Percentage calculator

Enter a number and a percentage to see the result straight away. You can also work out what one number is as a percentage of another, or the change between two values.

How it works

Worked example

How to read your result

Frequently asked questions

Percentages show a part of a whole, out of 100. To find a percentage of a number, multiply the number by the percentage and divide by 100. To find what percentage one number is of another, divide the first by the second and multiply by 100. To find the change between two numbers, subtract the original from the new value, divide by the original, and multiply by 100.

What’s the difference between percentage and percentage points?
A percentage describes a change relative to a starting value. A percentage point is the simple difference between two percentages, so going from 10% to 15% is a rise of 5 percentage points, but a 50% increase in the rate.

Why does a 50% increase followed by a 50% decrease not return to the start?
Each change is calculated on a different base. A 50% rise on 100 gives 150, and a 50% fall from 150 gives 75, not 100.

Can I use this for tax or discounts?
Yes, for the basic maths. For tax, check the rules with HMRC or the IRS.

The result is shown in the same units as the number you entered. For a change, a positive figure is an increase and a negative figure is a decrease. The change is measured against the original number, so a rise from 200 to 250 is +25%, but a fall from 250 back to 200 is -20%, not -25%.

What is 20% of 250? Multiply 250 by 20 and divide by 100, which gives 50.