Discount Calculator
Enter a price and a discount percentage to find the sale price and the amount you save.
Enter the discount % in the first field and the original price in the second. The result is the discount amount. Subtract from the original price to get the sale price.
How to calculate a discount
A discount is a reduction from the original price, expressed as a percentage. To find the discount amount, multiply the original price by the discount percentage and divide by 100. Subtract the discount amount from the original price to find the sale price.
Discount formula
Sale price = Original price − Discount amount
Worked examples
| Original price | Discount | You save | Sale price |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 10% | $10 | $90 |
| $250 | 20% | $50 | $200 |
| $79.99 | 15% | $12 | $67.99 |
| $1,200 | 25% | $300 | $900 |
| £60 | 30% | £18 | £42 |
| €500 | 5% | €25 | €475 |
Common discount scenarios
- Black Friday / sales — quickly work out how much you actually save on a discounted item.
- Coupon codes — calculate the final price after applying a percentage-off voucher.
- Wholesale pricing — find the trade price when a supplier offers a percentage off the retail price.
- VAT and tax removal — divide by (1 + tax rate) to find the pre-tax price from a tax-inclusive price.
- Tipping — calculate a tip as a percentage of your bill.
How to find the original price from a sale price
If you know the sale price and the discount percentage, divide the sale price by (1 − discount/100) to recover the original price.
Example: A jacket costs $68 after a 15% discount. Original price = 68 ÷ (1 − 0.15) = 68 ÷ 0.85 = $80.
Is the discount genuine?
Not all advertised discounts represent a real saving. Retailers sometimes inflate the “original” price before a sale to make the discount look bigger than it is. Here is how to check.
- Check price history. Price tracking browser extensions show weeks or months of price history. A “50% off” deal on an item briefly listed at double its normal price is misleading.
- Compare across retailers. The same product at multiple stores quickly reveals whether the original price is realistic.
- Look at the unit price. Supermarket promotions sometimes advertise a percentage off per pack while quietly reducing the pack size — the per-unit price barely changes.
- Check sale duration rules. In most EU countries and the UK, a product must have been sold at the stated original price for at least 30 days before a “sale” can be advertised.
Stacking discounts
When a second discount is applied to a price that has already been reduced, the two discounts do not simply add together. Each is applied to the running price after the previous reduction.
Example: A jacket is 20% off, then an extra 10% off at checkout.
- Original price: $200
- After 20% off: $200 − $40 = $160
- After 10% off $160: $160 − $16 = $144
The combined saving is $56 — or 28% of the original price, not 30%.
For 20% + 10%: 1 − 0.80 × 0.90 = 1 − 0.72 = 28% combined.
What discount levels typically signal
| Discount | What it typically means | Common context |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | Loyalty or introductory offer | Newsletter sign-up, insurance renewal |
| 10–20% | Standard promotional sale | Seasonal offers, member discounts |
| 20–30% | Mid-season or member sale | Fashion, electronics, sports goods |
| 30–50% | Significant clearance or event sale | Black Friday, end-of-season |
| 50–70% | End-of-line or warehouse clearance | Discontinued products, last sizes |
| 70%+ | Loss-leader or distressed stock | Closing-down sales, heavily damaged goods |
Also on this site
- Percentage Calculator — all three percentage tools in one place
- Percentage Change Calculator — measure increase or decrease between two values
- Tip Calculator — calculate a tip for any bill
- VAT Calculator — add or remove VAT from any price
- How to Calculate Percentages — step-by-step guide with formulas
- What is a Good Discount Percentage? — in-depth guide
FAQ
How do I calculate 20% off a price?
Multiply the price by 0.20 to find the discount amount, then subtract from the original price. Or enter 20 and the price in the calculator above. Example: 20% off $85 = $85 × 0.20 = $17 off, so you pay $68.
How do I find the sale price after a discount?
Multiply the original price by (1 − discount/100). For a 30% discount on $150: $150 × 0.70 = $105.
What is the difference between a discount and a markdown?
A discount is a temporary reduction offered to a buyer. A markdown is a permanent reduction in the listed price. Mathematically both are calculated the same way.
Can I calculate multiple discounts together?
Yes, but they do not simply add up. A 20% discount followed by a further 10% discount is not 30% off. Apply them sequentially: 20% off $100 = $80, then 10% off $80 = $72 (a combined 28% reduction).
How do I calculate the discount percentage from two prices?
Use the Percentage Change Calculator: enter the original price as the "from" value and the sale price as the "to" value. The result is the percentage decrease (discount).
What is a good discount percentage?
That depends on the context. Retailers often consider 10–20% a standard promotional discount, 25–50% a significant sale, and anything above 50% a clearance discount. In B2B settings, trade discounts of 30–40% off the retail price are common.
How do I calculate a tip as a discount in reverse?
A tip works exactly like a discount, but adds to the bill instead of reducing it. Use the Tip Calculator to find the tip amount for any percentage.