How to calculate a discount
To find the final price after a discount, multiply the original price by the discount percentage divided by 100 to get the discount amount, then subtract that from the original. For example, 25% off $120: discount = $120 × 0.25 = $30; final price = $120 − $30 = $90. This tool does both steps at once and shows the discount amount, final price, and your total savings.
Reverse discount calculation
Sometimes you see a sale price on a tag but want to know what the original price was. If you know the discount percentage, divide the sale price by (1 minus the discount as a decimal). For a $90 item that's 25% off: $90 ÷ 0.75 = $120 original price. Switch to "Sale Price → Original" mode to use this calculation. This is useful for spotting whether a "sale" price is genuinely discounted from the original.
Multiple discounts and stacking
When multiple discounts are applied in sequence, you cannot simply add the percentages. A 20% discount followed by a 10% discount is not the same as 30% off — it actually equals 28% off the original price. To calculate stacked discounts, apply them one at a time: first reduce by 20%, then take 10% off that result. Each discount applies to the already-reduced price, not the original.
Common discount scenarios
This calculator is useful for retail shopping (checking if a "sale" is truly a good deal), business pricing (setting margin-preserving sale prices), coupon calculations, and comparing prices across stores with different discount structures. By bookmarking this tool, you can quickly verify advertised savings while shopping online or in-store.