How do I calculate a percentage discount?

To calculate a percentage discount: 1) Multiply the original price by the discount percentage, 2) Divide by 100, 3) Subtract the result from the original price. Formula: Sale Price = Original Price × (1 - Discount%/100). For example, 20% off $100 = $100 × 0.80 = $80.

How do I calculate the original price from a sale price?

To find the original price: Original Price = Sale Price ÷ (1 - Discount%/100). For example, if an item costs $80 after a 20% discount, the original price was $80 ÷ 0.80 = $100.

Can I stack multiple discounts?

Yes, multiple discounts can be stacked (applied sequentially). The order matters: applying a 20% discount then a 10% discount gives a different result than 10% then 20%. Our calculator supports stacking percentage and fixed-amount discounts.

What's the difference between percentage and fixed discounts?

A percentage discount (e.g., 20% off) saves more on expensive items, while a fixed discount (e.g., $10 off) saves the same amount regardless of price. For expensive items, percentage discounts are usually better; for cheaper items, fixed discounts may save more.

How do I calculate bulk discount savings?

Calculate the discounted price per item first, then multiply by quantity. Total Savings = (Original Price - Discounted Price) × Quantity. Our calculator handles bulk purchases automatically and shows per-item and total savings.

Discount Calculator - Calculate Sale Price & Savings

Discount Calculator

Calculate sale prices and savings with percentage discounts, additional coupons, and bulk purchases. Perfect for shopping, retail planning, and budget management.

100% FreeStep-by-step CalculationMultiple Discounts

Discount Calculator

Calculate final prices and savings with multiple discount types

Enter to calculate, Esc to clear

Original Price

Product or service base price

Currency

Discount Percentage (%)

Quantity

Number of items to purchase

Additional Discount (Optional)

Coupon, loyalty discount, or additional promotion

Discount Examples

Click on any example to automatically fill the calculator

Example

20% off $100 item

Price: $100

Discount: 20%

Quantity: 1

Example

30% off + $10 coupon, 2 items

Price: $250

Discount: 30%

Quantity: 2

Example

25% off + 5% additional discount

Price: $80

Discount: 25%

Quantity: 1

Example

15% off, bulk purchase

Price: $50

Discount: 15%

Quantity: 3

Discount Calculation Formulas

Sale Price Formula:

\text{Sale Price} = \text{Original Price} \times \left(1 - \frac{\text{Discount \%}}{100}\right)

Amount Saved:

\text{Savings} = \text{Original Price} - \text{Sale Price}

Whether you're hunting deals on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Amazon Prime Day, understanding how discounts actually work helps you spot real savings from marketing gimmicks. Let's break down real shopping scenarios you'll encounter at Target, Best Buy, and online retailers.

Black Friday Deal

iPhone 15 Pro

Original: $999
Deal: 15% off + extra $50 store credit

Calculation:

Step 1: $999 × 0.85 = $849.15

Step 2: $\$849.15 - \$50$

= $799.15 final (save $199.85!)

Clearance Pricing

Target Seasonal Item

Cost to store: $40
Goal: 30% profit margin

Retailer math:

If profit = 30%, cost = 70% of price

$\text{Price} = \frac{\$40}{0.7}$

= $57.14 (retail tag)

Max discount to maintain margin: 30% off

Member Discount Stack

Amazon Prime Deal

Item: $200
Prime 10% + $20 coupon

Order matters:

First discount: $200 × 0.9 = $180

Then coupon: $180 - $20

= $160 (you pay)

⚠️ Reversed order gives different result!

Retail Tricks Exposed

❌ The "Was $X, Now $Y" Scam

🚫 Common Scam

Regular price: $49.99

Week before sale: "Worth $99.99"

Sale day: $99.99 → 50% OFF = $49.99

Looks like 50% off, actually same price!

✅ How to Spot It

Use price tracking (CamelCamelCamel, Honey)
Check 90-day price history
Compare across retailers (Google Shopping)
Look at review date patterns

🤔 Why 70% OFF + 70% OFF ≠ 140% OFF

This is one of the most dangerous shopping myths. Discounts multiply, they don't add!

Example: $100 item with "70% off TWICE"

✓

Actual calculation:

First 70% off: $100 × 0.3 = $30

Second 70% off: $30 × 0.3 = $9

(Total discount = 91%, not 140%!)

✗

Wrong assumption:

$100 - 70% - 70% = -$40 ← Impossible!

The Math:

\text{Final} = \text{Original} \times (1-d_1) \times (1-d_2)

= $100 × 0.3 × 0.3 = $9

📊 When Percentage Beats Fixed Dollar (and Vice Versa)

Original Price	30% Off	$50 Off	Better Deal
$100	$70	$50 ✓	$50 off wins
$200	$140 ✓	$150	30% off wins
$500	$350 ✓	$450	30% off wins

Breakeven point: For 30% off vs $50 off, they're equal at $166.67. Above that price, percentage discount saves more.

🎯 "Spend $100, Save $20" - Is It Worth It?

😵 Bad Deal Example

You need: $85 worth of items

Minimum for $20 off: $100

So you add: $15 filler items

Net: Spent $15 to "save" $20 = only $5 real savings

✅ Smart Approach

You need: $98 worth of items

Add $2 useful item (socks, snacks)

Net: Spent $2 to save $20 = $18 real savings

Rule: Only "spend to save" if added items cost less than the discount.

Formula Derivations & Reverse Calculations

1. Finding Original Price from Sale Price

Scenario: "An item is 25% off and costs $60. What was the original price?"

Known:

\text{Sale Price} = \text{Original} \times 0.75

Derive:

\text{Original} = \frac{\text{Sale Price}}{0.75}

Answer:

\text{Original} = \frac{\$60}{0.75} = \$80

2. Equivalent Discount Rate for Stacked Discounts

Scenario: "What's the total discount if I get 20% off, then another 15% off?"

\text{Equivalent} = 1 - (1-d_1) \times (1-d_2)

= 1 - (0.8 \times 0.85) = 1 - 0.68 = 0.32

Total discount = 32% (not 35%!)

General formula for n discounts:

\text{Final Price} = \text{Original} \times \prod_{i=1}^{n} (1 - d_i)

Discounts in Retail: Strategies & Tips

For Shoppers

Stack coupons with sales for maximum savings
Compare percentage vs. dollar discounts
Consider bulk purchases for volume discounts
Time purchases around seasonal sales
Use price comparison tools and apps

For Retailers

Use discounts to clear slow-moving inventory
Implement tiered discounts for larger orders
Create urgency with limited-time offers
Balance margin preservation with volume
Test different discount structures

Smart Shopping

Calculate true savings including taxes
Consider quality vs. discount trade-offs
Avoid impulse purchases just for discounts
Set budget limits before shopping sales
Read fine print on discount terms

Understanding Discounts

What is a Discount?

A discount is a reduction from the original price of a product or service. It's often expressed as a percentage or a fixed amount.

Types of Discounts

Common types include percentage off, fixed amount off, and stacked discounts where multiple reductions are applied.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multiply the original price by the discount percentage (as a decimal) to find the savings, then subtract that from the original price.

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