Discount Calculator
Find the sale price and your savings for any discount percentage.
The Formula
Sale Price = Original − Savings
Savings = $120 × 0.35 = $42
Sale price = $78
How to Calculate a Discount
Multiply the original price by the discount percentage (as a decimal) to get the savings amount. Subtract that from the original price for the final sale price. Our calculator does this instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate 20% off a price?
Multiply the original price by 0.20 to get the discount amount, then subtract from the original. A $75 item at 20% off: $75 x 0.20 = $15 savings, so the sale price is $60. Alternatively, multiply by 0.80 (which is 1 - 0.20) to get the sale price directly: $75 x 0.80 = $60.
How do I calculate the original price from a discounted price?
Divide the sale price by (1 minus the discount percentage). If an item is $63 after a 30% discount: $63 / (1 - 0.30) = $63 / 0.70 = $90 original price. This reverse calculation is useful when you see a sale price and want to know what the item cost before.
What is the difference between discount and markdown?
In retail, a discount is typically a temporary price reduction for a sale or promotion. A markdown is a permanent reduction in the retail price, often because the item is being cleared out or is end-of-season. From a buyer's perspective, both result in a lower price, but markdowns tend to be steeper.
Are Black Friday deals actually good?
Some are, some are not. Research consistently shows that many Black Friday prices are not actually the lowest of the year — some items are cheaper during other sales, and some original prices are temporarily inflated before Black Friday to make the discount look bigger. The best approach: track prices on items you actually want for several weeks before Black Friday and compare.
How do coupon stacking and promo codes work?
Most retailers apply discounts sequentially rather than combining them. A 20% off coupon applied to a $100 item gives $80, then a $10 off coupon gives $70. Some stores restrict stacking, allowing only one discount per order. Always read the fine print. Some credit cards also offer cash back on top of sale prices, which is another layer of effective discount.