove VAT from a price and VAT inclusive vs exclusive, or check the shorter VAT table on the UK calculator page.
Frequently asked questions
What is £450 plus VAT?
£540 at 20% VAT: £450 plus £90 VAT.
How do I add 20% VAT in my head?
Work out 10% by moving the decimal point, double it for 20%, and add it to the price. £350: 10% is £35, 20% is £70, total £420.
Is plus VAT the same as ex VAT?
Yes. Plus VAT, + VAT, ex VAT and excluding VAT all mean the price does not include VAT yet.
Which rate applies?
Most goods and services are 20%. Some, such as domestic energy, are 5%, and others, such as most children’s clothes and food, are zero-rated. Check the GOV.UK VAT rates list.
