Discount Calculator

What a Discount Really Costs and Saves

A discount is a percent off a price, and the two numbers you care about are the sale price you pay and the amount saved. Both come from one short calculation. Shoppers use it to check a tag, coupon hunters use it to compare offers, and store owners use it to price a promotion without cutting into margin by accident.

Knowing the real final price stops two common traps: an offer that looks larger than it is, and a stacked deal that adds up differently than the signs suggest. A quick, exact number keeps you in control at the register or when you build a promotion.

How a Discount Is Calculated

In words: multiply the original price by the discount percent divided by 100 to get the amount saved. Then subtract the amount saved from the original price to get the final price. You can also find the final price directly by multiplying the original price by 1 minus the rate as a decimal.

To go the other way and find the percent off from two prices: subtract the sale price from the original, divide that by the original, then multiply by 100. That tells you how deep a discount you were actually given.

Worked Example

A pair of shoes is 85 with a 30% discount. Amount saved is 85 times 0.30, which is 25.50. Final price is 85 minus 25.50, which is 59.50. Checking the shortcut, 85 times 0.70 is also 59.50, so both routes agree. If a tax of 8% applies, add it to the 59.50, not to the original 85, so the tax lands on the discounted price.

Percent Off and What You Pay

Stacked Discounts

When two discounts apply one after another, they multiply rather than add. A 20% off followed by a 10% off is 0.80 times 0.90, which is 0.72, so the real deal is 28% off, not 30%. To calculate a stacked deal, run the first discount, then use its result as the price for the second.

Benefits and Limits

The benefit is a fast, exact final price and a clear savings figure, in any currency, so you can compare offers on equal footing. The limit is that a discount tool works on the numbers you give it. It cannot know about extra fees, shipping, membership prices, or tax rules in your area, so add those separately when they apply.

Common Mistakes

• Adding two percentages when discounts actually stack by multiplying.
• Applying tax to the original price instead of the discounted price.
• Reading "30% off" as the price rather than the savings, which flips the result.

Tips

• To judge a deal, look at the amount saved next to the item's usual value, not just the percent.
• For the pure math behind the percent, use a percentage calculator.
• If the discount is a restaurant promotion, a tip calculator helps you set the tip on the right amount.

People Also Ask

How do I calculate the sale price after a discount?

Multiply the original price by 1 minus the discount as a decimal. A 30% discount on 85 is 85 times 0.70, which is 59.50.

How do I find how much I save?

Multiply the original price by the discount percent divided by 100. A 25% discount on 40 saves 10.

How do I work out the percent off from two prices?

Subtract the sale price from the original, divide by the original, then multiply by 100. From 80 down to 60 is 25% off.

Can I stack two discounts?

Yes, but they multiply instead of add. A 20% then 10% off equals 28% off, so run the first discount and apply the second to that result.

Do I apply the discount before or after tax?

Apply the discount first, then add tax to the reduced price. That way the tax is charged only on what you actually pay.

Is a bigger percent always the better deal?

Not always. A larger percent off a higher starting price can save less than a smaller percent off a fair price, so compare the amount saved.

How do I reverse a discount to find the original price?

Divide the sale price by 1 minus the discount as a decimal. A 59.50 price after 30% off is 59.50 divided by 0.70, which is 85.