Percentage Calculator
7 types of percentage calculations — all visible at once. Results update as you type.
What is a percentage?
A percentage is a way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100. The word comes from the Latin 'per centum' — meaning 'per hundred.' When you see 25%, it means 25 out of every 100.
Percentages are used in nearly every area of life: exam scores, discounts, tax rates, salary increases, nutrition labels, financial returns, and statistics.
All 7 percentage formulas at a glance
| Calculation Type | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| P% of X | Y = (P ÷ 100) × X | 15% of 240 = 36 |
| X is what % of Y? | P = (X ÷ Y) × 100 | 36 of 240 = 15% |
| X is P% of what? | Y = X ÷ (P ÷ 100) | 36 is 15% of 240 |
| % change | P = ((Y − X) ÷ |X|) × 100 | 80 → 96 = +20% |
| X plus P% | Y = X × (1 + P ÷ 100) | 200 + 5% = 210 |
| X minus P% | Y = X × (1 − P ÷ 100) | 200 − 20% = 160 |
| % difference | P = (|X−Y| ÷ avg(X,Y)) × 100 | 45 and 60 = 28.57% |
Where percentages come up in everyday life
Restaurant tips: Use the 'P% of X' calculator. 15% of $85 = $12.75 — no mental math required.
VAT and taxes: Add 5% UAE VAT or any tax rate to a price instantly. AED 500 + 5% = AED 525.
Sale discounts: Find the final price after a percentage off. $120 minus 30% = $84.
Exam scores: 42 out of 60 is 70%. Use the 'X is what % of Y?' calculator.
Salary increases: Going from $4,800 to $5,400 per month is a 12.5% raise. Use the '% change' calculator.
Investment returns: An 8% annual return on $10,000 adds $800 in year one — and compounds from there.
Worked Examples
Restaurant tip — 15% of $85
What is 15% of $85? → (15 ÷ 100) × 85 = $12.75. A 15% tip on an $85 bill is $12.75. Your total is $97.75.
Sale discount — 30% off $120
What is $120 minus 30%? → $120 × (1 − 0.30) = $84. A 30% discount on $120 saves you $36. Sale price: $84.
Exam score — 42 out of 60
42 is what percent of 60? → (42 ÷ 60) × 100 = 70%. A score of 42 out of 60 is 70%.
UAE VAT — AED 500 + 5%
What is AED 500 + 5%? → AED 500 × 1.05 = AED 525. The 5% VAT adds AED 25 to the price.
Salary increase — $4,800 to $5,400
% change from $4,800 to $5,400? → ((5,400 − 4,800) ÷ 4,800) × 100 = 12.5% increase.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate what percent one number is of another?+
Divide the part by the whole and multiply by 100. Formula: P% = (X ÷ Y) × 100. Example: 36 out of 240 → 36 ÷ 240 × 100 = 15%.
How do I calculate a percentage of a number?+
Multiply the number by the percentage divided by 100. Formula: Y = (P ÷ 100) × X. Example: 15% of 240 → (15 ÷ 100) × 240 = 36.
How do I calculate percentage increase?+
Subtract original from new, divide by original, multiply by 100. Formula: ((New − Original) ÷ Original) × 100. Example: $80 to $96 → ((96 − 80) ÷ 80) × 100 = 20%.
What is the difference between percentage change and percentage difference?+
Percentage change is directional — it measures how much a value changed from an original. Percentage difference is symmetric — it doesn't matter which value came first.
How do I add VAT or tax to a price?+
Multiply the price by (1 + tax rate ÷ 100). For 5% UAE VAT on AED 500: 500 × 1.05 = AED 525. Use the 'X plus P%' calculator above.
How do I find the original price after a discount?+
Use the 'X is P% of what?' calculator. If $160 is the sale price after a 20% discount, then $160 is 80% of what? → 160 ÷ 0.80 = $200 original price.
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For informational purposes only. All calculations use standard mathematical formulas. Formula last verified June 2026. Privacy Policy