Bristol Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Bristol is £2,713.68 for 2026/27, up 5% (£129.79) on last year. That is £322.16 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 290th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (36%), so the average bill per home is about £2,282.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South West · Official England government statistics
Bristol council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,809.12 | £180.91 | £150.76 | £1,356.84 | 57,600 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,110.64 | £211.06 | £175.89 | £1,582.98 | 76,600 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,412.16 | £241.22 | £201.01 | £1,809.12 | 41,710 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,713.68 | £271.37 | £226.14 | £2,035.26 | 20,110 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,316.72 | £331.67 | £276.39 | £2,487.54 | 10,250 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,919.76 | £391.98 | £326.65 | £2,939.82 | 4,940 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,522.80 | £452.28 | £376.90 | £3,392.10 | 2,890 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,427.36 | £542.74 | £452.28 | £4,070.52 | 360 |
- Bristol
- England average
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Where your Bristol council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Bristol but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,713.68 Band D charge, £2,310.05 (85%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £2,266.04 | 83.5% | £1,762.48 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £44.01 | 1.6% | £34.23 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £308.20 | 11.4% | £239.71 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £95.43 | 3.5% | £74.22 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,266 83.5%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £44 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £308 11.4%
- Fire and rescue authority £95 3.5%
Bristol council tax history
Band D in Bristol has risen from £1,721.25 in 2016/17 to £2,713.68 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.4%, the 138th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Bristol Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,713.68 | +5.0% | £2,110.64 |
| 2025/26 | £2,583.89 | +5.0% | £2,009.69 |
| 2024/25 | £2,460.32 | +4.9% | £1,913.58 |
| 2023/24 | £2,345.24 | +5.2% | £1,824.08 |
| 2022/23 | £2,230.37 | +3.1% | £1,734.73 |
| 2021/22 | £2,163.65 | +5.0% | £1,682.84 |
| 2020/21 | £2,061.03 | +4.0% | £1,603.02 |
| 2019/20 | £1,982.11 | +4.8% | £1,541.64 |
| 2018/19 | £1,891.10 | +5.1% | £1,470.86 |
| 2017/18 | £1,799.75 | +4.6% | £1,399.81 |
| 2016/17 | £1,721.25 | – | £1,338.75 |
Homes by council tax band in Bristol
Bristol has 214,460 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 63% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is B, which costs £2,110.64 a year (£211.06 a month over 10 instalments).
Bristol compared with South West
Bristol is the 26th cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£202.28 less than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Teignbridge | £2,643.12 | +5.2% |
| Mid Devon | £2,656.41 | +5.4% |
| West Devon | £2,705.33 | +5.1% |
| Bristol | £2,713.68 | +5% |
| Dorset | £2,765.02 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Bristol drops from £2,110.64 to £1,582.98.
- Council Tax Reduction: Bristol runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits — rules differ from council to council in England.
- Disregards and exemptions: full-time students, student halls, some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted; all-student homes pay nothing.
- Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person you may be billed one band lower (Band A homes get a reduction of 1/9 of Band D).
Bristol's 5% rise compares with an England average of 4.9%. Councils responsible for social care can raise their own share by up to 4.99% without a referendum, districts by under 3% or £5, and police and fire bodies by fixed cash amounts — so the area total can move by a different percentage.
Bristol's 2026/27 budget in figures
Bristol City Council raised its share by 4.99%: 2.99% general and 2% adult social care. Avon Fire Authority went up 5.5% and the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner 5.1%. The council's net revenue budget is £634.1 million. Council tax raises £316.54 million of it, about half its core funding. The budget also includes £280 million of business rates and £40.9 million of savings. The biggest single area of spending is £378 million on social care and support for adults, families and children.
The council says its Council Tax Reduction scheme helps about 32,000 low-income, out-of-work or retired households. It has called on the government to reform council tax, which it describes as "outdated" and "unfair".
12 monthly instalments will become the default
Bristol is changing how bills are split. From 1 April 2028, every account will be billed over 12 monthly instalments (April to March) by default. New accounts opened from 1 April 2027 will already get 12 instalments. You can still ask for 10 if you want February and March free. For now, direct debits are taken on the 1st, 15th or 25th, and 12 instalments only start at the beginning of the year if you ask before 31 March.
Example: a Band B bill of £2,110.64 costs £211.06 a month over 10 instalments, or £175.89 over 12.
Council Tax Reduction, empty homes and second homes
- Council Tax Reduction can cover up to 100% of the bill, depending on band, income and household. The savings limit is £16,000. Bristol automatically backdates claims by up to three months, and can go back six months if you ask in writing.
- If you work and get the maximum Universal Credit because your earnings are low, you will still have to pay something towards your bill.
- Long-term empty homes pay 200% after one year, 300% after five and 400% after ten. Second homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025, which is £5,427.36 at Band D.
- Inherited homes are exempt for six months after probate, then free of the premium for up to six more months.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Bristol?
£2,713.68 a year in 2026/27, or £271.37 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Bristol?
Band B: 76,600 of 214,460 homes (36%). A Band B bill is £2,110.64 in 2026/27.
How much has Bristol council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,583.89 to £2,713.68 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Bristol?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,266.04; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £44.01; Police and crime commissioner £308.20; Fire and rescue authority £95.43 (Band D, 2026/27).
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your postcode on GOV.UK “Check your Council Tax band”, run by the Valuation Office Agency. You can challenge your band if you think it is wrong.
Is Bristol moving council tax to 12 monthly payments?
Yes. From 1 April 2028 all accounts will default to 12 instalments, and new accounts from 1 April 2027. You can still ask for 10.
How far back can Bristol Council Tax Reduction be backdated?
Up to three months automatically, and up to six months if you ask in writing.
How much did Bristol council tax go up in 2026/27?
The city council's share rose 4.99%. The fire precept rose 5.5% and the police precept 5.1%.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2026-27, Tables 1 to 9 (ODS)
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Table 10 local authority level data
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2025-26 (revised), Table 10 Local Authority Level Data (ODS), used for England % change
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- MHCLG: Band D Council Tax figures 1993 onwards, Table 5 area Band D (live table, 2026-27 revised)
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Bristol City Council – Council tax explained (budget 2026 to 2027)
- Bristol City Council – Pay your council tax
- Bristol City Council – Empty properties and second homes
- Bristol City Council – Claim Council Tax Reduction