How to Use Our Discount Calculator
Quickly find the final price by entering a few key details. The calculator can also handle more complex scenarios like stacked coupons and local taxes.
Original Price ($): Enter the full price of the item before any sales or promotions are applied (the “sticker price”).
Discount (%): Input the primary discount percentage being offered (e.g., 30% off).
Additional Discount (%): (Optional) Use this field if you have a second coupon or discount (e.g., an extra 10% off for members).
Sales Tax (%): (Optional) Enter your local sales tax rate to calculate your total out-the-door cost.
Understanding Your Results
The calculator provides two simple, clear outputs: the exact amount you will pay and the total amount you saved. Here is how we get those numbers.
The formulas used are straightforward:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate a percentage off of a price?
You can do it in two simple steps:
Convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing it by 100. (e.g., 25% becomes 0.25).
Multiply the original price by the decimal to find the discount amount. Then subtract that from the original price.
Concrete Example: To find 25% off of $80:
How do I calculate multiple discounts? (e.g., 30% off + an extra 15% off)
You do not add the percentages together (30% + 15% ≠ 45% off). Discounts must be applied sequentially.
Concrete Example: For a $100 item with 30% off and an extra 15% off coupon:
Apply the first discount: $100 - (30% of $100) = $100 - $30 = $70
Apply the second discount to the new price: $70 - (15% of $70) = $70 - $10.50 = $59.50 The final price is $59.50. This represents a total effective discount of 40.5%, not 45%. Our calculator does this sequential calculation for you automatically.
Is the discount applied before or after sales tax?
Discounts are always applied to the item’s price before sales tax is calculated. Sales tax is calculated on the final, discounted subtotal. This works in your favor as a consumer because you end up paying less tax.
Example: For a $100 item with a 10% discount and 8% tax:
Correct way: ($100 - $10 discount) = $90. Tax is $90 × 0.08 = $7.20. Final Price: $97.20.
Incorrect way: ($100 + $8 tax) = $108. Discount is $108 × 0.10 = $10.80. Final Price: $97.20. Although the price is the same in this simple case, the logic and accounting are different, and for complex sales, applying tax first is incorrect.
What is the difference between “50% off” and “Buy One, Get One 50% Off”?
These are very different deals. “50% off” is a straight discount on one item. A “Buy One, Get One 50% Off” (BOGO 50%) deal requires you to buy two items to get the discount.
Example: For an item that costs $40:
50% Off: You pay $20 for one item.
BOGO 50%: You pay $40 for the first item and $20 for the second. You’ve spent $60 for two items. The effective discount across both items is only 25% ($20 savings / $80 total original price).
As a business owner, how do I offer discounts without destroying my profit margin?
Smart discounting can drive sales, but you must be strategic.
Set a Minimum Purchase: Offer “15% off orders over $75” to increase the average transaction value.
Discount Slow-Moving Inventory: Use discounts to clear out old stock and make room for new, more profitable items.
Bundle Items: Create a bundle of a high-margin product with a low-margin product to maintain a healthy overall margin on the sale.
Use as a Lead Generator: Offer a small discount on a customer’s first purchase to get them in the door, with the goal of selling them higher-margin items in the future.
How can I tell if a sale is actually a good deal?
A “percent off” sign can create a false sense of urgency. Before you buy, ask yourself:
Would I buy this if it wasn’t on sale? This helps separate genuine need from impulse buying.
What is the final price? Ignore the percentage and focus on the dollar amount. Is that final price a good value for the item?
Is it cheaper elsewhere? Do a quick online search to see if another retailer’s regular price is still lower than this “sale” price.
Take the Next Step in Your Financial Decisions
Now that you’ve calculated the discount, see how it fits into your bigger financial picture.
As a business owner, see how this discount affects your profitability with our Margin Calculator.
As a shopper, make sure this purchase fits into your monthly spending plan with our 50/30/20 Budget Calculator.
Comparing prices in different states or cities? Quickly figure out the total cost with our Sales Tax Calculator.
