Percentage Increase Calculator
Calculate the percentage increase or decrease between two values. Perfect for comparing prices, salaries, scores, and business metrics.
How to Calculate Percentage Change
Subtract the old value from the new value.
Difference = New Value − Old Value
Divide the difference by the original (old) value.
Ratio = Difference ÷ Old Value
Convert the ratio to a percentage.
Percentage Change = Ratio × 100
((New − Old) ÷ Old) × 100
Worked Examples
Your salary went from 50,000 to 55,000.
(55,000 − 50,000) ÷ 50,000 × 100 = 10% increase
A stock dropped from 200 to 170.
(170 − 200) ÷ 200 × 100 = −15% decrease
Monthly visitors grew from 8,000 to 12,400.
(12,400 − 8,000) ÷ 8,000 × 100 = 55% increase
Your test score improved from 72 to 90.
(90 − 72) ÷ 72 × 100 = 25% increase
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between increase and decrease?
If the new value is higher than the old value, it is an increase (positive percentage). If the new value is lower, it is a decrease (negative percentage).
What if the old value is zero?
Percentage change from zero is mathematically undefined because you cannot divide by zero. The calculator will show a validation message.
Can I calculate change with negative numbers?
Yes, but the result may be counterintuitive. For example, going from −10 to −5 is a 50% increase because the value moved closer to zero.
How is percentage change different from percentage points?
Percentage change is a relative measure (e.g. 10 to 12 is a 20% increase). Percentage points measure the absolute difference (10 to 12 is 2 percentage points).