Guide · Shopping & discounts
Percent Off & Discount Calculator
Updated: June 2026
"30% off" sounds simple until you're standing in the queue trying to work out what you'll actually pay. A percent-off discount has two halves — the amount you save and the price you pay — and a couple of retail tricks, like stacked discounts, that don't add up the way they appear. Here's how to get the real number every time.
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Saving and final price
Two formulas cover everything:
you pay = price × (1 − discount ÷ 100)
For 25% off an 80 item: the saving is 80 × 0.25 = 20, and you pay 80 × 0.75 = 60. The multiplier version (multiply by 0.75) is the quicker route to the final price, while the first formula tells you the headline saving — the number worth knowing before deciding it's a bargain.
A quick discount table
| Off | You pay (×) | On a 60 item |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | 0.90 | 54 |
| 15% | 0.85 | 51 |
| 20% | 0.80 | 48 |
| 30% | 0.70 | 42 |
| 50% | 0.50 | 30 |
| 70% | 0.30 | 18 |
The stacked-discount myth
The biggest retail confusion: "50% off, plus an extra 20% off" is not 70% off. Discounts applied one after another multiply rather than add. The second discount comes off the already-reduced price, so the math is 0.50 × 0.80 = 0.40 — you pay 40% of the original, a 60% total discount. On a 100 item, 50% off gives 50, then 20% off that gives 40, not the 30 a straight 70% would suggest. Order doesn't matter, but the multiplication does.
Working backwards from the sale price
Sometimes only the sale price is shown and you want the original — useful for checking whether a "was/now" claim is honest. Since the sale price is (100 − discount)% of the original, divide: a 30%-off price of 35 came from 35 ÷ 0.70 = 50. This is the same reverse-percentage move used for removing tax, just with a discount instead of an increase.
Where you'll use it
- Checking the real shelf price before reaching the till.
- Comparing two offers — a flat amount off versus a percentage off.
- Seeing through stacked "extra % off" promotions.
- Verifying a sale's original price against its discount claim.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a percent-off discount?
Multiply the price by the discount to get the saving, then subtract. 25% off 80 saves 80 × 0.25 = 20, leaving 60. Or multiply by 0.75 directly.
Is 50% off then 20% off the same as 70% off?
No. Stacked discounts multiply: 0.50 × 0.80 = 0.40, so you pay 40% — a 60% total discount.
How do I find the final price after a discount?
Multiply the original by one minus the rate. A 30%-off item at 50 costs 50 × 0.70 = 35.
How do I find the original price from the sale price?
Divide the sale price by one minus the discount rate. 35 at 30% off came from 35 ÷ 0.70 = 50.