Percentage Decrease Calculator
Measure how far a number fell — a discounted price, a drop in traffic, a reduced budget — with the working written out underneath. Enter the original and the new value and the signed percentage change appears instantly.
Plain English
How it works
- Subtract the new value from the original value to get the fall.
- Divide that fall by the original value.
- Multiply by 100 — the answer is shown as a negative change here so the direction is unambiguous.
See it in action
Worked examples
Price dropped from $100 to $75
- Find the fall: 100 − 75 = 25
- Divide by the original price: 25 ÷ 100 = 0.25
- Multiply by 100: 0.25 × 100 = 25%
Answer: 25% decrease
Checking a clearance-sale discount, or reporting a price cut on a subscription plan.
Weight loss from 200 lbs to 160 lbs
- Find the fall: 200 − 160 = 40
- Divide by the original weight: 40 ÷ 200 = 0.2
- Multiply by 100: 0.2 × 100 = 20%
Answer: 20% decrease
Tracking a fitness or weight-loss goal as a percentage of your starting weight.
Temperature decreased from 80°F to 60°F
- Find the fall: 80 − 60 = 20
- Divide by the original temperature: 20 ÷ 80 = 0.25
- Multiply by 100: 0.25 × 100 = 25%
Answer: 25% decrease
Note: percentage change on temperatures is mathematically valid but rarely meaningful, since Fahrenheit is an arbitrary scale. Useful for relative sensor readings, not weather reporting.
Unemployment fell from 8% to 6%
- Find the fall: 8 − 6 = 2
- Divide by the original rate: 2 ÷ 8 = 0.25
- Multiply by 100: 0.25 × 100 = 25%
Answer: 25% decrease (a 2 percentage-point drop)
Economic reporting — remember the difference between a 25% relative decrease and a 2 percentage-point absolute drop.
Discount from $50 to $35
- Find the fall: 50 − 35 = 15
- Divide by the original price: 15 ÷ 50 = 0.3
- Multiply by 100: 0.3 × 100 = 30%
Answer: 30% decrease
Working out the percentage off when you only see the “was/now” prices on a tag.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
What is the percentage decrease formula?
(Original − New) ÷ Original × 100. This calculator shows it as a signed percentage change.
Can a decrease be more than 100%?
Only if the new value is negative. Otherwise the maximum possible fall is 100%, which means down to zero.
How do I reverse a decrease?
Divide the reduced value by (1 − rate ÷ 100). A price of 180 after 28% off was originally 180 ÷ 0.72 = 250.
Is a discount the same as a percentage decrease?
Yes — a discount is a percentage decrease applied to a price. The discount calculator adds the amount saved and stacked offers.
Keep going