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. For more percentage tools, try our Percentage Calculator, or see how percentage growth applies to finances with the Compound Interest Calculator.
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.