📊 Free Percentage Calculator

Calculate any percentage instantly. Find percentages of numbers, calculate increases and decreases, or find the percentage difference between values.

What is X% of Y?

What is % of ?
50

X is what % of Y?

is what % of ?
25%

Percentage Increase

From to
+50%

Percentage Decrease

From to
-25%

? Add Percentage to Number

+ %
120

? Subtract Percentage

- %
85

Common Percentages Reference

1%
1/100
0.01
10%
1/10
0.10
20%
1/5
0.20
25%
1/4
0.25
33.3%
1/3
0.333
50%
1/2
0.50
66.6%
2/3
0.666
75%
3/4
0.75

Understanding Percentages

A percentage is a number expressed as a fraction of 100. The word comes from Latin "per centum" meaning "by the hundred." Percentages are one of the most practical mathematical concepts used in everyday life.

Basic Percentage Formulas

Finding a percentage of a number:
Result = (Percentage × 100) × Number

Finding what percent X is of Y:
Percentage = (X × Y) × 100

Percentage change:
Change = ((New - Old) × Old) × 100

Converting Between Forms

Percentage Decimal Fraction How to Convert
45% 0.45 9/20 Divide by 100 for decimal
0.75 (decimal) 0.75 3/4 Multiply by 100 for percent
2/5 (fraction) 0.40 2/5 Divide, then ×100

Practical Percentage Applications

Shopping & Discounts

Calculate sale prices quickly:

Calculating Tips

Tax Calculations

Add sales tax to a purchase:

Grade Calculations

Find your test score percentage:

Mental Math Trick

To find any percentage, break it into easy parts. For 35% of 200: Calculate 10% (20), multiply by 3 (60), add 5% (10) = 70!

Percentage Increase vs. Decrease

Understanding the Difference

Percentage change measures how much a value has grown or shrunk relative to its original value.

Scenario Original New Change
Stock price rise $100 $125 +25%
Weight loss 200 lbs 180 lbs -10%
Salary increase $50,000 $55,000 +10%
Product discount $80 $60 -25%

Important Note About Reversal

A key concept: if something increases by 50% and then decreases by 50%, you don't end up back at the start!

This is why recovering from stock market losses is harder than it seems.

Percentage Formulas: Reference Guide

These are the six core percentage calculations used in business, finance, science, and everyday life × with the exact formula and a worked example for each:

Calculation Type Formula Example
Percentage of a numberResult = (% × 100) × Number15% of 200 = 30
What % is X of Y?Result = (X × Y) × 10030 is 15% of 200
Percentage increaseResult = ((New - Old) × Old) × 100$80?$100 = +25%
Percentage decreaseResult = ((Old - New) × Old) × 100$100?$75 = -25%
Add % to a numberResult = Number × (1 + % × 100)$200 + 20% = $240
Remove % from a numberResult = Number × (1 - % × 100)$200 - 20% = $160

Common Percentage Mistakes

💡 Real-World Examples & Use Cases

Percentages show up everywhere — tips, discounts, grades and growth. Three quick examples:

What is 15% of 80?

Finding 15 percent of 80 (e.g. a 15% tip on an $80 bill).

Result: 15% × 80 = 12.

45 is what percent of 180?

Expressing 45 as a percentage of 180 (e.g. a score of 45 out of 180).

Result: 45 ÷ 180 × 100 = 25%.

Increase 250 by 30%

Adding a 30% increase to a base value of 250 (e.g. a price rising 30%).

Result: 250 × 1.30 = 325 (a 75-unit increase).

🔍 People Also Ask

How do I calculate percentage change?

Subtract the old value from the new, divide by the old value, and multiply by 100. For example, 80 to 100 is (100−80) ÷ 80 × 100 = 25% increase.

How do I find what percent one number is of another?

Divide the part by the whole and multiply by 100. For example, 45 out of 180 is 45 ÷ 180 × 100 = 25%.

How do I add a percentage to a number?

Multiply by 1 plus the percentage as a decimal. To add 30% to 250: 250 × 1.30 = 325.

How do I reverse a percentage?

To find the original before a known increase, divide by 1 plus the rate. If $325 already includes a 30% markup: 325 ÷ 1.30 = 250.

⚠️ Common Mistakes & Pro Tips

? Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate percentage increase between two numbers? +
Use this formula: ((New Value - Original Value) × Original Value) × 100. For example, if a price went from $80 to $100: ((100 - 80) × 80) × 100 = 25% increase.
What's the difference between percentage points and percent? +
These are different concepts. If interest rates go from 3% to 5%, that's a 2 percentage point increase, but a 66.7% increase (2×3×100). News often confuses these, so pay attention to context.
How do I find the original price before a discount? +
Divide the sale price by (1 - discount rate). If an item costs $75 after 25% off: $75 × 0.75 = $100 original price. Formula: Original = Sale Price × (1 - Discount%)
Can percentages be greater than 100%? +
Absolutely! A 200% increase means something tripled (went from 100 to 300). If your investment doubled, that's a 100% increase. Stock market returns often exceed 100% over long periods.
How do I calculate compound percentages? +
Multiple percentage changes apply sequentially, not additively. For 10% followed by 20%: multiply by 1.10, then by 1.20 (or 1.10 × 1.20 = 1.32, which is 32% total increase, not 30%).

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