Percentage Increase / Decrease Calculator
Enter the original value and the new value to see how much it changed in percent. A positive result is an increase and a negative result is a decrease.
Percentage Increase / Decrease
From 50 to 75 is a 50% increase.
What Is Percentage Change?
Percentage change shows the difference between an old value and a new value as a percentage of the original value. It helps compare changes in a simple, standardized way. In the field of mathematics, percentage change is a basic concept in arithmetic and data analysis used to describe relative change over time.
Percentage Change Formula
Percentage Change = ((New Value − Original Value) ÷ Original Value) × 100
- If the result is positive → it is a percentage increase
- If the result is negative → it is a percentage decrease
Percentage Increase vs Percentage Decrease
Percentage Increase
Occurs when the new value is higher than the original value.
Example: Price increases from 50 to 75
(25 ÷ 50) × 100 = 50% increase
Percentage Decrease
Occurs when the new value is lower than the original value.
Example: Price drops from 80 to 60
(-20 ÷ 80) × 100 = -25% decrease
Real-Life Uses of Percentage Change
Finance and Business
Price changes, profit/loss, stock market performance
Economics
Inflation rates, GDP growth, unemployment changes
Education
Grade improvements and test score comparisons
Everyday Life
Salary increases, discounts, shopping price changes
Why Percentage Change Is Important
Percentage change provides a clear and standardized way to compare values, regardless of size. Instead of looking at raw differences, it shows relative change, which is more meaningful in most real-world situations.
For example, an increase of $10 means very different things depending on whether the original price was $20 or $1,000. Percentage change helps normalize this difference.
Common Mistakes in Percentage Change Calculations
- Using the wrong original value
- Forgetting to multiply by 100
- Confusing increase and decrease direction
- Mixing up absolute change and percentage change
Percentage Change vs Percentage Difference
Percentage Change
Compares old vs new values (time-based change)
Percentage Difference
Compares two values without direction
Calculate the percentage increase or decrease between two values — for price tracking, budgeting, and data analysis.
Formula
% change = ((new - old) ÷ old) × 100. Positive = increase, negative = decrease.
Reference Values
- •$50 → $75 = +50% increase
- •$80 → $60 = -25% decrease
- •Doubling = +100% change
FAQ
Common questions about Percentage Change Calculator
How we calculate this
We use the standard published formula for this calculation, and we show the working so you can check it.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll check it within a few days. See how we check our calculators.