Percentage Change Calculator
Find the percent increase or decrease between an old and a new value.
About this percentage change calculator
Percentage change tells you how much something grew or shrank relative to where it started. It's how prices, salaries, website traffic, stock values and sales figures are compared over time. A rise from 80 to 100 is a 25% increase, but a fall from 100 back to 80 is only a 20% decrease, because the starting point is different.
The calculator also shows the absolute difference and the symmetric percentage difference, which is used when neither value is clearly the "original".
How to use the Percentage Change Calculator
- Enter the original value.
- Enter the new value.
- Read the percentage increase or decrease.
The percentage change formula
% change = (New − Old) ÷ |Old| × 100
A positive result is an increase and a negative result a decrease. Percentage difference uses the average of the two values as the base: |A − B| ÷ ((|A| + |B|) ÷ 2) × 100.
Worked example
Sales went from 80 to 100 units: (100 − 80) ÷ 80 × 100 = 25% increase. If they fall back to 80: (80 − 100) ÷ 100 × 100 = 20% decrease.
Tips for better results
- A 50% drop needs a 100% gain to recover — always check which value is the base.
- For growth over several years, use the CAGR calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between percentage change and percentage points?
If a rate moves from 4% to 5%, that is a 1 percentage point increase but a 25% percentage change.
Can percentage change be more than 100%?
Yes. Going from 50 to 150 is a 200% increase.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Results are calculated in your browser.