Use our free online percentage calculator. Discover how to calculate a percentage: find the percentage of a number, apply a reduction or increase or calculate the rate of change between two numbers.
Calculate the percentage of a number
Formula: (percentage * number) / 100
Example: If you want to know what 15% of 200 is, the calculation would be: (15 * 200) / 100 = 30
Calculate a percentage increase
Formula: (1 + percentage / 100) * number
Example: If the number 100 increases by 15%, the increase is calculated as follows: (1 + 15 / 100) * 100 = 115
Calculate a percentage decrease
Formula: (1 - percentage / 100) * number
Example: If the number 100 decreases by 15%, the calculation of this decrease will be: (1 - 15 / 100) * 100 = 85
Calculating a percentage from two numbers
Formula: (number / total) * 100
Example: To calculate what 10 represents in relation to 100, the calculation would be: (10 / 100) * 100 = 10%.
What is a percentage?
In mathematics, a percentage is a simple way of expressing a part of a whole in terms of hundredths. In other words, it’s a fraction whose denominator is 100. For example, 25% represents 25 parts of 100.
A percentage is a number that represents a fraction of 100. 10% is actually 10 / 100.
It is represented by a number, followed by the “%” symbol.
What is the formula for calculating a percentage?
Your calculation depends on the type of problem to be solved. Here’s the formula to apply:
(Number * percentage) / 100
To calculate 10% of 200, get a calculator and perform the following operation:
(200 * 10) / 100) = 200 * 0,1 = 20
You can also use one of our online calculators to complete your calculation quickly and easily.
How do you calculate a percentage?
Calculate a discount percentage
Use the following formula:
Formula : (1 – percentage / 100) * number
Example : You want to calculate the price of a promotional item. The initial price is 100€, and the discount is 15%. The new price will be: (1 – 15 / 100) * 100 = 85€.
Calculating a percentage increase
If you need to calculate an increase, this formula will help you:
Formula : (1 + percentage / 100) * number
Example: A product costs €100. To apply a 15% increase, do the following calculation: (1 + 15 / 100) * 100 = 115€.
Calculate the percentage ratio from two values
To find out what percentage one value represents in relation to another, compare the part with the total measurement, then multiply the result by 100. The part must be a numerical value, and the total measurement must be a numerical value greater than the part.
Formula : (part / total value) * 100
Example: Suppose you’ve spent €40 on a total budget of €200. What percentage of your budget did you spend? Apply the formula to obtain: (40 / 200) * 100 = 20%.
You have thus spent 20% of your budget.
What's the point of a percentage?
A percentage can be used to express a variety of measures, such as interest rates, reductions, growth or decline rates, etc.
In banking, retail, marketing and sales, mastering this mathematical concept is essential:
- calculate VAT,
- calculate an interest rate,
- calculate a discount applied to a product,
- calculate the return on investment of CRM software,
- calculate price trends,
- Etc.
Calculation examples
The percentage is a basic mathematical calculation that is used in many sectors, but can also be useful in everyday life. Let’s look at a few examples of applications:
Calculate the percentage of a price
Let’s say you want to know how much a product costs after a 25% reduction on its initial price of €80.
Formula: initial price * (1 – percentage / 100)
Example: 80 * (1 – 25 / 100) = €60
The product will therefore cost €60 after discount.
Calculate VAT
Would you like to determine the VAT amount or find the price including all taxes?
Let’s start with the calculation of the VAT amount. Whether VAT is set at 5.5% or 20%, the formula remains the same:
Formula: (VAT * price excl. VAT) / 100
Example: If a product has a price excl. VAT of €200 and the VAT rate is 20%, the calculation to obtain the price incl. VAT is: (15 * 200) / 100 = €20.
Calculate price incl. VAT from price excl.
To calculate the price inclusive of VAT from the price exclusive of VAT, first determine the VAT price, as described above, then add it to your price inclusive of VAT.
Here’s a simple formula for calculating it in a single operation: (1 + VAT / 100) * Price excluding VAT
For example, if the price before tax is €1,000and VAT is set at 20%, the calculation would be: (1 + 20 / 100) * 1000) = €1,200.
Calculating a pay rise
Would you like to apply a rate of increase to your or your employee’s salary?
