Online Percentage Calculator
Calculate percentages, increases, decreases and rates quickly with our free tool.
Percent of a number
Apply percentage increase
Apply percentage decrease
What percentage is A of B?
Percentage change
What is a percentage?
A percentage is a share "out of a hundred". 15% means 15 out of 100, i.e. 0.15. This lets you compare values and measure changes.
Percentages are used for discounts, grades, statistics and price or population trends.
Basic formulas
- Part of whole: Part = Total × % / 100.
- Percentage: % = (Part / Total) × 100.
- Increase: End = Start × (1 + %/100).
- Decrease: End = Start × (1 − %/100).
- Change rate: ((End − Start) / Start) × 100.
Short method
First decide whether you are calculating a part of a whole or a change between two values, then apply the right formula.
Tip: 10% = divide by 10, 5% = half of 10%, 20% = double 10%.
Percentage vs percentage points
Don't confuse "+5 percentage points" and "+5%". From 20% to 25% is +5 points, but +25% relative increase.
Examples
20% of 150 = 30.
Discount: 150 − 20% = 120.
Increase: 80 → 100 = +25%.
Part: 25 of 100 = 25%.
Change rate: 153 → 187 = ((187−153)/153) × 100 ≈ 22.2%.
Quick reference
- 1% = 1/100 of the whole.
- 5% = 1/20 of the whole.
- 25% = 1/4 of the whole.
- 50% = half of the whole.
- 75% = three quarters of the whole.
Typical uses
- Discounts, promotions, VAT, sale prices.
- Grades, averages, school results.
- Budget, statistics, data trends.
- Comparing shares (market, surveys, population).
Common mistakes
- Confusing "part of whole" and "change".
- Forgetting to divide by 100 after multiplying.
- Applying the percentage to the wrong base.
- Interpreting a point drop as a percentage drop.
FAQ
- Increase vs percentage of a total? One compares a change, the other a share.
- Different result? Check whether you're calculating a share, a decrease or a change.
- Need a step-by-step explanation? The Math AI assistant can explain in detail.