South West | England | Unitary authority
Council Tax Bands in Dorset 2026/27
Band D 2026/27
£2,765.02
+£134.72 (+5.1%) vs 2025/26
Full band A to H council tax rates for Dorset from 1 April 2026.
Quick answer
Council tax bands in Dorset for 2026/27 run from £1,843.35 (Band A) to £5,530.04 (Band H), with the Band D reference rate set at £2,765.02 (up 5.1% on 2025/26). All eight bands (A to H) are fixed fractions of Band D; the full rate table with monthly figures is below.
Band A to H Rate Table - Dorset 2026/27
| Band | Annual rate | Monthly (10 mths) |
|---|---|---|
| ABand A | £1,843.35 | £184.33 |
| BBand B | £2,150.57 | £215.06 |
| CBand C | £2,457.80 | £245.78 |
| DBand D | £2,765.02 | £276.50 |
| EBand E | £3,379.47 | £337.95 |
| FBand F | £3,993.92 | £399.39 |
| GBand G | £4,608.37 | £460.84 |
| HBand H | £5,530.04 | £553.00 |
Source: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: 2026 to 2027, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Accredited official statistics). Table 9 (area council tax by band) and Table 10 (local authority level data). Snapshot: 2026-27 tables, published 25 March 2026. Published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Monthly figures are the annual rate divided over the standard 10-instalment plan and the 12-month direct debit option.
What Makes Up the £2,765.02 Bill
A Band D bill in Dorset is not one charge. It is 3 separate charges set by 3 different bodies and collected together. The largest is Dorset at £2,345.49, which is 85% of the total. Of the billing authority's own share, £41.85 is the adult social care precept added for 2026/27 (1.99% of last year's Band D).
| Charged by | Band D element | Share of bill |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset | £2,345.49 | 84.8% |
| Dorset PCC | £322.58 | 11.7% |
| Dorset and Wiltshire Fire | £96.95 | 3.5% |
| Total Band D | £2,765.02 | 100% |
Registry Record for Dorset
ONS code
E06000059
MHCLG E-code
E1203
Authority type
Unitary authority
Tax base 2026/27
163,765
Assumed collection rate
99.07%
Parishes in area
262
Parishes setting a precept
190
Band D rank in England
Registry snapshot
25 March 2026
Dorset is a unitary authority in the South West. Its 2026/27 tax base for setting council tax is 163,765 Band D equivalent dwellings, calculated on an assumed collection rate of 99.07%. 190 of the 262 parish or town councils in the area set their own precept for 2026/27, so households in those parishes pay slightly more than the area figures shown here. Its Band D rate is the highest of 296 in England, so see how Dorset compares with the cheapest and most expensive councils in the UK or the rest of the South West.
Year-on-Year Change
Band D 2025/26
£2,630.30
Band D 2026/27
£2,765.02
Annual increase
+£134.72 (+5.1%)
Dorset's Band D rate increased by £134.72 (5.1%) in 2026/27 compared with the previous year. The total bill is above 5%, but for most councils that reflects the separately-capped police, fire and (where relevant) mayoral or Greater London Authority precepts added on top of the billing authority's own increase, which is itself limited to 5% before a local referendum (a 3% core limit plus a 2% adult social care precept). A small number of councils in financial difficulty were also granted a higher bespoke limit.
Dorset Against the Rest of the South West
Across the 27 billing authorities in the South West, Band D for 2026/27 runs from Isles of Scilly at £2,047.96 to Dorset at £2,765.02, a spread of £717.06. The regional mean is £2,511.40, so Dorset sits £253.62 above it. See the full South West table.
Closest South West authorities by Band D
| Council | Band D 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Bristol | £2,713.68 |
| West Devon | £2,705.33 |
| Mid Devon | £2,656.41 |
| Teignbridge | £2,643.12 |
| North Devon | £2,642.21 |
| South Hams | £2,615.22 |
How Band Rates Are Worked Out in Dorset
Like every billing authority, Dorset sets a single Band D rate each year. All other bands are then calculated as fixed fractions of that rate, set nationally by central government. The fractions are expressed in ninths:
| Band | Fraction of Band D | Calculation | 2026/27 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | 6/9 | £2,765.02 x 6/9 | £1,843.35 |
| Band B | 7/9 | £2,765.02 x 7/9 | £2,150.57 |
| Band C | 8/9 | £2,765.02 x 8/9 | £2,457.80 |
| Band D | 9/9 | Baseline rate | £2,765.02 |
| Band E | 11/9 | £2,765.02 x 11/9 | £3,379.47 |
| Band F | 13/9 | £2,765.02 x 13/9 | £3,993.92 |
| Band G | 15/9 | £2,765.02 x 15/9 | £4,608.37 |
| Band H | 18/9 | £2,765.02 x 18/9 | £5,530.04 |
Contact Dorset Council
For billing enquiries, payment arrangements, discounts, or to report a change in your circumstances, contact Dorset Council directly.
Dorset Council council tax pageArea Band D incl. police and fire precepts, per GOV.UK Table 9 (2026-27 release, MHCLG, 25 Mar 2026). Covers Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, Sherborne and Blandford (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is a separate unitary authority); among the highest Band D rates in England, and the area is almost entirely parished, so most bills add a town or parish precept on top of this average.
Related Guides
Dorset Council Tax: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Band D council tax in Dorset for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band A in Dorset for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band B in Dorset for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band C in Dorset for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band E in Dorset for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band F in Dorset for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band G in Dorset for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band H in Dorset for 2026/27?
What are all eight council tax bands in Dorset?
How much did council tax rise in Dorset this year?
Where does council tax in Dorset actually go?
Is council tax in Dorset higher or lower than the rest of the South West?
When do I pay council tax to Dorset Council?
What discounts are available on council tax in Dorset?
How do I check my council tax band in Dorset?
Figures are the 2026/27 tax year, in force from 1 April 2026, as published by MHCLG on 25 March 2026. The 2027/28 tables are due in spring 2027.