Edinburgh Council Tax Bands 2026/27: Costs A to H
Edinburgh Council Tax Bands 2026/27: Costs A to H
Band D council tax in Edinburgh is £1,626.05 a year in 2026/27 — about £136 a month. Add the water and waste water charges collected on the same bill and the total Band D bill is £2,278.37 a year, roughly £190 a month. Here's the full table for every band, plus the discounts that cut your bill.
Edinburgh council tax rates 2026/27: the full table
| Band | Council tax | Per month | Water & waste water | Total bill | Total per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | £1,084.03 | £90 | £434.88 | £1,518.91 | £127 |
| B | £1,264.71 | £105 | £507.36 | £1,772.07 | £148 |
| C | £1,445.38 | £120 | £579.84 | £2,025.22 | £169 |
| D | £1,626.05 | £136 | £652.32 | £2,278.37 | £190 |
| E | £2,136.45 | £178 | £797.28 | £2,933.73 | £244 |
| F | £2,642.33 | £220 | £942.24 | £3,584.57 | £299 |
| G | £3,184.35 | £265 | £1,087.20 | £4,271.55 | £356 |
| H | £3,983.82 | £332 | £1,304.64 | £5,288.46 | £441 |
Source: City of Edinburgh Council 2026/27 council tax schedule (a 4% rise on 2025/26) and Scottish Water 2026/27 charges. Annual figures are exact; monthly figures are the annual cost spread over 12 months. Confirm your own bill on the council's website.
One billing quirk worth knowing: Edinburgh collects council tax over 10 instalments (April to January) by default, so the direct debit that actually leaves your account is higher than the 12-month figure — a Band D total bill of £2,278.37 works out at £227.84 per instalment. You can ask the council to spread payments over 12 months instead.
What the water charges are
Council tax in Scotland isn't the whole bill. Scottish Water's water supply and waste water charges are band-rated too and collected through the same council tax bill — at Band D that's £301.95 for water and £350.37 for waste water, £652.32 a year on top of the council tax itself. If you've seen a monthly figure on your bill that looks higher than the headline council tax rate, this is why. The "total bill" columns above are what you'll actually pay.
How council tax bands work
Every residential property in Scotland is assigned a council tax band from A (lowest) to H (highest), based on its value as of April 1991. Yes, 1991 — the bands haven't been revalued since. This means a flat that was worth £30,000 in 1991 might now be worth £250,000 but still sits in Band B.
What each band costs, band by band
Band A council tax in Edinburgh
£1,084.03 a year in 2026/27 — £90 a month, or about £127 a month including water and waste water. Band A covers the smallest properties, like single-room tenement flats in Gorgie and Dalry.
Band B council tax in Edinburgh
£1,264.71 a year in 2026/27 — £105 a month, or about £148 a month including water charges. A very common band for one-bed tenement flats across Leith, Gorgie and Dalry.
Band C council tax in Edinburgh
£1,445.38 a year in 2026/27 — £120 a month, or about £169 a month including water charges. Typical for one- and two-bed flats in Marchmont, Newington and Abbeyhill.
Band D council tax in Edinburgh
£1,626.05 a year in 2026/27 — £136 a month, or about £190 a month including water charges. Band D is the Scottish benchmark band and covers many two-bed flats in central Edinburgh.
Band E council tax in Edinburgh
£2,136.45 a year in 2026/27 — £178 a month, or about £244 a month including water charges. Common for larger flats and period properties in Stockbridge, New Town and Morningside.
Band F council tax in Edinburgh
£2,642.33 a year in 2026/27 — £220 a month, or about £299 a month including water charges. Larger period flats and smaller houses in the inner suburbs.
Band G council tax in Edinburgh
£3,184.35 a year in 2026/27 — £265 a month, or about £356 a month including water charges. Detached and semi-detached houses in areas like Murrayfield and the Grange.
Band H council tax in Edinburgh
£3,983.82 a year in 2026/27 — £332 a month, or about £441 a month including water charges. The top band, for Edinburgh's largest and most valuable homes.
