How to Calculate Discounts and Sale Prices
Our discount calculator helps you find the final price after discounts, calculate your savings, and handle multiple or stacked discounts. Perfect for shopping, comparing deals, and making informed purchase decisions.
Understanding Discounts
A discount is a reduction from the original price, usually expressed as a percentage. The sale price is what you actually pay. When multiple discounts are stacked, they're applied sequentially-not added together.
Discount Calculation Formulas
Sale Price = Original Price × (1 - Discount/100). Savings = Original Price × Discount/100. For stacked discounts, multiply the factors: Final = Original × (1 - D1/100) × (1 - D2/100).
Example:
A $80 item with 25% off: $80 × 0.75 = $60. With an additional 10% off: $60 × 0.90 = $54 (not the same as 35% off = $52).
Common Use Cases
Real-world applications for this calculator
Shopping
Quickly calculate sale prices and savings when seeing percentage discounts.
Coupon Stacking
Figure out final prices when using multiple coupons or promotions.
Deal Comparison
Compare different discount offers to find the best value.
Tips
- To find 20% off, calculate 10% and double it.
- Stacked discounts of X% and Y% don't equal (X+Y)% off.
- Compare "percent off" vs "dollars off" by calculating both.
- "Up to X% off" means the maximum discount-most items may have less.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate the sale price after a discount?
Multiply the original price by (1 - discount percentage/100). For 30% off a $50 item: $50 × (1 - 0.30) = $50 × 0.70 = $35.
How do stacked discounts work?
Stacked discounts are applied one after another, not added together. 20% off plus 10% off is not 30% off. Apply the first discount, then apply the second to the resulting price.
Which is better: 25% off or $20 off a $100 item?
For a $100 item, 25% off = $25 savings, so 25% off is better. But for a $60 item, 25% = $15, so $20 off is better. Calculate both to compare.
How do I find the original price if I know the sale price and discount?
Divide the sale price by (1 - discount/100). If an item is $60 after 25% off: $60 ÷ 0.75 = $80 original price.
Does the order of stacked discounts matter?
Mathematically, no-the final price is the same regardless of order. 20% then 10% off equals 10% then 20% off. However, store policies may specify an order.