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Percentage Calculator
Work out a percentage of a number, what one number is as a percentage of another, and percentage change.
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Percentage Increase Calculator
Work out the exact percentage increase between two numbers, or add a percentage markup/overage to a price, salary, or quantity. Results update instantly as you type.
- Two calculators in one
- Instant results
- Step-by-step formula
Percentage increase
Enter the starting value and the new value to find the percentage increase.
Percentage increase
25%
Starting value80
New value100
Difference20
Change as a multiplier1.25
A 50% increase followed by a 50% decrease does not return you to the start: 100 becomes 150, then 75.
How to calculate percentage increase between two numbers
A percentage increase tells you how much larger a number has grown compared with its starting value. Whether you are working out a price increase, salary raise, project overage, or traffic growth between two numbers, the calculation follows one universal rule.
The percentage increase formula
To find the percentage increase between two numbers, subtract the starting (old) value from the new value, divide that difference by the starting value, and multiply by 100. In short: Percentage Increase = [(New Value - Starting Value) / Starting Value] × 100. For example, if a price rises from 80 to 100, the increase is (100 - 80) / 80 × 100 = 25%.
Always divide by the starting value (the base). Dividing by the new value instead is the most common mistake and gives 20%, which answers a completely different question.
How to increase a number or price by a percentage
If you know the percentage and want to find the new total—such as adding a 10% price increase, a 4.5% salary raise, or a 15% material overage—switch the calculator above to "Increase a value". The formula is: New Value = Starting Value × (1 + Percentage / 100). For example, increasing 250 by 12% is 250 × 1.12 = 280.
Using the calculator
- 1Select "Between two values" to figure out the percentage increase from one number to another.
- 2Enter your starting value and new value to see the percentage rise, exact difference, and multiplier.
- 3Select "Increase a value" to add a percentage markup, tax, or overage to any starting number.
- 4If the second number is smaller than the first, the tool automatically flags it as a percentage decrease.
Common percentage increase examples
| Starting Number | New Number | Percentage Increase | Step-by-Step Calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5 | 150% | (5 - 2) / 2 × 100 |
| 5 | 8 | 60% | (8 - 5) / 5 × 100 |
| 8 | 10 | 25% | (10 - 8) / 8 × 100 |
| 40 | 46 | 15% | (46 - 40) / 40 × 100 |
| 50 | 60 | 20% | (60 - 50) / 50 × 100 |
| 80 | 100 | 25% | (100 - 80) / 80 × 100 |
| 200 | 250 | 25% | (250 - 200) / 200 × 100 |
| 1,000 | 1,075 | 7.5% | (1,075 - 1,000) / 1,000 × 100 |
| 40 | 100 | 150% | (100 - 40) / 40 × 100 |
How to calculate percentage increase in Excel
To calculate percentage increase in Excel or Google Sheets, put your starting number in cell A2 and your new number in cell B2. In cell C2, type the formula =(B2-A2)/A2 and press Enter, then click the "%" button in the toolbar to format the decimal as a percentage. To increase a number in A2 by 10%, use =A2*(1+10%).
Percentage points vs. percentage increase
When an interest rate or tax rate moves from 4% to 5%, it has risen by 1 percentage point, but that represents a 25% increase in relative terms ((5 - 4) / 4 × 100). Always check whether financial reports mean percentage points or relative percentage growth.
Related calculators
The general Percentage Calculator answers "what is X% of Y". To work in the opposite direction, use the Percentage Decrease Calculator, and for sale markdowns try the Discount Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do you find the percentage increase between two numbers?
Subtract the starting number from the new number, divide the difference by the starting number, and multiply by 100. Formula: [(New - Old) / Old] × 100. For example, from 80 to 100 is (100 - 80) / 80 × 100 = 25%.
How do I calculate a 10% or 25% increase on a number?
Multiply the starting number by 1.10 for a 10% increase, or by 1.25 for a 25% increase. For example, increasing 4 by 25% is 4 × 1.25 = 5.
What is the percentage increase from 5 to 8 and from 8 to 10?
From 5 to 8, the difference is 3, and (3 / 5) × 100 gives a 60% increase. From 8 to 10, the difference is 2, and (2 / 8) × 100 gives a 25% increase.
What is the percentage increase from 40 to 46?
Subtract 40 from 46 to get 6. Divide 6 by the starting number 40 to get 0.15, then multiply by 100 to get a 15% increase.
How do I use this as a price increase or overage calculator?
Switch the calculator mode to "Increase a value". Enter your original price, material quantity, or budget, then enter the percentage markup or overage (such as 10% or 15%) to see both the extra amount added and the final total.
Why does a 50% rise followed by a 50% fall not return to the start?
Because the second percentage is calculated from the new, larger base. Starting at 100, a 50% rise takes you to 150, and a 50% drop from 150 takes away 75, leaving you at 75 instead of 100.
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Percentage Decrease Calculator
Find the percentage decrease between two numbers, or reduce any value by a percentage.
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Discount Calculator
Work out the sale price, the amount you save and what stacked discounts are really worth.
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