Discount Calculator - Free Sale Price, Savings and Discount Percentage Calculator for Shopping and Price Comparison
A 20.0% discount on $100.00 saves you $20.00, bringing the final price to $80.00.
Calculation
$100.00 - (20% × $100.00) = $80.00
Complete Guide to Discount Calculations
💰 What is a Discount?
A discount is a reduction in the original price of a product or service. It's typically expressed as either a percentage (20% off) or a dollar amount ($10 off). Discounts are used by retailers to attract customers, clear inventory, and increase sales volume.
Common discount types: Percentage discounts (most common), dollar-off discounts, buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals, bundle discounts, loyalty rewards, and seasonal sales.
🧮 Discount Formula
Example: $100 item with 25% off → Savings = $25, Final price = $75
Quick Discount Reference Table
| Original Price | 10% Off | 20% Off | 25% Off | 30% Off | 50% Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $18.00 | $16.00 | $15.00 | $14.00 | $10.00 |
| $50 | $45.00 | $40.00 | $37.50 | $35.00 | $25.00 |
| $100 | $90.00 | $80.00 | $75.00 | $70.00 | $50.00 |
| $200 | $180.00 | $160.00 | $150.00 | $140.00 | $100.00 |
| $500 | $450.00 | $400.00 | $375.00 | $350.00 | $250.00 |
🔢 Understanding Multiple Discounts
Important: Multiple discounts don't add up! Each subsequent discount applies to the already-discounted price.
Example: 20% off + 10% off
- Start: $100
- After 20% off: $100 - $20 = $80
- After 10% off of $80: $80 - $8 = $72
- Final price: $72 (= 28% total discount, not 30%)
Multiple Discount Formula:
Final Price = Original Price × (1 - Discount₁) × (1 - Discount₂) × (1 - Discount₃)
Example: $100 × (1 - 0.20) × (1 - 0.10) = $100 × 0.80 × 0.90 = $72
🛍️ Smart Shopping Tips
- ✓Compare unit prices: A 30% discount on a $50 item may be better value than 50% off a $20 item
- ✓Stack coupons: Use manufacturer coupons with store sales for maximum savings
- ✓Time your purchases: Black Friday, end-of-season, and clearance sales offer deepest discounts
- ✓Check price history: Some retailers inflate prices before sales to make discounts look bigger
- ✓Calculate per-item cost: For BOGO deals, divide total by quantity to compare with regular discounts
📅 Best Times to Shop Sales
25-75% off electronics, appliances, clothing
50-70% off seasonal items (clothing, outdoor gear)
30-60% off during Memorial Day, Labor Day, Presidents Day
60-90% off discontinued items and overstock
20-50% off supplies, electronics, clothing (July-August)
Common Discount Scenarios
🏷️ Standard Sale
Item: $80, Discount: 25% off
You pay: $60 (Save $20)
🎁 BOGO 50% Off
2 items at $50 each
You pay: $75 (Save $25 = 25% off)
💳 Additional Coupon
$100 item, 30% off + 10% coupon
You pay: $63 (Save $37 = 37% total)
🔥 Clearance Stack
$200 item, 50% + 20% + 10% off
You pay: $72 (Save $128 = 64% total)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate a discount percentage?
To calculate a discount percentage, use this formula: Discount % = (Discount Amount ÷ Original Price) × 100. For example, if an item originally costs $100 and is on sale for $80, the discount is $20. So: ($20 ÷ $100) × 100 = 20% off. Our calculator does this automatically – just enter the original and sale price.
How much is 20% off of $100?
20% off of $100 is $20 in savings, making the final price $80. Calculate it as: $100 × 0.20 = $20 discount, then $100 - $20 = $80 final price. You can use our quick discount buttons to instantly calculate common percentages like 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 50% off.
How do multiple discounts work?
Multiple discounts apply sequentially, not additively. For example, 20% off + 10% off is NOT 30% off. Here's why: Starting with $100, take 20% off = $80. Then take 10% off of $80 (not $100) = $72 final price. This equals a 28% total discount, not 30%. Our calculator shows the step-by-step breakdown for stacked discounts.
What's the difference between discount amount and discount percentage?
Discount amount is the dollar value you save (e.g., $20 off), while discount percentage is the proportion of the original price (e.g., 20% off). For a $100 item with 20% off: Discount percentage = 20%, Discount amount = $20, Final price = $80. Both represent the same savings but expressed differently.
How do I calculate the original price if I know the sale price and discount?
To find the original price, use this formula: Original Price = Sale Price ÷ (1 - Discount%). For example, if an item costs $80 after a 20% discount: $80 ÷ (1 - 0.20) = $80 ÷ 0.80 = $100 original price. Use our 'Find Discount %' mode to calculate this automatically.
What's a good discount percentage for sales?
Common retail discounts range from 10-75% depending on the situation: Regular sales: 10-30% off, Seasonal clearance: 30-50% off, End-of-season: 50-70% off, Black Friday/Cyber Monday: 25-70% off, Going out of business: 50-90% off. Discounts over 50% are typically considered excellent deals, while 20-30% off is standard for regular promotions.
Can I use this calculator for tax or tip calculations?
While this calculator is optimized for discounts (subtracting percentages), it can work for additions too. However, for adding sales tax or tips, we recommend using our dedicated Tip Calculator or Tax Calculator for better accuracy and additional features specific to those use cases.
Is 40% off better than buy one get one 50% off?
It depends on quantity! For 1 item: 40% off is better (pay 60%). For 2 identical items: Buy one get one 50% off means you pay 100% + 50% = 150% for 2 items, or 75% per item (25% off each). So 40% off is still better. Use our calculator to compare different discount scenarios and find the best deal.
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