Percentage Decrease Calculator

What this calculator does

Calculate the percent drop from a starting value to a lower new value, with the absolute decrease, the remaining percentage, and the multiplier. For growth, switch to the Percentage Increase Calculator; for shopping discounts use Percent Off.

Formula

% decrease = ((original − new) ÷ original) × 100

multiplier = 1 − (% decrease ÷ 100) · remaining = 100% − % decrease

Variable definitions

• original — Starting value (baseline). Must be greater than zero.
• new — The lower value after the decrease.
• remaining — What fraction of the original is left, expressed as a percent.

Step-by-step calculation

1. Subtract the new value from the original.
2. Divide that difference by the original.
3. Multiply by 100 to express as a percent.
4. The remaining percentage is 100% minus the result.

Worked example

A jacket marked down from $80 to $60:

• Absolute decrease: 80 − 60 = $20
• Percent: 20 ÷ 80 × 100 = 25% decrease
• Remaining: 100% − 25% = 75% of original (multiplier 0.75)

How to use this calculator

1. Enter the original value (the baseline).
2. Enter the new (lower) value.
3. Read the percent decrease, absolute change, and remaining share.

Common mistakes

• Dividing by the new value: the denominator must be the original.
• Calling an increase a decrease: if new > original, switch to the Increase calculator.
• Confusing remaining with decrease: "25% off" leaves 75% to pay, not 25%.

Frequently asked questions