What is the formula for percentage increase?

The formula is: ((New Value − Original Value) / |Original Value|) × 100. A positive result is an increase; a negative result is a decrease.

Can I calculate a percentage decrease with this tool?

Yes. If the new value is less than the original, the result will be a negative percentage, indicating a decrease.

What happens if the original value is zero?

Division by zero is undefined. If the original value is 0, the calculator will display an error because the percentage change from zero cannot be computed.

Is percentage increase the same as percentage difference?

Not exactly. Percentage increase/decrease is directional (from original to new), while percentage difference is typically the absolute change relative to the average of the two values. This tool calculates directional percent change.

How do I calculate a 20% increase manually?

Multiply the original value by 1.20 to get the new value after a 20% increase. Alternatively, use this calculator by entering the original and computed new value to verify.

Percentage Increase Calculator

Enter an original value and a new value to instantly calculate the percentage increase or decrease between them.

Enter Values

Original Value

The starting or baseline number

New Value

The ending or updated number

Formula

% Change = ((New − Original) / |Original|) × 100

Result

Enter values and click Calculate

Copied!

Summary

This calculator computes the percentage increase or decrease between any two numbers. Enter the original (starting) value and the new (ending) value, and it instantly shows the percent change, the absolute difference, and whether the change is an increase or decrease. It is useful for comparing prices, salaries, statistics, scores, or any numeric measurement over time.

How it works

Enter the original value (the starting number) in the first field.
Enter the new value (the ending number) in the second field.
The calculator instantly computes the percentage change using the formula: ((New − Original) / |Original|) × 100.
A positive result means an increase; a negative result means a decrease.
Use the Copy button to copy the result to your clipboard.

Use cases

Calculate a price increase or discount on a product.
Find out how much a salary or wage changed year over year.
Measure growth in website traffic, revenue, or user counts.
Determine the percentage change in test scores or grades.
Compare population, stock price, or economic figures.
Track fitness progress such as weight or reps lifted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Reviewed by Nham Vu