How to use the Percentage Calculator
- 1 Pick the type of calculation, for example “X% of Y” or “% change”.
- 2 Enter the two numbers.
- 3 Read the result and the explanation underneath.
Five percentage calculations
1. X% of Y – multiply Y by X and divide by 100. 15% of 200 = 200 × 15 / 100 = 30.
2. X is what percent of Y – divide X by Y and multiply by 100. 25 out of 80 = 25 / 80 × 100 = 31.25%.
3. Percentage change – subtract the old value from the new value, divide by the old value and multiply by 100. From 80 to 100: (100 − 80) / 80 × 100 = 25% increase. A negative result means a decrease.
4. Add a percentage – multiply by (1 + X/100). 250 plus 10% = 250 × 1.10 = 275.
5. Subtract a percentage – multiply by (1 − X/100). 80 minus 25% = 80 × 0.75 = 60.
Percentage change vs. percentage points
If an interest rate rises from 2% to 3%, it went up by one percentage point – but by 50 percent relative to where it started. Use the “% change” mode for the relative change.
A common trap: up and down again
Increasing a price by 20% and then decreasing it by 20% does not bring you back to the start: 100 → 120 → 96. The second percentage is taken from a larger number. To undo an increase of X%, divide by (1 + X/100) instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a percentage of a number?
Multiply the number by the percentage and divide by 100. For example, 20% of 150 is 150 × 20 / 100 = 30.
How do I calculate percentage increase?
Subtract the original value from the new value, divide by the original value and multiply by 100. Choose “% change” to let the calculator do it.
Can the percentage change be more than 100%?
Yes. If a value more than doubles, the increase is over 100%. Going from 50 to 150 is a 200% increase.
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