Discount Calculator
Handles stacked discounts correctly. Two 20 percent discounts are not 40 percent off — the second applies to the already-reduced price, which is a distinction retailers rely on.
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Stacked discounts multiply, they do not add
Thirty percent off followed by an extra twenty percent off is not fifty percent off. The second discount applies to seventy percent of the original, so the combined effect is forty-four percent. The gap widens as the discounts get larger.
The total-discount figure above shows the genuine combined percentage, which is usually smaller than the sum of the parts and always worth checking before assuming a bargain.
Discounts are quoted against a reference price
A percentage off means nothing without knowing what it is off. Prices are sometimes raised before a sale, or compared against a manufacturer's suggested price that nobody charges. The useful question is not how large the discount is, but what the final price is compared with what others charge.
Tax applies after the discount
Sales tax is calculated on what you actually pay, not the original ticket price, so a discount reduces the tax too. This calculator applies it in that order.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a percentage off?
Multiply the price by the discount and subtract, or multiply by (100 minus the discount) over 100. Thirty percent off $120 is $120 times 0.7, which is $84.
Do stacked discounts add together?
No. Each applies to the remaining price. Thirty percent then twenty percent is forty-four percent off in total, not fifty.
Is tax charged on the original or the sale price?
On the sale price. You are taxed on what you actually pay.