Find the percentage increase between any two numbers instantly. Enter your original and new value — get the result with full step-by-step working.
Enter the original (old) value and the new (higher) value to find the percentage increase between them.
Enter the original value and the percentage increase to find the new value after the increase.
Enter the new value and the percentage it was increased by to reverse-calculate the original value.
A percentage increase tells you by what percentage a value has grown from its original amount. It is one of the most widely used percentage calculations in everyday life — from salary negotiations and investment returns to retail price changes and academic score improvements. Knowing how to calculate percentage increase gives you the power to understand and communicate growth clearly.
% Increase = ((New Value − Original Value) ÷ Original Value) × 100
The formula always divides by the original value — this is the reference point. The result is positive when the new value is greater than the original. If the new value is smaller, the result will be negative, which means it is actually a percentage decrease.
Question: Your salary increased from $48,000 to $57,600. What is the percentage increase?
Step 1: Difference = $57,600 − $48,000 = $9,600
Step 2: Divide by original: $9,600 ÷ $48,000 = 0.20
Step 3: Multiply by 100: 0.20 × 100 = 20% increase
Question: A product's price went from $35 to $42. What is the percentage increase?
Step 1: Difference = $42 − $35 = $7
Step 2: Divide: $7 ÷ $35 = 0.20
Step 3: Multiply: 0.20 × 100 = 20% increase
If you know the original value and the percentage increase, and want to find what the new value will be, use this reverse formula:
New Value = Original Value × (1 + % Increase ÷ 100)
New Value = $250 × (1 + 12 ÷ 100) = $250 × 1.12 = $280
If you know the final (new) value and the percentage it was increased by, you can work backwards to find the original value. This is especially useful in retail pricing, VAT calculations, and financial analysis:
Original Value = New Value ÷ (1 + % Increase ÷ 100)
Original = $345 ÷ (1 + 15 ÷ 100) = $345 ÷ 1.15 = $300
| Use Case | Original Value | New Value | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary raise | $50,000/yr | $55,000/yr | 10% |
| Product price hike | $80 | $100 | 25% |
| Exam score improvement | 60 marks | 75 marks | 25% |
| Monthly sales growth | $12,000 | $15,000 | 25% |
| Website traffic growth | 4,000 visits | 5,200 visits | 30% |
| Investment portfolio growth | $10,000 | $12,500 | 25% |
Percentage increase is a specific type of percentage change — it applies only when the new value is greater than the original. If the new value is lower, you have a percentage decrease. The percentage change calculator handles both directions automatically and will label the result as an increase or decrease for you.
Percentage difference is different from percentage increase. The percentage difference between two values has no directional reference point — it uses the average of both values as the base. Use percentage increase when you have a clear "before and after" scenario. Use percentage difference when comparing two independent values of equal standing (e.g., two lab measurements).
Always divide by the original value, not the new value. A common mistake is dividing by the new value, which gives an incorrect result. The original value is always the denominator in the percentage increase formula. For large datasets, tools like Microsoft Excel's percentage formulas or our calculator above are the most reliable approach.
Another important note: a percentage increase is not the same as adding that percentage of the new value back. For example, a 25% increase followed by a 25% decrease does not return you to the original value — it returns you to 93.75% of the original. This is why percentage changes are not symmetrical and why you should use a dedicated percentage calculator for multi-step calculations.
Common questions about calculating percentage increases
Use the formula: % Increase = ((New Value − Original Value) ÷ Original Value) × 100. For example, if a price goes from $50 to $65: ((65 − 50) ÷ 50) × 100 = 30%. Use the calculator above for instant results with step-by-step working.
The formula is: % Increase = ((New Value − Original Value) ÷ Original Value) × 100. Always divide by the original (old) value — not the new value. The result will be positive for an increase and negative for a decrease.
Formula: New Value = Original Value × (1 + % Increase ÷ 100). Example: increase $500 by 20% → $500 × 1.20 = $600. Use the "Find New Value" tab in the calculator above to do this instantly.
Use the reverse formula: Original Value = New Value ÷ (1 + % Increase ÷ 100). Example: a product costs $138 after a 15% increase → $138 ÷ 1.15 = $120. Use the "Find Original Value" tab above.
Percentage increase specifically refers to growth (positive change). Percentage change covers both increases and decreases — if the result is positive it's an increase; if negative it's a decrease. Both use the same formula but percentage change labels the direction automatically.
Yes — a percentage increase can exceed 100%. If a value doubles, that is a 100% increase. If it triples, that is a 200% increase. There is no upper cap on the percentage increase value. For example, a share price going from $5 to $35 represents a 600% increase.
Yes, exactly. A 50% increase means you add 50% of the original to itself, which is the same as multiplying by 1.50. In general, an X% increase = multiplying by (1 + X/100). A 25% increase = × 1.25, a 100% increase = × 2.00, a 200% increase = × 3.00.