To make this calculation, you’ll need to apply the following formula: (1 + percentage / 100) * number
Example: Let’s take a look at what a 5% pay rise represents. On a salary of 2000€, the calculation would be: (1 + 5 / 100) * 2000.
The salary after evolution is therefore equal to 2100€.
Calculating an insurance discount or premium
In insurance, percentages are used to calculate premiums or discounts.
Example: If an insurance premium amounts to €1,000 and a 10% discount is applied, the result is: (1000∗10)/100=€100
The amount to be paid is then €900, which makes it easy to see the savings.
Calculating a variation between two periods
Analyzing variations in figures between two periods is commonplace, particularly in business or market statistics.
Example: If a company’s sales increase from €200,000 in 2022 to €250,000 in 2023, the increase can be calculated as follows: (250000 – 200000) / 200000 * 100 = 25
This shows a 25% increase in sales. This method is essential for assessing annual performance.
Calculating the profitability of a sales tour
Itinerant salespeople often need to analyze the efficiency of their rounds.
Example: After using tour optimization software such as Moovago, a sales representative can calculate the time saved and the cost reduction. If an initial tour took 10 hours, and optimization has reduced this time to 8 hours, he can calculate the amount of time saved: (10 – 8) / 10 ∗ 100 = 20%.
As a result, the sales representative saves 20% of his time by optimizing his routes, which translates directly into a reduction in travel costs.
Percentage calculation to adjust sales targets
When salespeople need to adjust their sales targets in line with new expectations or a promotion, they can calculate the necessary increase.
Example: The initial target was €50,000, and it has now risen to €60,000. The increase is calculated as follows: (60000 – 50000) / 50000 ∗ 100 = 20.
This means that the target has increased by 20%, enabling the sales rep to plan his efforts accordingly.
Calculate the ROI of CRM software
ROI (Return on Investment) highlights the value of purchasing this tool by comparing benefits and costs. ThisThe latter include the purchase or rental of the CRM, as well as set-up costs.
To calculate the ROI of CRM software, apply a very specific formula: ((benefits – costs) / costs) x 100
Example of ROI calculation: If a CRM software package cost you €1,000 and brought in €1,250, your ROI is the same. You therefore apply the formula: ((€1250 – €1000) / €1000) × 100 = 25%.
The software’s ROI is therefore 25%.
How do you make your calculations easy?
To help you with your calculations, Moovago offers free online calculators. Quickly find the solution to your mathematical problems at work or at home. Find the solution to your everyday calculations!
These calculators are free, accessible at any time and their use is unlimited. Come back as often as you like to use our tools. We hope they’ll make your life easier!
Feel free to consult other resources on calculating percentages:
Going further: other frequently asked questions about percentages
Percentage and rate of change are both expressed in %. However, they do not represent the same thing.
- A percentage represents a fraction of a whole. For example, 20% of 100 = 5.
- The rate of change expresses the variation between two numbers. The rate of change measures the change between two values over time. It is often used to compare an initial value with a final value, and to quantify the increase or decrease. It is also referred to as growth or decline. For example, the increase between 100 and 120 corresponds to an evolution rate of 20%.
To calculate a percentage from two numbers, divide the part by the total, then multiply the result by 100.
Formula : (Part / Total) × 100
Make sure the part is smaller than the total in your calculation.
Example: To find out what 50 represents in relation to 200: (50 / 200) × 100 = 25%.
You need to calculate the relative variation between the two values.
Form : ((New value – Old value) / Old value) × 100
Example : If an item originally cost €40 and now costs €60, you would do: ((60 – 40) / 40) × 100 = 50%.
This means that the price has risen by 50%.
Applying a discount percentage to a number can be particularly useful for calculating the final price of a sale item.
Formula: Initial price x (1 – reduction / 100).
For example, a 20% discount on a €100 item gives: 100 x (1 – 20 / 100) = €80.
No, percentages cannot be added together. This applies not only to the percentage reduction, but also to the percentage increase. They do not represent a fraction of the same base number.
If the first 10% discount is applied to €100, the result is €90. The second 10% discount is then applied to €90, giving a final price of €81, for a total discount of 19%.
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