Percentage Increase Calculator
Enter the old value and the new value to get the percentage change between them — the number behind salary negotiations ('a 5% raise'), price tracking ('eggs up 30%'), fitness PRs and revenue reports. If the value went down instead of up, the calculator says so automatically: the answer becomes a percentage decrease.
The formula is (new − old) ÷ old × 100. A raise from $50,000 to $55,000 is (55,000 − 50,000) ÷ 50,000 × 100 = 10%. Enter any two numbers below and the working is shown line by line, so you can sanity-check the math.
How to use
- Type the original (old) value in the first box.
- Type the new value in the second — the percentage change appears instantly.
- Read whether it is an increase or decrease; check the formula line to verify the working.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate percentage increase?
Subtract the old value from the new value, divide by the old value, and multiply by 100. From 40 to 50: (50 − 40) ÷ 40 × 100 = 25% increase.
What is the difference between percentage increase and percentage points?
Percentage points compare two percentages directly (from 10% to 15% is 5 percentage points), while percentage increase is relative (10% to 15% is a 50% increase). News headlines mix them up constantly.
Why is my percentage decrease bigger than the matching increase?
Because the base changes direction: going from 100 to 80 is a 20% decrease, but 80 back to 100 is a 25% increase — the second step divides by the smaller number. This asymmetry is normal, not a bug.
Can the result be more than 100%?
Yes. A value that doubles (50 to 100) is a 100% increase; tripling is 200%. Anything over 100% simply means the value more than doubled.