How to Calculate a Discount (Percent Off)
Work out percent-off savings and sale prices, plus stacked discounts and reverse calculations.
The basic discount formula
To find the savings, multiply the original price by the discount percentage and divide by 100; subtract that from the price for the final cost. A 25% discount on a $80 item is 80 × 25 ÷ 100 = $20 off, leaving $60. A discount calculator does both steps for you instantly.
Stacked and extra discounts
Discounts usually apply one after another, not added together. “20% off, then an extra 10% off” means you take 20% off first, then 10% off the reduced price — which is a 28% total reduction, not 30%. Apply each percentage to the running price.
Finding the original price
If you know the sale price and the discount, divide the sale price by (1 minus the discount as a decimal). An item that’s 25% off and costs $60 was originally 60 ÷ 0.75 = $80. This is handy for checking whether a “sale” is really a saving.
FAQ
Is 20% off then 10% off the same as 30% off?+
No. Applying them in sequence gives a 28% total discount, because the second percentage comes off the already-reduced price.