📻 Germany Rundfunkbeitrag Calculator

The Rundfunkbeitrag is Germany’s statutory broadcasting contribution — the levy that finances the public broadcasters ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio and their radio, television and online offerings. Its legal basis is the Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag (RBStV), a treaty concluded by all sixteen Bundesländer, and many residents still call it the “GEZ” after the Gebühreneinzugszentrale, the agency that once collected fees device by device. Since 2013 the contribution has applied per dwelling instead of per device, so the number of radios, televisions and computers in your home has been irrelevant ever since.

For 2026 the amounts are unchanged: every dwelling (Wohnung) pays a flat 18.36 euro per month — 55.08 euro per quarter and 220.32 euro per year — and this rate has applied since 2021. The figure is identical in every Bundesland, because the contribution is set jointly in the treaty rather than by each state. It is also completely independent of how many people live in the dwelling, how many devices they own, or whether they ever watch a single minute of public broadcasting.

The dwelling principle has a very practical consequence: one dwelling pays exactly once. A single professional, a couple, a family of five and a student shared flat (WG) all trigger the same 18.36 euro per month in total; the occupants simply split it among themselves. Whoever moves into a dwelling is subject to the Meldepflicht and must register it with the Beitragsservice within one month. When you plan your cost of living, this fixed levy belongs on the same list as taxes and insurance: the Germany gross-to-net salary calculator shows what actually reaches your bank account, the German income tax calculator estimates your income tax, and the church tax calculator covers another classic payroll deduction.

Businesses and vehicles are rated differently. A Betriebsstätte — each shop, office, workshop or practice of a business — pays the full 18.36 euro for its first room plus one third, 6.12 euro, for each additional room. Motor vehicles likewise count at one third, but the 6.12 euro vehicle fee matters mainly for vehicles that are not already covered by a dwelling fee, for example a fleet of rental cars or vehicles registered outside Germany.

Full exemptions (Befreiungen) and some partial abatements exist for recipients of Bürgergeld, Grundsicherung im Alter, Sozialhilfe or Sozialgeld, for BAföG recipients not living with their parents, and for deaf or blind persons with marks such as “Gl” or “Bl” in their Schwerbehindertenausweis. They are granted only on application to the Beitragsservice — the tables below list the main groups as guidance. To place the annual 220.32 euro in context, the household budget calculator and the electricity cost calculator help you weigh it against your other recurring German household costs.

The calculator implements the contribution amounts of section 5 of the RBStV for the three fee types it distinguishes:

Household (Wohnung): the monthly fee is a flat 18.36 euro. The quarterly instalment is 18.36 × 3 = 55.08 euro and the annual total is 18.36 × 12 = 220.32 euro, regardless of how many occupants or devices the dwelling has.

The money funds the programmes and services of the public broadcasters — their television and radio channels as well as the online offerings and media libraries. The reasoning behind the dwelling-based model is simple: because nearly every household benefits from independent journalism, culture and education at some point, every household contributes a small flat amount, and the financing stays stable no matter how viewing habits shift from antennas to apps and streams.

Business premises (Betriebsstätte): the monthly fee is 18.36 euro + 6.12 euro × additional rooms. A three-room office (the first room plus two additional ones) therefore pays 18.36 + 2 × 6.12 = 30.60 euro per month, which is 91.80 euro per quarter and 367.20 euro per year.

Vehicle (KFZ): the monthly fee is a flat 6.12 euro — one third of the dwelling rate — and applies to vehicles that are not already covered by a dwelling fee.

Beyond these headline amounts the tool derives two extra figures that make the fee easier to judge. The cost per day divides the annual amount by 365: a dwelling costs 220.32 ÷ 365 ≈ 0.60 euro per day, roughly the price of a bread roll, while an additional business room or a vehicle comes to about 0.20 euro per day. The per-person share divides the monthly amount by the number of people sharing the dwelling: in a WG of three, each person carries 18.36 ÷ 3 = 6.12 euro per month, and in a flat of five only about 3.67 euro. All amounts are rounded to two decimals for display; the underlying maths uses the exact values, so a five-person split shows 3.67 euro even though the exact share is 3.672 euro, while the quarterly and annual figures remain exact multiples (3 × and 12 × the monthly fee).

Worked example — household with three people sharing:

Collection follows a fixed rhythm: the contribution is due quarterly in advance (vierteljährlich im Voraus) on 15 February, 15 May, 15 August and 15 November, with each instalment for one dwelling amounting to 55.08 euro. Note that the calculator deliberately leaves exemptions, reductions and arrears out of the maths, because section 8 RBStV benefits depend on an individual application — see the overview tables below for the eligible groups.

