Percentage Increase Calculator
Calculate percentage increase/decrease between two values, or apply a percentage change to any number.
How Percentage Increase Works
Percentage increase measures how much a value has grown relative to its original amount. The formula is: ((New Value - Old Value) / |Old Value|) x 100. A positive result means an increase, while a negative result means a decrease.
To apply a percentage increase, multiply the original value by (1 + percentage/100). For example, increasing 200 by 15% gives 200 x 1.15 = 230. To apply a decrease, multiply by (1 - percentage/100). Decreasing 200 by 25% gives 200 x 0.75 = 150.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between percentage increase and percentage difference?
Percentage increase compares a new value to an original value with direction (increase or decrease). Percentage difference compares two values without implying which is original, using the average of both as the base: |A - B| / ((A + B) / 2) x 100.
Can percentage increase be more than 100%?
Yes. A percentage increase over 100% means the new value is more than double the original. For example, going from 50 to 150 is a 200% increase, meaning the value tripled.
Why does a 50% increase followed by a 50% decrease not return to the original?
Because the decrease applies to the larger number. Starting at 100, a 50% increase gives 150. Then a 50% decrease of 150 gives 75, not 100. The base changes between operations.
How do I calculate percentage increase in Excel?
Use the formula =(new_value - old_value) / ABS(old_value) * 100. For example, if the old value is in A1 and the new value is in B1, enter =(B1-A1)/ABS(A1)*100 and format as a number.