Percentage Increase Calculator
Find the percentage increase between two numbers, or add a percentage to a number.
Increase = 52 − 40 = 1212 ÷ 40 × 100 = 30%
How to calculate a percentage increase
- Subtract the original value from the new value to get the increase.
- Divide the increase by the original value.
- Multiply by 100.
For example, a price going from 40 to 52: the increase is 12, and 12 ÷ 40 × 100 = 30%.
How to increase a number by a percentage
Turn the percentage into a multiplier by adding it to 1: a 12% increase is × 1.12, a 7.5% increase is × 1.075. Then multiply. Increasing 250 by 12% gives 250 × 1.12 = 280. This one-step method is faster and less error-prone than working out 12% of 250 and adding it on, and it is how the formula is usually written in spreadsheets: =A2*(1+B2).
Examples
| Question | Working | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 40 → 52 | 12 ÷ 40 × 100 | 30% |
| Salary 48,000 → 51,600 | 3,600 ÷ 48,000 × 100 | 7.5% |
| Increase 250 by 12% | 250 × 1.12 | 280 |
Increases don’t cancel out decreases
A 25% fall followed by a 25% rise does not get you back to where you started: 100 → 75 → 93.75. Each percentage applies to a different base. To recover from a 25% fall you need a 33.33% rise. If you know the final figure and the percentage and want the starting point, use the reverse percentage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the percentage increase formula?
Percentage increase = (new value − original value) ÷ original value × 100.
How do I increase a number by a percentage?
Multiply it by (1 + percentage ÷ 100). To increase 250 by 12%, calculate 250 × 1.12 = 280.
How do I calculate a salary increase percentage?
Divide the raise by the old salary and multiply by 100. A salary going from 48,000 to 51,600 is a 3,600 raise, and 3,600 ÷ 48,000 × 100 = 7.5%.
Can a percentage increase be over 100%?
Yes. Doubling is a 100% increase, tripling is 200%. Going from 40 to 100 is a 150% increase.
What if the new number is smaller?
Then it is a decrease, and the formula returns a negative number. Use the percent decrease calculator to express it as a positive percentage drop.