How to take a percent off a price
Subtract a percent of the price from the price, and do not add stacked discounts into one percent.
Short answer
Savings = price × percent ÷ 100. The sale price is the price minus the savings. Twenty percent off $80 is $16 off, so the price is $64.
One discount, then another
A single discount is one multiplication. If a second discount applies to the already reduced price, run the formula again on $64, not on $80. Ten percent of $64 is $6.40, so the final price is $57.60. Adding 20 and 10 and taking 30% of $80 gives $56, which is a different offer.
Tax is usually calculated after the discount, on the amount you actually pay. This page does not add a sales tax rate because that rate depends on the place of the sale. Take the discounted price into a separate tax step if you need it.
Common mistakes
- Adding sequential discounts into one percent.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do I type it?
- On the percentage calculator, choose “Discount a price.”