How to Calculate Percentage Increase
Learn how to measure growth from an original value to a new value with the correct percentage increase formula.
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Percentage increase in plain English
Percentage increase measures how much something has grown compared with where it started. It is the right choice when you know an original value and a new value.
Examples include sales growth, price increases, subscriber growth, and salary changes.
Formula
Use this formula:
- ((new value - original value) / original value) × 100
Example
If a value moves from 100 to 120, the increase is 20. Divide 20 by 100 and multiply by 100 to get 20%.
If the new value is lower than the original value, the same formula produces a negative percentage change, which indicates a decrease.
Common mistakes
The Percentage Calculator handles these checks automatically and explains invalid inputs clearly.
- Using the new value as the denominator instead of the original value.
- Confusing percentage increase with percentage difference.
- Forgetting that the original value cannot be zero for this formula.
FAQ
What if the new value is smaller than the original value?
The result is a negative percentage change, which means the value decreased.
Can I calculate percentage increase with decimals?
Yes. Decimals are supported as long as the original value is not zero.
