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Calculate the percentage discount between an original price and a reduced sale price.
Use this discount percentage calculator to measure how large a markdown is relative to the original price. The calculator is designed to give a fast answer, but the quality of the answer still depends on accurate inputs and a clear idea of what decision you are trying to support.
- Enter Calculation Type, Original price, and Sale price using the same units you plan to compare or report.
- Read the main discount percentage first, then use the supporting outputs to understand the trade-offs behind that result.
- Compare your numbers with the worked examples below if you want a quick reasonableness check.
The calculator switches between the most common percentage questions so you can move from raw numbers to a share, rate, or change figure quickly. On this page, the primary output is discount percentage.
Scenario 1: Reduced from $120 to $90. Inputs used: mode: change, valueA: 120, valueB: 90. Example result: -25.00%. This markdown produces -25.00% relative to the original price. Scenario 2: Reduced from $240 to $174. Inputs used: mode: change, valueA: 240, valueB: 174. Example result: -27.50%. Comparing the sale price with the original produces a discount of -27.50%.
Core formula: percent of, percent share, or percentage change depending on mode. The calculator switches between three common percentage formulas: finding a share of a number, finding what percent one value is of another, and measuring change from one value to another.
- Percentage change uses the first value as the base.
- Formatted output adds percent signs only when the mode requires it.
Use this calculator when reviewing discounts, growth, margins, survey data, or any comparison where relative scale matters. Related paths for follow-up analysis include percentage calculator, percentage increase calculator, tip calculator, and vat calculator.
Most bad outputs come from a few repeated input errors or interpretation mistakes. Use this short checklist before relying on the result.
- Using the wrong mode for the question you are trying to answer.
- Confusing percentage points with percent change.
- Using the new value as the base when the old value should be the reference.
