How to calculate Zakat al-Fitr for your household
Zakat al-Fitr is an obligatory charity given at the end of Ramadan. A Muslim pays it for themselves and for the dependants they support, and according to the majority of scholars it equals one sa' of the local staple food, such as rice, dates or wheat. When getting ready to pay, the head of the household needs the total amount, whether to buy and distribute food or to pay the cash value announced by the local authority for those who follow that view.
This calculator makes it quick: enter the number of people and the price of one sa', and it immediately shows the total due along with a breakdown. The arithmetic runs in your browser and no data is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- In "Family members", type the number of people you are paying for, including yourself.
- In "Price per unit", type the price of one sa' of food where you live, or the cash amount announced by your official authority.
- The result updates automatically as you type, with no button needed. It shows the total, then the per-person price multiplied by the number of people.
What you can control
- Family members: starts at 4 and can be changed to any number.
- Price per unit: the default of 15 is only an example, not an official amount for any country.
- Currency: none is imposed; the result is in whatever currency you used for the price.
- The formula is simply: total = number of people × price per sa'.
Practical examples
- A family of six where a sa' of rice costs 12 locally: the total is 72, so you know the amount before shopping.
- An expatriate paying for relatives back home, who enters the amount announced there to know how much to transfer.
- A mosque or charity collecting on behalf of several families, checking the amount due from each household.
Religious notes and cautions
- This is a calculator, not a fatwa. Most jurists hold that Zakat al-Fitr is given as food, while the Hanafi school and some contemporary bodies permit paying its value in cash. Follow the position of the religious authority in your country.
- Many authorities estimate one sa' at roughly 2.5 to 3 kg of rice; the figure varies by food type and authority, so check the local estimate.
- Many ministries of awqaf and zakat committees announce an approximate cash amount each year, which is the best figure to enter.
- It is known to be due before the Eid al-Fitr prayer, and many scholars allow paying a day or two earlier; the schools differ on how much earlier.
- For special situations, such as a dependant living in another country, ask a qualified scholar or the relevant authority.
For zakat on savings, use the Zakat calculator. To see how far away the holy month is, try the Ramadan countdown, and if you pay in another currency the currency converter can help.