How do I calculate percentage increase?

Subtract the old value from the new value, divide by the old value, then multiply by 100. Example: 120 to 150 → (150 − 120) ÷ 120 × 100 = 25% increase.

How do I calculate percentage decrease?

Use the same formula — a negative answer is a decrease. Example: 150 to 120 → (120 − 150) ÷ 150 × 100 = −20%, a 20% decrease.

How do I increase a number by a percentage?

Multiply it by (1 + percent ÷ 100). Example: 200 increased by 15% = 200 × 1.15 = 230.

How do I decrease a number by a percentage?

Multiply it by (1 − percent ÷ 100). Example: 200 decreased by 15% = 200 × 0.85 = 170.

Why isn't a 25% increase cancelled by a 25% decrease?

Each percentage is taken from a different starting number. 100 increased by 25% is 125, and 125 decreased by 25% is 93.75 — because the 25% is now taken from the larger 125.

What is the difference between percentage increase and percentage difference?

Percentage increase has a direction: it compares the change to the starting value. Percentage difference has no direction — it compares the gap to the average of the two values, so the answer is the same whichever order you enter them.

Can the percentage increase be more than 100%?

Yes. Any time the new value is more than double the old one the increase is above 100%. Going from 40 to 100 is a 150% increase.

Percentage Calculator / Percentage increase calculator

Percentage Increase Calculator

Find the percent increase or decrease between any two numbers, or add and remove a percentage from a single number. Free, ad-free, and every answer updates as you type.

Change between two numbers

Percentage increase or decrease

Fromto?

+25% increase

Apply a percentage to a number

Increase a number by a percent

Increaseby%

230

Decrease a number by a percent

Decreaseby%

170

How to calculate percentage increase step by step

A worked example going from 120 to 150. The calculator above does this instantly, but here is the arithmetic behind it.

1. Find the change
150 − 120 = 30
2. Divide by the starting value
30 ÷ 120 = 0.25
3. Multiply by 100
0.25 × 100 = 25%
4. Read the sign
Positive is an increase, negative a decrease

Going the other way — 150 down to 120 — gives (120 − 150) ÷ 150 × 100 = −20%. The same pair of numbers is a 25% increase one way and a 20% decrease the other, because the starting value changes.

Increase, decrease, change and difference

These four phrases get used interchangeably but they answer different questions. Percentage increase and percentage decrease both compare the change to where you started, so the direction matters. Percentage change is the neutral name for the same calculation.

Percentage difference is different: it compares the gap to the average of the two numbers, so it has no direction and gives the same answer whichever way round you enter them. Use it when neither number is the "before".

Common percentage increase answers

The increases and decreases people look up most, already worked out. Change any number above for your own figures.

100 to 150 is an increase of50%

120 to 150 is an increase of25%

50 to 75 is an increase of50%

40 to 100 is an increase of150%

200 to 250 is an increase of25%

1,000 to 1,250 is an increase of25%

150 to 120 is a decrease of20%

100 to 75 is a decrease of25%

80 to 60 is a decrease of25%

200 increased by 15% is230

200 increased by 10% is220

200 decreased by 15% is170

Percentage increase questions people ask

How do I calculate percentage increase?: Subtract the old value from the new value, divide by the old value, then multiply by 100. Example: 120 to 150 → (150 − 120) ÷ 120 × 100 = 25% increase.
How do I calculate percentage decrease?: Use the same formula — a negative answer is a decrease. Example: 150 to 120 → (120 − 150) ÷ 150 × 100 = −20%, a 20% decrease.
How do I increase a number by a percentage?: Multiply it by (1 + percent ÷ 100). Example: 200 increased by 15% = 200 × 1.15 = 230.
How do I decrease a number by a percentage?: Multiply it by (1 − percent ÷ 100). Example: 200 decreased by 15% = 200 × 0.85 = 170.
Why isn't a 25% increase cancelled by a 25% decrease?: Each percentage is taken from a different starting number. 100 increased by 25% is 125, and 125 decreased by 25% is 93.75 — because the 25% is now taken from the larger 125.
What is the difference between percentage increase and percentage difference?: Percentage increase has a direction: it compares the change to the starting value. Percentage difference has no direction — it compares the gap to the average of the two values, so the answer is the same whichever order you enter them.
Can the percentage increase be more than 100%?: Yes. Any time the new value is more than double the old one the increase is above 100%. Going from 40 to 100 is a 150% increase.

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