Percentage Change Calculator
Formula
% Change = (New − Old) ÷ Old × 100
Positive result = increase. Negative result = decrease. This handles both directions in one calculator.
How to use
- Enter the starting figure in the Old Value field.
- Enter the ending figure in the New Value field.
- Read the % change (positive is up, negative is down).
Example
Going from an Old Value of 80 to a New Value of 100: (100 - 80) / 80 x 100 = 25%, a 25% increase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the percentage change from 80 to 100?
(100-80)/80 × 100 = 25% increase.
How is percentage change different from percentage points?
Percentage change measures relative movement, while a percentage point is an absolute difference between two percentages. If an interest rate rises from 4% to 6%, that is a 2 percentage point increase but a 50% percentage change. Mixing up the two is a common source of confusion in news reports about rates and poll numbers.
Should I use absolute change or percentage change?
Absolute change tells you the raw difference, such as a price going up by $20, while percentage change shows how big that move is relative to the starting value. A $20 increase is huge on a $40 item (50%) but tiny on a $4,000 item (0.5%). Percentage change is best for comparing movements across items of very different sizes.