Percentage Calculator
Select a calculation type below
What is a percentage?
A percentage is a number or ratio expressed as a fraction of 100. The word "percent" comes from the Latin per centum, meaning "by the hundred." Percentages are used to express proportions, changes, rates, and comparisons in a standardised, easy-to-understand way.
For example, saying "40% of students passed" means 40 out of every 100 students passed the test — regardless of the actual class size.
Three types of percentage calculation
- Percentage of a number — "What is 15% of 200?" Answer: 30. Used for calculating tips, discounts, and tax.
- What percent is A of B — "30 is what percent of 200?" Answer: 15%. Used for finding scores, ratios, and market share.
- Percentage change — "What is the percentage change from 80 to 100?" Answer: +25%. Used for growth rates, price changes, and performance comparisons.
Percentage formulas
| Calculation | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| X% of Y | (X / 100) × Y | 15% of 200 = 30 |
| A is what % of B | (A / B) × 100 | 30 / 200 × 100 = 15% |
| % change from A to B | ((B − A) / A) × 100 | (100−80)/80 × 100 = 25% |
| % increase | ((New − Old) / Old) × 100 | Positive result |
| % decrease | ((Old − New) / Old) × 100 | Negative result |
Real-world examples
| Situation | Calculation | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 15% tip on a $60 meal | 15% of 60 | $9.00 |
| 20% off a $150 item | 20% of 150 = 30, then 150 − 30 | $120.00 |
| Score: 45 out of 60 | 45 / 60 × 100 | 75% |
| Salary rise: $50k to $55k | (55000−50000)/50000 × 100 | 10% increase |
| 8.5% sales tax on $200 | 8.5% of 200 | $17.00 tax |
Frequently asked questions
Multiply the number by the percentage and divide by 100. For example, 20% of 350 = (20 × 350) / 100 = 70. Or simply multiply by the decimal: 0.20 × 350 = 70.
Percentage change is the general term covering both increases and decreases. A percentage increase specifically means the new value is higher than the original. A percentage decrease means the new value is lower. Both use the same formula: ((new − old) / old) × 100. A positive result is an increase; a negative result is a decrease.
Divide A by B and multiply by 100. For example, "35 is what percent of 140?" → (35 / 140) × 100 = 25%.
Yes. A percentage above 100% is perfectly valid and simply means the part is larger than the whole reference value. For example, if last year's revenue was $100k and this year's is $250k, the change is 150%.
If you know a value after a percentage change, you can find the original by dividing by (1 + the percentage as a decimal). For example, if a price of $120 already includes a 20% markup, the original price was $120 / 1.20 = $100.
How to use the Percentage Calculator
Choose a calculation type
Select from three modes: Type 1 finds a percentage of a number. Type 2 finds what percentage one number is of another. Type 3 calculates percentage change (increase or decrease) between two numbers.
Enter your values
Fill in the required fields for your chosen type. Labels guide you on what each field represents for each calculation mode.
Get instant results
Results appear automatically as you type — no button to press. The formula used is also shown so you understand the calculation.
The three types of percentage calculations
Type 1: What is X% of Y? (Finding a percentage of a number)
Formula: Result = (X ÷ 100) × Y
This is the most common percentage calculation in everyday life:
- Restaurant tip: "What is 15% of Rs. 2,400?" → Rs. 360
- Sales tax: "What is 17% GST on Rs. 5,000?" → Rs. 850
- Discount: "What is 25% off Rs. 8,000?" → Rs. 2,000 discount, Rs. 6,000 final price
- Exam: "What is 60% of 150 total marks?" → 90 passing marks
Type 2: A is what percent of B? (Finding a percentage)
Formula: Percentage = (A ÷ B) × 100
Used when you need to express one number as a proportion of another:
- Exam score: "I got 72 out of 90 marks — what percentage is that?" → 80%
- Budget tracking: "I spent Rs. 12,000 out of a Rs. 50,000 budget — what percent?" → 24%
- Attendance: "Attended 28 out of 35 classes — what is my attendance percentage?" → 80%
Type 3: Percentage change from A to B (Increase or decrease)
Formula: Change = ((B − A) ÷ A) × 100
Used to measure growth, decline, or price changes:
- Salary raise: Salary went from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 72,000 → 20% increase
- Price drop: Product reduced from Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 3,600 → 20% decrease
- Revenue growth: Sales went from Rs. 800,000 to Rs. 950,000 → 18.75% increase
- Weight loss: Weight dropped from 90 kg to 81 kg → 10% decrease
Common percentage calculations in Pakistani daily life
GST (General Sales Tax)
Standard GST in Pakistan is 17% on most goods and services. To calculate GST on any amount: multiply by 0.17. To find the GST-inclusive price: multiply by 1.17. To extract GST from a GST-inclusive price: divide by 1.17 and subtract the original.
Bank interest and profit rates
Pakistani banks offer profit rates on savings accounts and fixed deposits typically ranging from 15–22% per annum (depending on State Bank of Pakistan policy rate). To calculate annual profit: principal × (rate ÷ 100). For monthly: divide by 12.
Commission and incentives
Sales commissions in Pakistan are typically 2–10% of sales value. A salesperson earning 5% commission on monthly sales of Rs. 500,000 earns Rs. 25,000 in commission. Type 1 calculation handles this directly.
Discount calculation for shopping
Online and retail sales often offer discounts in percentage form. To find the final price after a percentage discount, the quickest method is: Final Price = Original × (1 − Discount/100). A 30% discount on Rs. 3,000: 3,000 × 0.70 = Rs. 2,100.
Percentage points vs percentages — an important distinction
These terms are often confused in financial news and reporting:
- If an interest rate rises from 12% to 15%, it has risen by 3 percentage points
- But the same change is a 25% increase in the rate itself (3 ÷ 12 × 100)
Both statements are correct but describe different things. Financial journalism sometimes uses this ambiguity — be aware of which meaning is intended when reading about rate changes, inflation figures, or policy announcements.
What does "what percent of B is A" mean?
When someone asks "what percent of B is A," they want to know how large A is relative to B, expressed as a percentage. The formula is: (A ÷ B) × 100. For example, "what percent of 200 is 50?" — 50 ÷ 200 × 100 = 25%. A is 25% of B. This is the Type 2 calculation in the tool above.
This phrasing comes up most often when calculating exam scores ("what percent of 90 is 72?"), budget usage ("what percent of Rs. 50,000 is Rs. 12,000?"), and attendance ("what percent of 35 classes is 28?").
How to divide a decimal by a whole number
To divide a decimal by a whole number, divide as you would with whole numbers and place the decimal point in the result directly above where it appears in the dividend. For example: 7.5 ÷ 3 = 2.5. Or 0.84 ÷ 4 = 0.21.
In percentage terms, this comes up when calculating a rate: if something grew by 0.84 over 4 periods, the average rate per period is 0.84 ÷ 4 = 0.21, or 21% per period. The percentage calculator handles decimal inputs directly — just type the decimal into the field.