Discount Calculator

How to use Discount Calculator

1. Enter the original price.
2. Enter the main discount percentage, and an optional extra discount such as a coupon applied afterwards.
3. Enter a sales tax or VAT percentage if it is added at the checkout.
4. Read the final price, total savings, and the effective combined discount.

The maths of percentage discounts

A discount of d percent leaves you paying (100 - d) percent of the price, so the sale price equals the original multiplied by (1 - d / 100). The amount saved is the original minus the sale price. These simple relations hide a few traps, particularly when discounts are combined.

Because each percentage is taken from the current price, stacking two discounts means multiplying their remaining fractions. A 30 percent discount followed by a 20 percent coupon leaves 70 percent multiplied by 80 percent, which is 56 percent of the original, so the effective discount is 44 percent, not 50.

Thinking about real savings

A big percentage is only a bargain if you wanted the item and the original price was fair. Compare final prices rather than discount labels, because a higher starting price can make a larger discount look better than a lower everyday price elsewhere. Check unit prices when sizes differ, and watch for conditions such as minimum spend or excluded items.

The savings figure shown here is before tax. Because tax is charged on the smaller discounted price, you also pay less tax, so the difference at the checkout is slightly larger than the pre-tax saving.

Handy scenarios

• Check a sale tag against a store coupon before you reach the till.
• Compare a percentage discount with a fixed amount off.
• Work out the maximum you can spend and still stay within budget.
• Verify an invoice that shows a trade discount plus a prompt-payment discount.
• Estimate the final price of an online order with VAT.

Limits

The calculator handles two sequential percentage discounts and one tax rate. It does not handle buy-one-get-one offers, tiered discounts or rounding rules used by specific stores, so a receipt may differ by a few cents.

Why use this discount calculator tool

• Stacked discounts. Calculates a second discount on the already reduced price, the way most shops apply coupons.
• Tax included. Add sales tax or VAT to see what you will actually pay.
• Savings at a glance. See the money saved and the real combined percentage off.
• Step-by-step prices. Shows the price after each stage, so you can verify the receipt.

Frequently asked questions

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