Discounts and exemptions
- Single person discount: if you're the only adult in the property, you get 25% off — and in Scotland the discount applies to the water and waste water charges too. You just need to tell the council.
- Student exemption: if everyone in the property is a full-time student, the property is exempt from council tax entirely. If you share with a non-student, they'll need to pay (but may get the single person discount).
- Council tax reduction: if you're on a low income or receiving benefits, you may qualify for a reduction. Apply through the council.
Living alone in a Band D flat? The 25% single-person discount brings £1,626.05 down to £1,219.54 a year — roughly £102 a month for the council tax element. Because the discount also applies to the water charges, the whole Band D bill drops to about £1,709 a year, or £142 a month.
Edinburgh council tax bands by area
Council tax bands cluster by neighbourhood because the underlying property values do. As a rough guide, here's where each band sits — with the neighbourhood pages where you can browse rentals at that band level:
- Bands A–B (£1,084–£1,265/year council tax): typically smaller tenement flats in Gorgie, Dalry, parts of Leith, and Pilton. See flats to rent in Gorgie or Leith.
- Bands C–D (£1,445–£1,626/year): the most common band for Edinburgh 1- and 2-bed flats, covering Marchmont, Bruntsfield, Newington, and Abbeyhill. Most listings in Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Newington fall in this band.
- Bands E–F (£2,136–£2,642/year): larger flats and period properties in Stockbridge, New Town, and Morningside. See houses to rent in Morningside or New Town flats.
- Bands G–H (£3,184–£3,984/year): detached houses and premium addresses in Murrayfield, Cramond and the Grange. Browse houses to rent in Cramond.
Council tax by neighbourhood: what to budget
Renting in Morningside or New Town? Expect a Band D or E bill — on the total bill that's roughly £21–£76/month more than a Band C flat in Marchmont or Leith. It's a small share of a £1,200–£1,500 rent but worth folding into a like-for-like comparison when you're choosing between areas. The neighbourhood guides cover what each area is like, with live listings alongside.
How to check your band
Search the Scottish Assessors Association website (saa.gov.uk) by postcode or address to find any property's council tax band. If you think your band is wrong, you can appeal — but be aware it could go up as well as down.
Frequently asked questions
How much is council tax band D in Edinburgh?
Band D council tax is £1,626.05 a year in 2026/27 — about £136 a month. With water and waste water charges the total Band D bill is £2,278.37 a year, or roughly £190 a month.
How much is council tax band E in Edinburgh?
Band E council tax is £2,136.45 a year in 2026/27 — about £178 a month. Including water and waste water charges the total is £2,933.73 a year, or roughly £244 a month.
How much is council tax band B in Edinburgh?
Band B council tax is £1,264.71 a year in 2026/27 — about £105 a month. With water charges the total bill is £1,772.07 a year, or roughly £148 a month.
How much is council tax per month in Edinburgh?
Between £90 (Band A) and £332 (Band H) a month for the council tax element in 2026/27, or £127–£441 a month including water charges. Most Edinburgh flats sit in Bands B–D, which is £105–£136 a month before water.
What council tax band am I in?
Search the Scottish Assessors Association website (saa.gov.uk) by postcode or address — it lists the band for every property in Edinburgh. Bands are based on the property's value in April 1991, not today's value.
Do I get a discount if I live alone?
Yes — the only adult in a property gets 25% off, and in Scotland the discount also applies to the water and waste water charges on the bill. In a Band D flat that brings the council tax from £1,626.05 down to about £1,220 a year.
Are students exempt from council tax in Edinburgh?
Yes — if everyone in the property is a full-time student, the property is exempt from council tax entirely. If you share with a non-student, the household pays, though a lone non-student gets the 25% single person discount.
Factor council tax into your budget when searching for properties. Our neighbourhood guides can help you compare areas. If you're looking near a particular school, the Edinburgh catchment map shows live rentals by catchment too.