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Calculate percentages three ways
The three percentage questions people actually ask, each with its own inputs so you do not have to remember which number goes where.
30
15% of 200
Common presets
Each one has its own page explaining where that requirement comes from and what to expect.
How to use it
- 1Pick the question you are asking: percent of a number, percentage change, or what percent one number is of another.
- 2Fill in the two fields that question needs.
- 3Read the answer and the sentence underneath that restates it in words.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between the three modes?
- "X% of Y" applies a rate to an amount — 20% of 250. "Change from X to Y" measures growth or shrinkage between two figures. "X is what percent of Y" turns a pair into a share. The mistakes come from picking the wrong one, so each has its own labelled fields.
- Why does a 50% rise followed by a 50% fall not bring me back?
- Because each percentage applies to a different base. 100 rises to 150, and 50% of 150 is 75, not 50 — you end at 75. Percentage changes multiply rather than add, which is also why an investment down 50% needs 100% to recover.
- How do I take VAT or sales tax off a gross price?
- Divide, do not subtract. At 20% the gross is 120% of the net, so the net is gross ÷ 1.2. Taking 20% off the gross gives you 96% of the net and undercharges you every time.
- What is the difference between percent and percentage points?
- If a rate goes from 4% to 6%, that is a rise of 2 percentage points and a rise of 50 percent. Both are correct, and the second one is how a modest change gets reported as a dramatic one.