To calculate percentage increase, subtract the original value from the new value, divide the increase by the original value, and multiply by 100. For example, when a value rises from 80 to 100, the increase is 20. Dividing 20 by 80 and multiplying by 100 gives a percentage increase of 25%.
Use the Percentage Calculator on the homepage to enter your values, calculate the percentage relationship, and verify each step.
A rise from 80 to 100 is an increase of 20. That increase is compared with the original value of 80.
What Percentage Increase Means
Percentage increase shows how much a value has grown relative to its original value. It does not merely describe the numerical amount added. It expresses that increase as a share of the starting amount.
For example, an increase of 20 may be large when the original value is 40 but relatively small when the original value is 1,000. Percentage increase makes those changes comparable.
This calculation is commonly used for prices, salaries, traffic, sales, population, production, investment values, test scores, and business performance.
Percentage Increase Formula
Begin by subtracting the original value from the new value. This gives the numerical increase.
Divide the increase by the original value because the original amount is the reference point for the change.
Multiply the decimal result by 100 to convert it into percentage form.
Worked Example: Increase from 80 to 100
Suppose a value rises from 80 to 100. Subtract the original value from the new value: 100 − 80 = 20.
Divide the increase by the original value: 20 ÷ 80 = 0.25.
Multiply by 100. The percentage increase is 25%.
Step 1: Identify the Original Value
The original value is the amount before the increase happened. It is sometimes called the starting value, previous value, old value, initial amount, or baseline.
Choosing the correct original value is essential because it becomes the denominator in the percentage increase formula.
When comparing sales from one year to the next, the earlier year's sales are normally the original value.
Step 2: Find the Numerical Increase
Subtract the original value from the new value. A positive answer confirms that the value increased.
If a product price changes from $50 to $62, the numerical increase is $12.
This difference alone does not show the relative size of the change. The next step compares it with the original amount.
Step 3: Divide by the Original Value
Divide the numerical increase by the original value. This measures how large the increase is compared with where the value started.
For the price change from $50 to $62, divide $12 by $50. The result is 0.24.
Using the new value as the denominator would answer a different question and produce an incorrect percentage increase.
Step 4: Convert the Result to a Percentage
Multiply the decimal ratio by 100. The decimal 0.24 becomes 24%.
A price rise from $50 to $62 is therefore a 24% increase.
Keep several decimal places during the calculation when the division does not produce a simple result, then round at the end.
How to Calculate Percentage Increase on a Calculator
Enter the new value minus the original value, divide the result by the original value, and multiply by 100.
For an increase from 120 to 150, enter (150 − 120) ÷ 120 × 100. The result is 25%.
You can also use the Percentage Calculator on the homepage to calculate the percentage relationship and check the figures.
Price Increase Example
Suppose a monthly subscription rises from $24 to $30. The increase is $6.
Divide $6 by the original price of $24 to get 0.25. Multiply by 100 to get 25%.
The subscription price increased by 25%, even though the numerical increase was only $6.
Salary Increase Example
Suppose an annual salary rises from $48,000 to $51,600. The numerical increase is $3,600.
Divide $3,600 by $48,000 to get 0.075. Multiplying by 100 gives 7.5%.
The salary increased by 7.5%.
Traffic or Sales Growth Example
If monthly website visits rise from 20,000 to 27,000, the increase is 7,000 visits.
Divide 7,000 by 20,000 and multiply by 100. The percentage increase is 35%.
The same approach can be used for orders, leads, revenue, subscribers, or production output.
Percentage Increase vs Percentage of the Original
A new value may be expressed as a percentage of the original value, but that is not the same as percentage increase.
When 80 rises to 100, the new value is 125% of the original. The percentage increase is 25%.
The first result includes the original 100%, while the second reports only the amount added above the original.
Percentage Increase Greater Than 100%
A percentage increase can exceed 100% when the amount added is greater than the original value.
If a value rises from 40 to 100, the increase is 60. Dividing 60 by 40 and multiplying by 100 gives 150%.
The new value is 250% of the original, while the increase itself is 150%.
What Happens When the Original Value Is Zero
The normal percentage increase formula cannot be used when the original value is zero because division by zero is undefined.
A change from zero to a positive number is a real increase, but it does not have a standard finite percentage increase.
In reports, it may be clearer to show the numerical change and explain that no percentage increase can be calculated from a zero baseline.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is dividing by the new value instead of the original value.
Another mistake is reporting the new value as a percentage of the original and calling that number the percentage increase.
Using the absolute difference without considering whether the value rose or fell can also confuse percentage increase with percentage difference.
Conclusion
To calculate percentage increase, find the increase, divide it by the original value, and multiply by 100.
Always use the original amount as the reference value and round only after completing the calculation.
Use the Percentage Calculator to compare your values and verify the percentage result.
Related percentage guides
FAQs
What is the formula for percentage increase?
Subtract the original value from the new value, divide by the original value, and multiply by 100.
What is the percentage increase from 80 to 100?
The increase is 20. Divide 20 by 80 and multiply by 100. The percentage increase is 25%.
Why do I divide by the original value?
The original value is the baseline against which the increase is measured.
Can percentage increase be more than 100%?
Yes. It exceeds 100% when the amount added is greater than the original value.
Can I calculate percentage increase from zero?
No standard finite percentage increase can be calculated because the formula would require division by zero.