FINANCEVELIX / Investment calculators
Percentage calculator: percent change and percent of
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Crypto tools
Work out percent change, percentages of a number and percentage increases or decreases in one place. Choose a calculation, enter two numbers and see the result together with the formula used.
Percentage calculator
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Enter your assumptions, then select Calculate.
FINANCEVELIX / Method
How percentages are calculated
A percentage expresses a number as parts per hundred. To find X% of Y, multiply Y by X ÷ 100. To find what percent X is of Y, divide X by Y and multiply by 100.
Percent change compares a new value with an old one: (new − old) ÷ old × 100. A rise from 50 to 75 is a 50% increase, but a fall from 75 back to 50 is a 33.33% decrease, because the second change is measured from a larger starting value. To increase or decrease a number by X%, multiply it by (1 + X ÷ 100), using a negative X for a decrease.
Percent change is not the same as a change in percentage points. If an interest rate moves from 4% to 5%, it rises by 1 percentage point, which is a 25% increase in the rate itself.
Percent change cannot be calculated when the starting value is 0. For a negative starting value, the calculator divides by its absolute value, so a move toward positive numbers shows as an increase.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a percentage increase?
Subtract the old value from the new value, divide by the old value and multiply by 100. A price that rises from 80 to 100 has increased by (100 − 80) ÷ 80 × 100 = 25%.
Why doesn't a 50% loss followed by a 50% gain get back to even?
Each percentage applies to a different base. A 50% loss turns 100 into 50, and a 50% gain on 50 only brings it to 75. After a 50% loss, a 100% gain is needed to recover.
What is the difference between percent and percentage points?
Percentage points measure the simple difference between two percentages, while percent change measures the relative change. A move from 10% to 12% is 2 percentage points, or a 20% increase.