Calculate Percent Increase or Decrease
Find the percentage change between two values. See if the change is an increase or decrease and by how much.
The Percentage Change Formula
Percentage Change = ((New Value - Old Value) / |Old Value|) × 100. A change from 150 to 180 is: (180-150)/150 × 100 = +20%. A change from 200 to 150 is: (150-200)/200 × 100 = -25%. Note that a 20% increase followed by a 20% decrease does NOT return to the original value — $100 +20% = $120, then $120 -20% = $96. This asymmetry catches many people off guard.
Percentage Change vs Percentage Points
These are different concepts that are frequently confused. If an interest rate goes from 5% to 7%, that is a 2 percentage point increase but a 40% percentage change (2/5 × 100). Media headlines often mix these up. "Unemployment rose 2%" could mean from 5% to 7% (2 points) or from 5% to 5.1% (2% of 5%). Always clarify which is meant when precision matters.
Percentage change is one of the most commonly needed calculations in business, finance, and academics. "Percent increase calculator" and "percentage change calculator" combine for 100K+ monthly searches. Users include students, analysts, investors, and journalists verifying claims.
