About this calculator
This calculator handles five common percentage tasks in one place: finding what X% of a number is, figuring out what percentage one number is of another, calculating the percentage change between two values, measuring the percentage difference between two values, and adding or subtracting a percentage from a base number. Type into any card and the answer updates instantly.
How to read your results
The page is split into five independent mode cards, each solving a different percentage question. Each card shows two input fields and displays its result — or a short note if the inputs are incomplete or mathematically impossible — directly below the fields. All five modes work simultaneously, so you can use as many at once as you like.
Worked example
Enter 15 in the percent field and 80 in the number field of the "What is X% of Y" card. In the "Add / subtract a percent" card, enter 80 as the base and 15 as the percent.
15% of 80 is 12. Adding 15% to 80 gives 92, and subtracting 15% from 80 gives 68 — confirming all three results are consistent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between percentage change and percentage difference?
Percentage change measures a directional shift from an old value to a new one: ((new − old) / |old|) × 100. It has a sign — positive for an increase, negative for a decrease. Percentage difference, by contrast, is order-independent: it divides the absolute gap by the average of the two values, giving a symmetric measure that does not imply direction.
Why does the "X is what % of Y" card refuse to calculate when Y is zero?
The formula is (X / Y) × 100. Division by zero is undefined, so the calculator shows a note rather than an error or an infinite result. Make sure the denominator is a non-zero value.
Can I use these formulas for discounts, tips, or tax?
Yes. To find a discount amount, use "What is X% of Y" with X as the discount rate and Y as the original price. To find the price after a percentage off or on, use "Add / subtract a percent." The same logic applies to tips, VAT, or any markup.
How it's calculated
Each mode uses a direct formula. "What is X% of Y" computes (X / 100) × Y. "X is what % of Y" computes (X / Y) × 100, requiring Y ≠ 0. Percentage change is ((new − old) / |old|) × 100, signed, requiring the old value ≠ 0. Percentage difference is |A − B| / ((|A| + |B|) / 2) × 100, order-independent, requiring the two values not both be zero. "Add / subtract a percent" gives base × (1 + p / 100) and base × (1 − p / 100). All formulas follow standard mathematical definitions as documented on MathIsFun.