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Percentage Calculator
Three common percentage questions in one place: what is 15% of 80, 12 is what percent of 80, and what is the percent change from 50 to 65.
Result
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How to use this calculator
- Choose the question you want to answer from the first menu.
- Enter the two numbers. The labels change to show which number goes where.
- The answer updates as you type. Press Calculate or Enter to move focus to the result.
The formula
A percent is a ratio out of 100. Percent change compares the difference to the starting value, which is why a rise from 50 to 65 (+30%) and a fall from 65 to 50 (−23.08%) are not the same size. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the same percent-change formula for price indexes.
Worked example
Three quick examples
- 15% of 80: 15 ÷ 100 = 0.15, and 0.15 × 80 = 12.
- 12 is what percent of 80: 12 ÷ 80 = 0.15, and 0.15 × 100 = 15%.
- Change from 50 to 65: 65 − 50 = 15, 15 ÷ 50 = 0.30, so +30%. From 80 down to 60: −20 ÷ 80 = −25%.
Enter any of these pairs above to check them.
Percent vs. percentage points
If an interest rate goes from 4% to 5%, it rose by 1 percentage point, but by 25 percent (1 ÷ 4 × 100). News reports and loan offers often mix these up, so check which one is meant.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a percentage of a number?
Divide the percentage by 100 and multiply by the number. For 20% of 250: 0.20 × 250 = 50.
How do I find what percent one number is of another?
Divide the part by the whole and multiply by 100. 45 out of 60 is 45 ÷ 60 × 100 = 75%.
What is the difference between percent change and percent difference?
Percent change measures movement from an old value to a new one and divides by the old value. Percent difference compares two values with no direction and usually divides by their average. This calculator does percent change.
Can a percent change be more than 100%?
Yes. Going from 20 to 50 is a 150% increase. A decrease can never be more than 100% for positive values, because falling to zero is −100%.
Why does a 50% drop followed by a 50% rise not get me back to where I started?
Because the second percentage applies to a smaller base. 100 falls 50% to 50, then rises 50% to 75.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Calculating percent changes
- NIST Guide to the SI, Chapter 7 — expressing values (percent)