Add up your itemized deductions and see whether they beat the standard deduction.
How this is calculated Embed on your siteAn itemize-or-standard calculator compares your total itemized deductions with the standard deduction, so you take the larger one and see the extra tax it saves.
Every filer takes either the standard deduction, a fixed amount set by filing status, or itemizes actual deductions like mortgage interest, state and local taxes (capped at $40,400 for 2026, lower for high incomes), and charitable gifts. You use whichever is larger. Since the standard deduction is generous, most filers don't have enough itemized deductions to beat it.
Itemizing typically pays off for homeowners with sizable mortgage interest and property taxes, or people with large charitable gifts or medical expenses. The benefit is the amount your itemized total exceeds the standard deduction, times your marginal rate. If your itemized total is below the standard deduction, take the standard, it's simpler and larger.
Take whichever is larger. Itemize only if your deductible expenses (mortgage interest, capped SALT, charity) exceed the standard deduction for your filing status.
$16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married filing jointly in 2026. Itemizing helps only if your itemized total beats that.
Mortgage interest, state and local taxes (capped at $40,400 for 2026, lower for high incomes), charitable gifts, and large medical expenses, among others.
See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.