Buying decisions

Discount Calculator

Calculate a sale price from the original price and discount percentage, then see the savings and effective discount. Use it for single discounts, stacked promotions, and checking whether a deal is really worth it.

Last reviewed May 14, 2026 by ToolSpilo Editorial Team.

Review method: Reviewed against standard percentage-discount and sequential-discount math; weak one-paragraph explanation was restructured without changing calculator intent.

Calculator tool

How this calculator works

Use the explanation to understand the formula, assumptions, and practical limits behind the calculator result.

What This Calculator Does

A discount calculator turns an original price and a discount percentage into the final sale price and savings amount. It is useful for shopping, quote checks, markdown planning, and checking whether a promoted saving is real.

Basic Discount Formula

Savings=Original price×Discount rate100\text{Savings} = \text{Original price} \times \frac{\text{Discount rate}}{100}
Final price=Original price−Savings\text{Final price} = \text{Original price} - \text{Savings}

Example: original price 120, discount 25%.

Savings=120×0.25=30\text{Savings} = 120 \times 0.25 = 30

Final price=120−30=90\text{Final price} = 120 - 30 = 90

Stacked Discounts

Stacked discounts multiply; they do not add. A 20% discount followed by a 10% coupon means you pay 0.80×0.90=0.720.80 \times 0.90 = 0.72 of the original price, so the total discount is 28%, not 30%.

Reverse Discount

If you know the final price and discount rate, recover the original price with:

Original price=Final price1−Discount rate\text{Original price} = \frac{\text{Final price}}{1 - \text{Discount rate}}

Before You Trust the Saving

A discount is only meaningful if the original price is real. Compare the pre-discount price with recent prices, other stores, and total checkout cost after tax, shipping, and fees.

Frequently asked questions

Are stacked discounts the same as adding the percentages together?

No. Two 20% discounts applied sequentially produce 36% total discount, not 40%. After the first 20% off you pay 80%; after the second 20% off that, you pay 64% (36% total discount). Multiply, do not add.

What is the difference between markdown and margin?

Markdown is the discount expressed as a percentage of the retail price. Gross margin is profit expressed as a percentage of revenue. A 40% markdown reduces price by 40%; a 40% margin means 40 cents of each revenue dollar is profit after COGS.

How do I calculate the original price from a discounted price?

Divide the discounted price by (1−discount rate)(1 - \text{discount rate}). If you paid 75 after a 25% discount, the original was 75÷0.75=10075 \div 0.75 = 100. This is useful for verifying that advertised savings are accurate.

What is a price-matching guarantee and is it worth using?

Price matching allows you to buy at a retailer and claim a competitor's lower price. Always useful for immediate savings without extra effort. Combine it with cashback portals and credit card rewards for maximum savings on a purchase.