Discount Calculator

Calculate sale prices, savings, and stacked discounts instantly

Instant results | Free to use

Calculate Discount

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Stacked Discounts (Double Discount)

Apply multiple discounts sequentially — like a store sale + coupon code

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Find Original Price (Reverse Discount)

Sale price is
$
after % off =
original price

Shopping Tips

  • A 50% discount means you pay half the original price
  • Stacked discounts are applied sequentially, not added
  • Sales tax is usually applied after the discount
  • To quickly find 10% off, move the decimal one place left

Quick Reference ($100 item)

  • 10% off $90.00
  • 15% off $85.00
  • 20% off $80.00
  • 25% off $75.00
  • 30% off $70.00
  • 40% off $60.00
  • 50% off $50.00
  • 75% off $25.00

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How to Calculate Discounts: Complete Guide

Master discount calculations for smarter shopping

1

Calculate the Discount Amount

Multiply the original price by the discount percentage, then divide by 100.

Discount Amount = Original Price × (Discount % ÷ 100)

Example: 30% off $80 → $80 × 0.30 = $24 savings

2

Calculate the Sale Price

Subtract the discount amount from the original price.

Sale Price = Original Price - Discount Amount

Example: $80 - $24 = $56 sale price

3

Add Tax if Applicable

In most regions, sales tax is calculated on the discounted price, not the original price.

Final Price = Sale Price × (1 + Tax Rate ÷ 100)

Example: $56 with 8% tax → $56 × 1.08 = $60.48 total

How Stacked Discounts Work

Why two 20% discounts are not the same as 40% off

Stacked discounts (also called compound or successive discounts) occur when multiple discounts are applied one after another. A common scenario is a store-wide sale combined with a coupon code, or a loyalty discount on top of a seasonal sale.

The key principle is that the second discount applies to the already-reduced price, not the original price. This means stacked discounts always result in a smaller total discount than simply adding the percentages.

Wrong Way (Adding)

$100 with "20% + 10% off" treated as 30%:

$100 × 0.70 = $70

This is incorrect and overstates the discount

Correct Way (Sequential)

$100 × 0.80 = $80 (after 20% off)

$80 × 0.90 = $72 (after 10% off)

Effective discount: 28%, not 30%

Types of Discounts Explained

Understanding different discount types helps you identify the best deals

Percentage Discount

The most common type. A fixed percentage is taken off the original price. Examples: "30% off", "Buy at 75% of MRP". The savings amount varies with the price of the item.

Fixed Amount Discount

A specific dollar amount is deducted. Examples: "$10 off", "$25 coupon". These offer better value on cheaper items and worse value on expensive ones compared to percentage discounts.

BOGO (Buy One Get One)

"Buy one get one free" is effectively a 50% discount on two items. "Buy one get one 50% off" is a 25% discount on two items. Always calculate the per-item savings to compare with other offers.

Bulk / Tiered Discount

Increasing discounts for larger quantities. For example: 10% off 2+ items, 15% off 5+ items, 20% off 10+ items. Common in wholesale and B2B sales.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about discounts and sale prices

To find the discount percentage: Discount % = ((Original Price - Sale Price) ÷ Original Price) × 100. For example, if an item originally cost $80 and is now $56: ((80 - 56) ÷ 80) × 100 = 30% discount.
Divide the sale price by (1 - discount/100). For example, if you paid $56 after a 30% discount: Original Price = $56 ÷ (1 - 0.30) = $56 ÷ 0.70 = $80.
In most jurisdictions, sales tax is applied after the discount. This means you pay tax only on the discounted price, not the original price. For example, a $100 item at 20% off with 8% tax: Sale price = $80, Tax = $80 × 0.08 = $6.40, Total = $86.40.
Because each subsequent discount is applied to the already-reduced price, not the original price. A 20% discount followed by a 10% discount on a $100 item: $100 × 0.80 = $80, then $80 × 0.90 = $72. The effective discount is 28%, not 30%.
Yes! Saying "20% off" is the same as saying "you pay 80% of the original price." The math: Original × (1 - 0.20) = Original × 0.80. Both give you the same sale price.
Simply move the decimal point one place to the left. For example, 10% of $85 = $8.50. From there, you can easily derive other percentages: 5% = half of 10%, 20% = double 10%, 15% = 10% + 5%.
It depends on the price. For expensive items, a percentage discount often saves more money. For cheaper items, a flat dollar discount might be better. Compare: 20% off a $50 item saves $10, but a "$15 off" coupon saves $15 on the same item.