How to Calculate a Discount (Percent Off and Sale Price)
3 min read
A 30%-off tag is great, but what do you actually pay? Calculating a discount takes one quick step, and a shortcut makes it easy to do in the store.
Here is how to calculate a discount and the final sale price.
Step by step
- 1Find the amount you save
Multiply the original price by the discount as a decimal. 30% off a 80 item saves 80 x 0.30 = 24.
- 2Subtract to get the sale price
Take the savings off the original price: 80 - 24 = 56.
- 3Use the one-step shortcut
Multiply the price by (100 minus the discount) / 100. For 30% off, multiply by 0.70: 80 x 0.70 = 56, the sale price directly.
- 4Handle stacked discounts
Apply percentages one after another, not added together. An extra 20% off a 56 price is 56 x 0.80 = 44.80 - not 50% off the original.
- 5Use the calculator
Enter the price and the discount in the Discount Calculator to see the sale price and your savings instantly.
Tips
- Two stacked discounts (30% then 20%) are not 50% off - they compound to 44% off the original.
- To compare deals fast, remember that paying 0.70 of the price means 30% off.
- Watch for whether tax is applied before or after the discount on your receipt.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a percentage discount?
Multiply the price by the discount as a decimal to get the savings, then subtract. Or multiply by (1 minus the discount) to get the sale price directly.
How do stacked discounts work?
They apply one after another. 30% off then 20% off means paying 0.70 then 0.80 of the price - about 44% off the original, not 50%.
What is the quick way to find a sale price?
Multiply by (100 minus the percent off) / 100. For 25% off, multiply the price by 0.75.