Discount Calculator
Calculate sale prices, percent off, and savings instantly. Enter the original price and discount percentage to see exactly how much you will pay and save.
Shopping during a sale but not sure how much you will actually pay? Our discount calculator takes the guesswork out of sale prices. Simply enter the original price and discount percentage to see your final cost and total savings instantly.
Whether you are comparing deals, budgeting for a shopping trip, or just curious about that 30% off sign, this calculator gives you the exact numbers. For other percentage calculations, check out our main percentage calculator.
How to Calculate Discount
Calculating a discount is a straightforward two-step process. First, you find the discount amount, then subtract it from the original price to get the sale price.
The Discount Formula:
For example, if a jacket costs $80 and is on sale for 25% off:
You pay $60 and save $20
This formula works for any price and any discount percentage. Or simply use the calculator above to get instant results.
For 10% off, just move the decimal point one place left. For $75, 10% off is $7.50, so you pay $67.50. For 20% off, double that discount amount. For 50% off, simply halve the price.
How to Calculate Discount Percentage
Sometimes you know the original and sale price but want to figure out what percentage discount you are getting. This is useful when comparing deals between stores.
The Discount Percentage Formula:
For example, if a TV was $500 and is now $375:
The TV is 25% off
This helps you compare apples to apples when one store shows the sale price and another shows the discount percentage.
How to Calculate Sale Price
The sale price is what you actually pay after the discount is applied. There are two ways to calculate it:
Method 1: Subtract the Discount
Method 2: Multiply by What Remains
If something is 30% off, you are paying 70% of the original price. This is often faster:
Both methods give you the same answer. The second method is handy for mental math once you get used to it.
How to Calculate Percent Off
Percent off simply means the percentage reduction from the original price. Here is how common discounts translate to actual savings:
| Percent Off | You Pay | Example ($100 item) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% off | 90% | Pay $90, Save $10 |
| 15% off | 85% | Pay $85, Save $15 |
| 20% off | 80% | Pay $80, Save $20 |
| 25% off | 75% | Pay $75, Save $25 |
| 30% off | 70% | Pay $70, Save $30 |
| 40% off | 60% | Pay $60, Save $40 |
| 50% off | 50% | Pay $50, Save $50 |
| 75% off | 25% | Pay $25, Save $75 |
Discount Formula
Here is a complete summary of all the discount formulas you might need:
To Find the Discount Amount
To Find the Sale Price
Or in one step:
To Find the Discount Percentage
To Find the Original Price
If you know the sale price and discount percentage:
For more percentage formulas and calculations, see our complete guide on how to calculate percentages.
Common Discount Percentages
Different types of sales typically offer different discount ranges. Here is what to expect:
| Sale Type | Typical Discount |
|---|---|
| Newsletter signup / First order | 10-15% off |
| Seasonal sales | 20-30% off |
| Black Friday / Cyber Monday | 25-50% off |
| End of season clearance | 40-60% off |
| Closeout / Going out of business | 50-80% off |
| Employee discount (retail) | 15-25% off |
| Student discount | 10-20% off |
| Senior discount | 10-15% off |
Discount Calculator Examples
Here are real-world examples showing how to calculate discounts in different shopping scenarios:
Example 1: Clothing Sale
You pay $52.00 and save $13.00
Example 2: Electronics Deal
You pay $764.15 and save $134.85
Example 3: Black Friday Deal
You pay $150.00 and save $100.00
Example 4: Grocery Store Coupon
You pay $9.37 and save $3.13
Example 5: Clearance Rack
You pay $72.00 and save $108.00
Stacking Discounts
Sometimes you can combine multiple discounts. But be careful – they usually do not simply add up. A 20% off plus 10% off is not 30% off. Here is how stacking works:
Original price: $100
Total discount: $28 (28% off, not 30%)
The second discount applies to the already-reduced price, not the original. Keep this in mind when comparing stacked discounts to single larger discounts.
Discount vs Markup
A discount reduces the price, while a markup increases it. They work similarly but in opposite directions:
- Discount: Start with higher price, calculate lower sale price
- Markup: Start with cost, calculate higher selling price
If you need to calculate markups for business pricing, check out our profit margin calculator or percentage increase calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiply the price by 0.20 to find the discount amount, then subtract from the original price. For example, 20% off $50: $50 x 0.20 = $10 discount. Sale price: $50 – $10 = $40. Or simply multiply by 0.80 to get the sale price directly: $50 x 0.80 = $40.
The discount formula is: Discount Amount = Original Price x (Discount Percentage / 100). To find the sale price, subtract the discount from the original price: Sale Price = Original Price – Discount Amount.
Subtract the sale price from the original price to find the savings. Then divide the savings by the original price and multiply by 100. Formula: Discount % = ((Original – Sale Price) / Original) x 100. For example, if an item was $80 and is now $60: ($80 – $60) / $80 x 100 = 25% off.
A 30% discount is generally considered a good deal for most retail items. It is better than typical everyday sales (10-20%) but not as deep as clearance pricing (50%+). For expensive items, 30% off can mean significant savings. Always compare the sale price to prices at other retailers to ensure it is truly a good deal.
To take 25% off, multiply the price by 0.25 to find the discount, then subtract. Alternatively, multiply by 0.75 to get the sale price directly. For a $60 item: $60 x 0.75 = $45, or $60 x 0.25 = $15 off, so $60 – $15 = $45.
Stacked discounts multiply, they do not add. A 20% off followed by 10% off is not 30% off. Instead, the second discount applies to the already-reduced price. For a $100 item: 20% off = $80, then 10% off $80 = $72. Total savings: 28%, not 30%.
Calculate the discount first to get the sale price, then add sales tax to that reduced price. For example: $100 item at 20% off = $80. With 8% sales tax: $80 x 1.08 = $86.40 final price. For sales tax calculations, try our sales tax calculator.
Simply move the decimal point one place to the left. For $85, 10% is $8.50. Subtract that from the original: $85 – $8.50 = $76.50. This mental math trick works for any price and is the foundation for calculating other percentages quickly.
Related Calculators
Back to Percentage Calculator for more calculation tools.