How it works
The discount is a percentage of the original price. The sale price is the original price minus that amount.
An extra discount is taken off the price that is already reduced, which is how shops apply "an extra 10% off sale items". That is why 25% off and then 10% off is 32.5% off in total, not 35%.
If you enter a tax rate, it is added to the sale price at the end, as happens at most tills.
Sale price = price × (1 − discount ÷ 100) With an extra discount: Sale price = price × (1 − first ÷ 100) × (1 − extra ÷ 100)
Worked example
A jacket costs 80 and is 25% off. 25% of 80 is 20, so the sale price is 60 and you save 20.
With an extra 10% off the sale price, you pay 60 minus 6, which is 54. That is 26 off in total, or 32.5%.
Good to know
- Shops round prices in different ways. The answer may differ from the till by a cent or two.
- Some offers, such as "buy one get one half price", are not a single percentage. Work them out per item.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate a percentage off?
Multiply the price by the percentage and divide by 100 to get the amount off, then take that away from the price. The calculator does both steps for you.
Do two discounts add up?
No. The second discount applies to the already reduced price, so 20% off and then 20% off is 36% off, not 40%.
Is tax added before or after the discount?
In most places the discount comes first and tax is charged on the lower price. That is how this calculator works.
How do I find the original price from a sale price?
Divide the sale price by (1 minus the discount as a decimal). For example, 60 after 25% off came from 60 ÷ 0.75 = 80. The percentage calculator can also do this.