Council Tax Cardiff 2026/27 — Band A to H Rates

Updated July 20262026/27 ratesFree · No signup
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Council tax rates in Cardiff 2026/27

The Band D council tax rate in Cardiff for 2026/27 is £2,013 per year (£168 per month). All other bands are a fixed statutory fraction of this rate. Wales has nine bands (A to I), based on 1 April 2003 values.

BandAnnualMonthly
Band A£1,342/yr£112/mo
Band B£1,566/yr£131/mo
Band C£1,789/yr£149/mo
Band D£2,013/yr£168/mo
Band E£2,460/yr£205/mo
Band F£2,908/yr£242/mo
Band G£3,355/yr£280/mo
Band H£4,026/yr£336/mo
Band I£4,697/yr£391/mo

The England average Band D for 2026/27 is £2,392. Cardiff's Band D rate is below this average.

How to check your Cardiff band

Enter any Cardiff postcode in our free council tax band checker. You can also check your bill or visit gov.uk/council-tax-bands.

Challenging your Cardiff band

A successful challenge saves approximately £447/yr per band — backdated to when you moved in. See our step-by-step guide.

Discounts in Cardiff

Council tax bands in Cardiff: all nine bands, A to I

Wales has nine council tax bands, A to I, based on what a property would have sold for on 1 April 2003. Band I, the top band, does not exist in England or Scotland, and Wales applies its own valuation ranges. The charges below are Cardiff's 2026/27 amounts before any discounts. They are calculated from the Band D charge of £2,013 using the standard Welsh ratios, so Band A pays 6/9 of Band D and Band I pays 21/9.

BandProperty value (2003)Annual chargeLiving alone (25% off)Per month (12 instalments)
Band Aup to £44,000£1,342£1,007£112
Band B£44,001 to £65,000£1,566£1,175£131
Band C£65,001 to £91,000£1,789£1,342£149
Band D£91,001 to £123,000£2,013£1,510£168
Band E£123,001 to £162,000£2,460£1,845£205
Band F£162,001 to £223,000£2,908£2,181£242
Band G£223,001 to £324,000£3,355£2,516£280
Band H£324,001 to £424,000£4,026£3,020£336
Band Iover £424,000£4,697£3,523£391

Band D at £2,013 a year is £379 below the England average of £2,392, although the comparison is not like-for-like because Welsh and English councils set their charges separately and the band structures differ, with Wales revalued in 2003 and England still on 1991 values. Each step up the bands adds £447 from Band D to Band E, and £671 from Band G to Band H.

What affects your band in Cardiff

Cardiff is the largest housing market in Wales, with a mix of Victorian terraces, inter-war semis, student housing and newer city-centre and Bay developments. Wales was revalued on 2003 prices, so a home's band reflects what it would have been worth in April 2003 rather than today, and the nine-band structure with a top Band I means the most valuable homes pay noticeably more than in England.

Discounts, exemptions and premiums in Cardiff

A household with only one adult living in the property gets a 25% discount. Full-time students, people who are severely mentally impaired and some carers and apprentices are disregarded when counting adults, and a household made up entirely of full-time students is exempt. Check with Cardiff Council that these have been applied, as they normally have to be claimed.

Welsh councils can charge a premium of up to 300% on second homes and long-term empty properties, so a Band D second home could in theory cost up to four times the standard charge, although the rate each council applies is its own decision. If you are on a low income, the Council Tax Reduction Scheme in Wales can reduce your bill by up to 100%. A disabled band reduction is also available where a property has been adapted for a disabled resident.

Challenging your band in Cardiff

Council tax bands in Wales are set by the Valuation Office Agency, not by Cardiff Council. If you believe your home is in the wrong band, you can send a proposal to the VOA, normally within six months of becoming the council tax payer, or later only if there has been a material change to the property or its use. If you disagree with the VOA's decision, you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for Wales. Keep paying your bill while the challenge is considered, and bear in mind that a review can also result in a higher band.

GOV.UK and the VOA's online tools show the band of every property in Wales, so you can compare your home with similar ones nearby. The strongest evidence for a challenge is a neighbouring property of the same size, age and type that sits in a lower band.

How Cardiff compares

In 2026/27 Band D in Cardiff is £2,013, compared with £2,238 in Swansea and the England average of £2,392. For a wider comparison, see our council tax rates league table, and use the council tax band checker to find your own band.

Sources: GOV.UK council tax bands, the Valuation Office Agency and Cardiff Council's published 2026/27 charges.

Council tax FAQs

What is my council tax band?▼
Every residential property in England, Scotland and Wales was assigned a council tax band (A–H, or A–I in Wales) based on its estimated value on 1 April 1991 (1 April 2003 in Wales). Use our free band checker to look up any Cardiff property by postcode, or check a recent council tax bill or tenancy agreement.
Do I get a discount if I live alone?▼
Yes — the single person discount reduces your bill by 25%, whatever band you're in. You need to apply through Cardiff City Council; it isn't applied automatically just because only one adult is on the tenancy.
Do students pay council tax?▼
Full-time students are "disregarded" for council tax purposes. A property occupied only by full-time students pays no council tax at all. If a household has a mix of students and non-students, the non-students are usually liable, though a discount may still apply.
Do pensioners pay council tax?▼
There's no blanket exemption for pensioners, but many are entitled to help — Council Tax Support (formerly Council Tax Benefit) is means-tested and can reduce or clear the bill entirely for those on a low income or Pension Credit.
What months do you not pay council tax?▼
Most councils, including Cardiff, spread payments over 10 months (April to January), meaning February and March are typically payment-free. You can ask to spread it over all 12 months instead if that's easier to budget for.
Do you pay council tax on an empty property?▼
Usually yes, though rules vary by council. Many areas offer a short exemption for properties that are empty and unfurnished, after which full council tax (sometimes with a premium for long-term empty homes) applies. Check directly with Cardiff City Council for their current empty homes policy.
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