Hawaii real estate transfer tax
Hawaii's transfer tax is 0.1%, customarily seller-paid. Here's how it works, what it costs at common price points, and the statute behind it.
Hawaii levies a state "conveyance tax" (HRS Ch. 247) on a tiered schedule by price. For a property that qualifies for a county homeowner (owner-occupant) exemption the lowest tier (consideration under $600,000) is $0.10 per $100 = 0.10% (0.001); without the homeowner exemption the lowest tier is $0.15 per $100 = 0.15% (0.0015). Rates rise with price up to $1.00 per $100 (1.00%) over $10M with exemption, or $1.25 per $100 (1.25%) without. Minimum tax is $1.00. No additional county/city conveyance tax. Tax is paid by the grantor/seller (HRS 247-4), except the buyer pays when a government entity is the seller. Exemptions exist (e.g., transfers under $100, gifts, certain government and confirmatory transfers).
How Hawaii compares nationally
0.1%, #29 of 51 nationally; at $400,000, that is $240 below the median $640 tax at $400,000. This is a data-derived comparison against the 51 source-verified state and DC transfer-tax records, with no invented rates for null-tax states.
- Rate rank
- #29 of 51
- highest state transfer-tax rate first
- Tax at $400,000
- $400
- median-state tax $640
- Dataset date
- 2026-Q2
- source-linked record
Hawaii transfer-tax data: official source linked on this page, reviewed 2026-Q2.
What it costs at common prices
| Sale price | State transfer tax |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $200 |
| $400,000 | $400 |
| $600,000 | $600 |
| $800,000 | $800 |
State-level only; county and city taxes may add to these figures.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the real estate transfer tax in Hawaii?
Hawaii's transfer tax is 0.1% of the sale price, customarily seller-paid. Hawaii levies a state "conveyance tax" (HRS Ch. 247) on a tiered schedule by price. For a property that qualifies for a county homeowner (owner-occupant) exemption the lowest tier (consideration under $600,000) is $0.10 per $100 = 0.10% (0.001); without the homeowner exemption the lowest tier is $0.15 per $100 = 0.15% (0.0015). Rates rise with price up to $1.00 per $100 (1.00%) over $10M with exemption, or $1.25 per $100 (1.25%) without. Minimum tax is $1.00. No additional county/city conveyance tax. Tax is paid by the grantor/seller (HRS 247-4), except the buyer pays when a government entity is the seller. Exemptions exist (e.g., transfers under $100, gifts, certain government and confirmatory transfers).
Who pays the transfer tax in Hawaii?
In Hawaii the transfer tax is customarily seller-paid, though it's negotiable in the purchase contract.
How is Hawaii's transfer tax calculated?
Multiply the sale price by 0.1%. For example, on a $400,000 home that's about $400. Hawaii levies a state "conveyance tax" (HRS Ch. 247) on a tiered schedule by price. For a property that qualifies for a county homeowner (owner-occupant) exemption the lowest tier (consideration under $600,000) is $0.10 per $100 = 0.10% (0.001); without the homeowner exemption the lowest tier is $0.15 per $100 = 0.15% (0.0015). Rates rise with price up to $1.00 per $100 (1.00%) over $10M with exemption, or $1.25 per $100 (1.25%) without. Minimum tax is $1.00. No additional county/city conveyance tax. Tax is paid by the grantor/seller (HRS 247-4), except the buyer pays when a government entity is the seller. Exemptions exist (e.g., transfers under $100, gifts, certain government and confirmatory transfers).
Closest transfer-tax comparisons
These links are selected by nearby verified transfer-tax rates, not by a static related list.