What is the average stamp duty by region?

The majority of people who purchase their next home will be required to pay stamp duty

However, the amount you must pay varies, and your location within the nation may have an effect.

Another expense to consider when purchasing real estate in England or Northern Ireland is stamp duty land tax.

If the cost of the house you're purchasing exceeds £125,000, it is applied at varying rates based on the property's value. For first-time buyers buying a home valued at £500,000 or less, that threshold increases to £300,000.

According to the most recent data from HM Land Registry, the average house price in England was 292,095 as of May 2026, which means the average mover would pay about 4,604 in stamp duty.

For the same transaction, a first-time purchaser would not be required to pay stamp duty.

Watch the entire video here: Zoopla's analysis of home buyer inquiries throughout England in the first half of 2026 reveals a sharp North-South divide. Regional house price variation means that the average amount of stamp duty is drastically different depending on where in England you are moving.

Stamp duty is paid by about half of all first-time buyers in London, the East of England, and South East England, compared to only 10% in the north of England because property values in these areas are higher than those in the north.

For home movers, the story is not all that different. Stamp duty is required for nearly everyone purchasing a new home in England, but the average amount paid varies greatly.

In the north of England, stamp duty bills usually range from 1,500 to 2,200, but in some southern regions, they can reach nearly ten times that amount.

"Stamp duty is a near-certain cost for home movers wherever you live, and in Southern England it runs to five figures," stated Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla. Existing homeowners make up six out of ten property purchases.

"Some of those moves don't happen when the cost of moving becomes a significant barrier, particularly with lower levels of house price inflation in recent years throughout southern England."

Northern Ireland buyers' data was not included in the analysis.

First-time buyers' average stamp duty expenses by region.

First-time buyers' relief may be available to you if you're purchasing your first house for £500,000 or less. This implies that you would only be required to pay 5% stamp duty on any portion of the property value that exceeds £300,000.

Many first-time buyers in some parts of England may not be required to pay stamp duty on their first home or may only be required to pay relatively small amounts due to regional differences in house prices.

According to Zoopla, the median stamp duty bill for first-time buyers in the Northeast is 3,750, with only 2.1% of them having to pay it.

3.8% of first-time purchasers in Yorkshire and the Humber pay stamp duty. This increases to 9.3% in the West Midlands and 6.2% in the North West for first-time purchasers. For first-time buyers, the median bill in each of these locations is £2,500.

First-time buyer relief is less generous because average house prices in London, the East, and the South East of England are significantly higher than elsewhere in the nation. More than half of first-time purchasers in each of these areas are required to pay stamp duty.

This percentage reaches its highest point in London, where about 80% of all first-time purchasers pay some stamp duty.

In the capital, a first-time buyer's average stamp duty bill is 8,750, compared to 5,000 in the South East and 4,500 in the East of England.

Average stamp duty prices for home movers by area.

When they purchase their next home, almost all home movers will be required to pay stamp duty, tho the exact amount will depend on the property's value.

While most home movers (63 percent) still pay stamp duty, the North East region has the lowest percentage. However, with an average bill of 1,500, the amount paid is comparatively small.

According to HM Land Registry, the average cost of a house in the North East is just 163,933, which is more than 100,000 less than the average for the entire country, making it the most affordable region in England.

Stamp duty is paid by between 82 and 92 percent of home movers in the South West, Midlands, and other northern regions.

The South West has the highest average stamp duty bill of these areas, with the average home mover paying £5,000.

London and the East and South East of England see a sharp increase in these figures. Stamp duty costs for a typical home mover are approximately 10,000 in the East of England, 11,250 in the South East, and an astounding 20,000 in London.

In these areas, stamp duty is also paid by nearly all home movers.

How stamp duty is paid.

In England, stamp duty is due when the cost of the house you are buying exceeds the tax-free threshold.

For properties valued at more than £125,000, home movers are required to pay stamp duty; the amount you pay is determined by the property's price. The rates at which it is imposed are displayed in the table below.

Swipe to scroll horizontally. After purchasing your property, you have 14 days to pay HMRC the entire amount of stamp duty.