Calculator
Percentage Calculator
Three of the most common percentage questions, solved instantly.
Three percentage questions, three formulas
"Percentage" questions usually come in one of three shapes, and mixing them up is the most common source of percentage mistakes: finding a percentage of a number, finding what percentage one number is of another, and finding the percentage change between two numbers. Each uses a different formula.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find X% of Y?
Multiply Y by X divided by 100 — for example, 15% of 200 is (15/100) × 200 = 30. This is the formula for the first calculator above: "what is X% of Y?"
How do I find what percent X is of Y?
Divide X by Y, then multiply by 100 — for example, 30 is what percent of 200? (30/200) × 100 = 15%. This is the reverse direction of the first question, and it's easy to accidentally divide the wrong way around.
What's the difference between percentage change and percentage points?
Percentage change is relative: going from 80 to 100 is a 25% increase ((100-80)/80 × 100). Percentage points are absolute: going from 80% to 100% is a 20 percentage point increase. Mixing these up is a common source of confusion, especially in news reporting about rates or interest.
Why is my percentage change negative?
A negative result means the "to" value is smaller than the "from" value — the calculator shows a decrease. Going from 100 to 80, for example, is a -20% change, since (80-100)/100 × 100 = -20.