$
%
Original price$50.00
You save$15.00
You pay$35.00
The split
You pay 70%Saved 30%

Common markdowns

% offYou saveYou pay
10%$5.00$45.00
20%$10.00$40.00
25%$12.50$37.50
33%$16.50$33.50
40%$20.00$30.00
50%$25.00$25.00
70%$35.00$15.00

The formula

F=P(1−p100)F = P\left(1 - \dfrac{p}{100}\right)
P — original price
p — percent off
F — price you pay

How it works

A “percent off” deal takes a share of the price away. Enter the original price and the advertised percentage to see exactly how much you save and what you finally pay — plus a quick table of common markdowns for comparison.

FAQ

What does 30% off actually mean?

It means you pay 70% of the price. On a $50 item, 30% off is $15 saved, so you pay $35. The percentage is always taken from the original price, not the sale price.

Is 50% off the same as half price?

Yes. 50% off leaves exactly half the price. Any percentage above 50% means you pay less than half of the original.

Related calculators
Discount CalculatorSales Tax CalculatorPercentage Calculator

About the percent off calculator

This calculator turns a “percent off” sale sign into real money: how much you save and how much you pay. Stores love round numbers like 20%, 30% or 50% off, but under the pressure of a sale it is easy to misjudge what that means for your wallet. By converting the percentage into an exact amount, it lets you compare deals fairly and double-check the price you are charged at the till.

How to use it

Type the original price and the percent off from the label. The calculator shows the amount you save and the final price straight away. For example, a $50 shirt at 30% off saves $15 and costs $35. The reference table below lists what several common markdowns — 10%, 25%, 50% and more — would cost on the same price, so you can see at a glance how much bigger a deeper discount really is.

The formula

The saving is the price times the rate, S=P⋅p100S = P \cdot \frac{p}{100}, and the price you pay is what remains, F=P(1−p100)F = P\left(1 - \frac{p}{100}\right). Writing it the second way makes clear why 100% off gives a price of zero and why 25% off leaves three quarters of the price. If two offers are combined, multiply the factors instead of adding the percentages — 20% then 10% off is 0.8×0.9=0.720.8 \times 0.9 = 0.72, which is 28% off, not 30%.

Where it is used

Shoppers reach for it during clearance sales, seasonal promotions and online flash deals, while sellers use the same maths to plan markdowns that still leave a profit. Percent-off sums also appear in coupons, loyalty rewards, student and staff discounts, and bulk-order pricing. Combine it with a sales tax calculator for the complete picture: take the percentage off first, then add any tax to reach the amount you will actually hand over.