Is Preston expensive for council tax?

Preston ranks 50th highest out of 296 billing authorities in England for Band D. At £2,575.74, Band D in Preston is £184.22 (7.7%) above the England average of £2,391.52.

How do I check my band in Preston?

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 Preston itself.

Can I pay my Preston council tax over 12 months?

Yes. The standard is 10 monthly instalments (for Band D in Preston that's £257.57 each, April to January), but you can ask Preston to spread the same annual bill over 12 monthly payments instead.

Preston Council Tax 2026/27

Band D in Preston is £2,575.74 for 2026/27 — £184.22 above the England average. That ranks Preston 50th highest of 296 billing authorities in England.

Band A: £1,717.16
Band H: £5,151.48
Official MHCLG figures

Preston council tax by band — 2026/27

Band	Share of Band D	Per year	Per month	Per instalment (×10)
A	6/9	£1,717.16	£143.10	£171.72
B	7/9	£2,003.35	£166.95	£200.33
C	8/9	£2,289.55	£190.80	£228.96
D	9/9	£2,575.74	£214.64	£257.57
E	11/9	£3,148.13	£262.34	£314.81
F	13/9	£3,720.51	£310.04	£372.05
G	15/9	£4,292.90	£357.74	£429.29
H	18/9	£5,151.48	£429.29	£515.15

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 Preston bill

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

Calculating for Preston — Band D £2,575.74 for 2026/27. Wrong council? Use the full calculator

Pick your band

Preston · Band D £2,575.74

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

Preston · Band D

£2,575.74 / year

£214.65Per month (×12)

£257.57Per instalment (×10)

£49.53Per week

That's £184.22 more (7.7% 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 Preston — parish precepts are averaged in, so a bill for a specific parish can differ slightly.

How Preston compares

The England average Band D for 2026/27 is £2,391.52. At £2,575.74, Band D in Preston is £184.22 (7.7%) above the England average of £2,391.52. For a Band D home that works out at £184.22 a year more than the average English bill — before any discounts or reductions.

Similar Band D charges

Councils ranked just either side of Preston:

Browse all 296 councils

Questions

Preston council tax — FAQ

The average Band D council tax in Preston for 2026/27 is £2,575.74. Bands run from A at £1,717.16 to H at £5,151.48. These are the official area-average figures published by MHCLG, including all precepts.