BCBetter Calculators

Discount Percentage Calculator

Find out exactly what percentage discount you received based on the original and sale prices.

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Enter your values and click Calculate

How It Works

The formula is: Discount % = ((Original Price − Sale Price) ÷ Original Price) × 100. First, the amount saved is found by subtracting the sale price from the original price. That saving is then expressed as a fraction of the original price by dividing, and finally multiplied by 100 to convert to a percentage. For example, a $120 jacket reduced to $90: savings = $120 − $90 = $30; discount = ($30 ÷ $120) × 100 = 25%. When the sale price is higher than the original, the savings figure becomes negative, and the resulting negative percentage correctly signals a premium or markup. The original price must be greater than zero, since dividing by zero is undefined.

Examples

Clothing Sale
A jacket originally priced at $120 is marked down to $90.
Result: You save $30.00, which is exactly a 25% discount.
Car Negotiation
A car has an MSRP of $25,000, but you negotiate the price down to $23,500.
Result: You save $1,500.00, representing a 6% discount.
Markup Instead of Discount
Buying concert tickets originally priced at $50 for a scalper's price of $80.
Result: The savings is -$30.00, meaning you paid a -60% discount (which is a 60% markup).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate the discount percentage manually?
Subtract the sale price from the original price to find the savings. Then, divide the savings by the original price and multiply by 100.
What happens if the sale price is higher than the original price?
The calculator will output a negative discount percentage and a negative amount saved, effectively indicating a markup or premium paid.
Is this the same as calculating profit margin?
No. Discount percentages are based on the original retail price, whereas profit margin is based on the cost of acquiring the goods.
Does this include sales tax?
No, this strictly calculates the discount off the sticker price before local taxes are applied.

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