Free standard vs itemized deduction calculator. Compare 2026 deduction options and see which saves you more on taxes. Includes SALT, mortgage interest, charity, and medical.
The Standard vs Itemized Deduction Calculator compares both deduction methods side-by-side to show which option reduces your tax bill more. Enter your filing status and itemized deduction amounts to see the winner instantly.
For 2026, the standard deduction is $16,100 (single), $32,200 (married filing jointly), $16,100 (married filing separately), or $24,150 (head of household). You should itemize only if your total itemized deductions exceed these amounts.
Common itemized deductions include state and local taxes (SALT, capped at the 2026 base limit of $40,000 per return or $20,000 if married filing separately), mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and unreimbursed medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of AGI. Since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the standard deduction, roughly 90% of taxpayers now take the standard deduction. However, homeowners with large mortgages, residents of high-tax states, and generous charitable givers may still benefit from itemizing. The decision can also be year-specific: a strategy called bunching lets you concentrate deductible expenses into a single year and take the standard deduction in alternating years. This calculator compares both options using your actual numbers and shows exactly how much you save with each approach.
Most taxpayers benefit from the standard deduction, but if you have significant mortgage interest, large charitable donations, or high state taxes, itemizing may save more. This calculator eliminates guesswork by showing the exact dollar advantage of each option. Choosing the wrong method can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars, so running the comparison annually is well worth the effort.
Standard Deduction = Fixed amount by filing status (2026) Itemized Deduction = SALT (up to the 2026 base cap of $40,000, $20,000 MFS) + Mortgage Interest + Charity + Medical Excess + Other Medical Excess = Max(0, Medical Expenses – 7.5% × AGI) Better Deduction = Max(Standard, Itemized) Tax Savings Difference = (Better – Worse) × Marginal Tax Rate
Result: Itemized: $35,000 vs Standard: $32,200 — Itemize and save ~$616
SALT capped at $12,000 + $18,000 mortgage interest + $5,000 charity + $0 medical (below 7.5% of AGI threshold) = $35,000 total itemized. $2,000 medical vs 7.5% of $150,000 = $11,250, so no medical deduction. Itemized total = $35,000. Since $35,000 > $32,200 standard, itemizing saves $2,800 in deductions × 22% marginal rate = $616 in tax. (Note: actual savings depend on your marginal bracket.)
You should itemize when your total qualifying expenses exceed the standard deduction. This is most common for homeowners with large mortgages, people in high-tax states, and those who make significant charitable donations. Renters with no mortgage interest usually benefit from the standard deduction.
If your itemized deductions are close to the standard deduction, consider bunching. Prepay property taxes, make two years of charitable donations in one year, or use a donor-advised fund to front-load giving. Then take the standard deduction in the off year.
The 2026 SALT limit is much higher than the old $10,000 cap, but it can still phase down for high earners. In high-tax states like New York, California, and New Jersey, that cap still matters because state and local taxes can quickly eat into itemized deductions. Before the cap (pre-2018), these taxpayers could deduct unlimited state and local taxes. The cap effectively increased their federal tax burden.
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This page compares the 2026 standard deduction for the selected filing status against a simplified itemized-deduction worksheet built from the user-entered SALT, mortgage interest, charitable contributions, medical expenses, and other itemized amounts. SALT is capped at $40,000 per return or $20,000 if married filing separately, medical expenses are reduced by the 7.5%-of-AGI floor, and the page then estimates the tax-value difference using the user's approximate marginal bracket.
It is a planning worksheet rather than a full Schedule A filing engine. It does not automatically model every limitation or interaction that may apply on a real return, so complex taxpayers should treat the output as directional and confirm the final deduction choice at filing time.
The State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction is capped at the 2026 base limit of $40,000 per return ($20,000 if married filing separately). This includes state income or sales tax plus property tax, and the limit can be reduced for higher-income taxpayers.
Yes. You can choose whichever method gives you the larger deduction each year. There is no requirement to be consistent. Many taxpayers alternate between methods depending on their expenses each year.
Bunching means concentrating deductible expenses (especially charitable donations) into one tax year to exceed the standard deduction threshold, then taking the standard deduction in the other year. This is a common strategy that maximizes total deductions over a two-year period.
Deductible medical expenses include doctor and dentist fees, hospital costs, prescription medications, insurance premiums (if not pre-tax), long-term care costs, and medical travel. Only the amount exceeding 7.5% of your AGI is deductible.
Yes. Cash donations to qualifying charities are generally deductible up to 60% of AGI. Donations of appreciated property are deductible at fair market value, limited to 30% of AGI. Donations to certain organizations have lower limits. Non-cash donations over $500 require additional documentation.
Yes. For 2026, taxpayers age 65 or older get an additional $2,050 if single or head of household, or $1,650 per person if married filing jointly or separately. Blind taxpayers get the same additional amount. These additions can make the standard deduction more competitive.