About percentages
A percentage is a fraction of 100. "X% of Y" means Y multiplied by X divided by 100. Percentage change compares a new value to an old one relative to the old value.
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Percentage Calculator
Three common percentage calculations in one place.
Result
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How do I calculate a percentage?
To find X% of a number, multiply the number by X and divide by 100. Example: 15% of 50,000 = 50,000 × 15 ÷ 100 = 7,500.
Steps for the three common percentage calculations
- Percentage of a number: multiply the number by the percentage, then divide by 100.
- What percent X is of Y: divide X by Y, then multiply by 100.
- Percentage change from A to B: subtract A from B, divide by A, then multiply by 100.
- A positive change result means an increase; a negative result means a decrease.
- Round the result to the precision you need, usually one or two decimal places.
Percentage formulas
X% of Y = Y × X ÷ 100 | X is what % of Y = X ÷ Y × 100 | % change = (new - old) ÷ old × 100
- X, Y = the two numbers being compared or combined
- old, new = the value before and after a change
Example percentage calculations
| Calculation | Formula used | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 15% of 50,000 | 50,000 × 15 ÷ 100 | 7,500 |
| 20% of 150 | 150 × 20 ÷ 100 | 30 |
| 30 is what % of 200 | 30 ÷ 200 × 100 | 15% |
| 45 is what % of 60 | 45 ÷ 60 × 100 | 75% |
| Change from 80 to 100 | (100-80)/80 × 100 | +25% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between percentage and percentage points?
A percentage is a ratio out of 100, while a percentage point is the raw difference between two percentages. Going from 20% to 25% is a 5 percentage-point increase, but a 25% increase relative to the original 20% value, since 5/20 × 100 = 25%.
Why is the order of A and B important in percentage change?
Percentage change always divides by the original (old) value, so from 250 to 200 is a -20% change, but from 200 to 250 is a +25% change even though the same 50-unit gap is involved. The base value you divide by changes the result.
Can percentage change be more than 100%?
Yes. If a value more than doubles, the change exceeds 100%. For example, going from 40,000 to 46,000 is a +15% change, but going from 40,000 to 90,000 would be a +125% change.
How do I calculate a percentage decrease?
Use the same percentage-change formula: subtract the old value from the new value, divide by the old value, and multiply by 100. A negative result indicates a decrease, as shown by the 250-to-200 example above, which is -20%.
These formulas assume standard arithmetic percentages and do not account for compounding, rounding conventions used in tax or finance, or context-specific rules (such as percentage of a whole with multiple categories). Verify results independently for financial, tax, or legal use.