How to Calculate Percent Off a Price (With Examples)
Quick answer
To find the sale price, multiply the original price by (1 − percent off ÷ 100). For $80 at 25% off: $80 × 0.75 = $60. To find how much you save, multiply the price by the percent as a decimal: $80 × 0.25 = $20.
Free tool
Percent Off Calculator. Work out a sale price and how much you save.
If you would rather skip the math, our percent off calculator does it as you type, including a second discount and sales tax.
The percent off formula, step by step
- Turn the percent into a decimal by dividing by 100. 25% becomes 0.25.
- Multiply the original price by that decimal to get your savings. $80 × 0.25 = $20.
- Subtract the savings from the original price. $80 − $20 = $60.
Or do it in one step: subtract the percent from 100, then multiply. 100 − 25 = 75, and $80 × 0.75 = $60.
Common discounts on a $50 item
| Percent off | You save | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $5.00 | $45.00 |
| 15% | $7.50 | $42.50 |
| 20% | $10.00 | $40.00 |
| 25% | $12.50 | $37.50 |
| 30% | $15.00 | $35.00 |
| 40% | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| 50% | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| 70% | $35.00 | $15.00 |
Shortcuts for doing it in your head
- 10% off: move the decimal point one place left. 10% of $45 is $4.50.
- 5% off: find 10%, then halve it. 5% of $45 is $2.25.
- 20% off: find 10%, then double it. 20% of $45 is $9.
- 25% off: divide by 4. 25% of $48 is $12.
- 30% off: find 10%, then times by 3. 30% of $45 is $13.50, so you pay $31.50.
- 50% off: halve the price.
Two discounts do not simply add up
When a store offers an extra discount on top of a sale, the second one comes off the price that is already reduced. Take $100 at 20% off, then an extra 10% off:
- 20% off $100 is $80.
- 10% off $80 is $72.
- You saved $28, which is 28% off, not 30%.
To find the total discount, multiply the two “what you pay” decimals: 0.80 × 0.90 = 0.72, so you pay 72% and save 28%.
Adding sales tax
In the US, sales tax is usually added after the discount, at the register. Take the sale price and multiply by (1 + tax rate ÷ 100). At an 8% rate, a $60 sale price becomes $60 × 1.08 = $64.80. Sales tax rates differ by state and city, so use the rate where you shop.
Find the percent off from two prices
If you know the original price and the sale price, the discount is (original − sale) ÷ original × 100. A jacket marked down from $120 to $90 is ($120 − $90) ÷ $120 × 100 = 25% off. The percent off calculator has a box for this too.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate 30% off?
Multiply the price by 0.70. For $45, that is $31.50. The amount you save is $45 × 0.30 = $13.50.
Is 50% off the same as buy one, get one free?
Only when you buy two items at the same price. Buy one, get one free gives you two items for the price of one, which is 50% off the pair.
Is 20% off and then 20% off the same as 40% off?
No. 20% off twice is 0.80 × 0.80 = 0.64, so you pay 64% of the price and save 36%.
Do I pay sales tax on the original price or the sale price?
For a normal store discount, tax is usually charged on the sale price. Manufacturer coupons can be treated differently in some states, so check your receipt.
