How to calculate a percentage discount

To calculate a percentage discount, multiply the original price by the discount percentage and divide by 100. Subtract the discount amount from the original price to find the final sale price.

Example:
Original price = $100
Discount = 20%
You save = $20
Sale price = $80

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When would you use a percentage discount?

Percentage discounts are commonly used when shopping, comparing sale prices or calculating promotional offers. They show how much is taken off the original price and what you will actually pay after the discount.

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For example, if an item originally costs $250 and has a 30% discount, you save $75 and the final sale price is $175. The same calculation can be used for retail sales, online offers, invoices and business pricing.

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Tip: A 20% discount followed by another 10% discount is not the same as a 30% discount. Each discount is calculated from the price at that stage.

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Related calculations: Use our Percentage Decrease Calculator to measure how much a price has fallen, or our Reverse Percentage Calculator if you know the discounted price and want to work backwards.