Edinburgh tourist tax 2026: 5% of the room price
In Edinburgh the tax is 5% of the accommodation cost per night before VAT, without extras: on £150 a night you pay £7.50 a night. Only the first 5 nights of a stay are taxed.
Edinburgh 2026: 5% of the room price
- % of the room price
- Max 5 taxable nights
- United Kingdom
Edinburgh Visitor Levy. The calculator below uses the official rates and rules: a percentage of the price of the stay, maximum taxable nights.
Official source: City of Edinburgh Council - Visitor Levy in Edinburgh (5%, before VAT, first 5 nights, from 24 July 2026) · checked on 10 October 2026
Formula used
Tax = rate % × accommodation cost per night before VAT, without extras (all rooms booked) × taxable nights (maximum 5 taxable nights per stay; no tax on nights before 24 July 2026, when it started).
Example: price £150.00 per night, 3 nights from 31 October 2026, Hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, short-term lets, hostels, caravan and campsites → £22.50 in total.
Not tax advice. Tourist taxes are set by local or national authorities and can change. They are usually collected by your hotel or host, who applies the official rules: check the final amount with your accommodation.
Official rates
| Accommodation (of the price) | From 24 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, short-term lets, hostels, caravan and campsites | 5% |
Official source: City of Edinburgh Council - Visitor Levy in Edinburgh (5%, before VAT, first 5 nights, from 24 July 2026) · checked on 10 October 2026
Practical notes
- 5% of the cost of the overnight accommodation, charged before VAT and not on extras like parking, meals, drinks or transport.
- Only the first 5 nights of a stay are charged. Same rate every day of the year.
- Stays from 24 July 2026 that were booked and paid (in part or in full) before 1 October 2025 are not charged.
- People receiving certain disability benefits can claim a refund from the Council after the stay.
Who collects it: The accommodation provider.
Exemptions (official)
- People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, asylum seekers and refugees
- Refund for recipients of listed disability benefits
Official sources
- City of Edinburgh Council - Visitor Levy in Edinburgh (5%, before VAT, first 5 nights, from 24 July 2026) – HTML (English), checked 10 October 2026
- City of Edinburgh Council - Visitor Levy exemptions – HTML (English), checked 10 October 2026
Spotted a change in the official rate? Tell us.
Other destinations in United Kingdom
All tourist taxes in United Kingdom · Tourist taxes in Europe 2026