Is Dorset expensive for council tax?

Dorset ranks 1st highest out of 296 billing authorities in England for Band D. At £2,765.02, Band D in Dorset is £373.50 (15.6%) above the England average of £2,391.52.

How do I check my band in Dorset?

Your band is printed on your council tax bill, or you can look it up free on GOV.UK (search "council tax bands"). Bands are set by the Valuation Office Agency from your property's 1991 value, not by Dorset itself.

Can I pay my Dorset council tax over 12 months?

Yes. The standard is 10 monthly instalments (for Band D in Dorset that's £276.50 each, April to January), but you can ask Dorset to spread the same annual bill over 12 monthly payments instead.

Dorset Council Tax 2026/27

Band D in Dorset is £2,765.02 for 2026/27 — £373.50 above the England average. That ranks Dorset 1st highest of 296 billing authorities in England.

Band A: £1,843.35
Band H: £5,530.04
Official MHCLG figures

Dorset council tax by band — 2026/27

Band	Share of Band D	Per year	Per month	Per instalment (×10)
A	6/9	£1,843.35	£153.61	£184.33
B	7/9	£2,150.57	£179.21	£215.06
C	8/9	£2,457.80	£204.82	£245.78
D	9/9	£2,765.02	£230.42	£276.50
E	11/9	£3,379.47	£281.62	£337.95
F	13/9	£3,993.92	£332.83	£399.39
G	15/9	£4,608.37	£384.03	£460.84
H	18/9	£5,530.04	£460.84	£553.00

Area-average figures from MHCLG's official 2026/27 release — parish precepts are averaged in, so a specific parish bill can differ slightly.

Your bill

Calculate your Dorset bill

Pick your band and add the single-person discount if it applies — the calculator is pre-set to Dorset.

Calculating for Dorset — Band D £2,765.02 for 2026/27. Wrong council? Use the full calculator

Pick your band

Dorset · Band D £2,765.02

Don't know your band? Check it free on GOV.UK

Your discount

I live alone25% single-person discount if you're the only adult in the home

Dorset · Band D

£2,765.02 / year

£230.42Per month (×12)

£276.50Per instalment (×10)

£53.17Per week

That's £373.50 more (15.62% above) than the England average for Band D (£2,391.52).

Most councils collect over 10 monthly instalments (April–January); you can ask yours to spread it over 12 instead. Figures use the official 2026/27 area average for Dorset — parish precepts are averaged in, so a bill for a specific parish can differ slightly.

How Dorset compares

The England average Band D for 2026/27 is £2,391.52. At £2,765.02, Band D in Dorset is £373.50 (15.6%) above the England average of £2,391.52. For a Band D home that works out at £373.50 a year more than the average English bill — before any discounts or reductions.

Similar Band D charges

Councils ranked just either side of Dorset:

Browse all 296 councils

Questions

Dorset council tax — FAQ

The average Band D council tax in Dorset for 2026/27 is £2,765.02. Bands run from A at £1,843.35 to H at £5,530.04. These are the official area-average figures published by MHCLG, including all precepts.