Refer to the table below for the 2026 contribution amounts of all three fee types, including the derived cost per day (annual amount ÷ 365). All values are based on section 5 of the RBStV.

The rate has been stable since 2021 and is identical nationwide. For business premises, simply add one third of the base amount (6.12 euro) for every room beyond the first.

The contribution is collected quarterly in advance (vierteljährlich im Voraus). The Stichtage (due dates) are fixed nationwide:

Section 8 of the RBStV also provides exemptions (Befreiungen) and reductions on application. The following groups are guidance only — please apply with the Beitragsservice:

Persons with severe disabilities carrying the “Gl”, “Bl” or “H” marks may also qualify. The binding decision always lies with the Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio.

1. Choose the fee type: household (Wohnung), business premises (Betriebsstätte) or vehicle (KFZ).
2. If you chose business premises, enter the number of additional rooms beyond the first (0-50).
3. Enter how many people share the fee (1-20) to get the per-person monthly share.
4. Click Calculate to see the monthly, quarterly and annual contribution.
5. Compare the derived values — cost per day and per-person share — with your budget.

Why does a shared flat (WG) only pay the Rundfunkbeitrag once?

Because the fee is charged per dwelling (Wohnung), not per person or per device. A flat with one person and a flat with five occupants pay the same 18.36 euro per month in total, so the occupants split it internally — 6.12 euro each in a WG of three. One person fulfils the Meldepflicht by registering the dwelling with the Beitragsservice within one month of moving in.

How much does the Rundfunkbeitrag cost per day in 2026?

A dwelling pays 220.32 euro per year, which works out at 220.32 ÷ 365 ≈ 0.60 euro per day. An additional business room or a vehicle costs 73.44 euro per year, roughly 0.20 euro per day.

Who can be exempted from the contribution?

Recipients of Bürgergeld, Grundsicherung im Alter, Sozialhilfe or Sozialgeld, BAföG recipients not living with their parents, and deaf or blind persons with marks such as “Gl” or “Bl” in their Schwerbehindertenausweis can be exempted on application. Some social laws also grant partial abatements. Apply directly with the Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio.

Why does a business pay per room?

Each Betriebsstätte pays the full 18.36 euro for its first room and one third (6.12 euro) for every additional room. A three-room practice therefore pays 30.60 euro per month. The room count reflects the presumed intensity of use of the premises.

When are the quarterly instalments due?

The Rundfunkbeitrag is due quarterly in advance on 15 February, 15 May, 15 August and 15 November. For one dwelling, each instalment is 55.08 euro.

Is the Rundfunkbeitrag the same in every Bundesland?

Yes. The fee is based on the Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag, a treaty of all sixteen Länder, so the 18.36 euro per dwelling applies nationwide in 2026 — there is no cheaper or more expensive state.

Has the rate changed since 2021?

No. The contribution has been 18.36 euro per month per dwelling since 2021, and this rate still applies in 2026. Only the years before 2021 had lower rates.

This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional for advice specific to your situation.

Register your dwelling with the Beitragsservice within one month of moving in. The Meldepflicht applies to every dwelling in Germany, and registering promptly avoids reminder letters and confusion later. When you move out or merge two dwellings into one, inform the Beitragsservice as well, so the fee is reassigned correctly.

In a shared flat, appoint one payer and settle internally. The WG as a whole always owes 18.36 euro per month, whether two or seven people live there; with three people that is 6.12 euro each, with five about 3.67 euro. Buying fewer devices saves nothing — the contribution counts dwellings, not equipment.

Check your exemption options before you simply pay: recipients of Bürgergeld, Grundsicherung im Alter, Sozialhilfe or Sozialgeld, BAföG recipients who do not live with their parents, and deaf or blind persons with the “Gl” or “Bl” marks can be fully exempted on application. Some social statutes also grant partial abatements. Applications and evidence go to the Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio.

Businesses should count the rooms of each Betriebsstätte separately: the first room costs the full 18.36 euro, every additional room one third. Note that two separate one-room sites cost more than one site with two rooms, because each site pays its own full first room. Fleet operators should also remember that only vehicles not covered by a dwelling fee attract the 6.12 euro vehicle charge — for most private households the family car is already included in the dwelling contribution.

For annual planning, treat the 220.32 euro like a utility bill. Folding it into the budget calculator alongside your electricity costs gives a realistic picture of the recurring charges a German household faces on top of rent.