Learn how to calculate percentage decrease with the formula, a step-by-step example, and common mistakes to avoid.
Percentage decrease tells you how much a value has dropped, expressed as a percentage of where it started. It is used to describe everything from price reductions and revenue declines to weight loss and falling measurements.
Percentage decrease measures the shrinkage from an original value to a new, smaller value. Like percentage increase, it is always calculated relative to the original value, not the new one.
The result is positive whenever the new value is smaller than the original. If the new value is larger, the same formula produces a negative number, which represents an increase rather than a decrease.
Original Price: $200
New Price: $150
Result: The price decreased by 25%.
A product discount is really just a percentage decrease applied to a price. The same formula works for any quantity that goes down.
| Scenario | Original Value | New Value | Percentage Decrease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product discount | $60 | $45 | 25% |
| Revenue decrease | $50,000 | $42,500 | 15% |
| Weight loss | 180 lbs | 162 lbs | 10% |
| Price reduction | $60 | $45 | 25% |
Note the distinction: “percentage decrease” is the general mathematical concept for any two values, while “discount” specifically refers to a price reduction. Every discount is a percentage decrease, but not every percentage decrease is a discount. For pricing scenarios specifically, see How to Calculate a Discount.
For an instant, error-free result, use the Percentage Decrease Calculator. Enter the original and new values and it calculates the percentage decrease automatically. To calculate growth instead, see How to Calculate Percentage Increase.
Percentage Decrease Calculator
Percentage Decrease = ((Original Value − New Value) ÷ Original Value) × 100. Subtract the new value from the original value, divide by the original value, then multiply by 100.
For quantities that cannot go below zero, such as price, weight, or count, a percentage decrease maxes out at 100%, which happens when the new value is zero. This is different from percentage increase, which has no upper limit.
A discount is a percentage decrease applied specifically to a price in a commercial context. Percentage decrease is the broader mathematical concept and applies to any two values, whether that is a price, a population, a measurement, or a score.
Percentage points measure the raw difference between two percentage figures. Percentage decrease measures that same change relative to the original percentage. A drop from 40% to 30% is 10 percentage points but a 25% decrease.
Percentage decrease cannot be calculated when the original value is zero, because the formula requires dividing by that value.
Find the right tool, or keep reading Brekzy's other guides.