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Percentage Change Calculator

Measure increase & decrease

Calculate the percentage change between an old and a new value to see how much something grew or shrank as a percentage.

Percentage change

Old value
New value
Enter an old and a new value to see the percentage change.

About the percentage change calculator

The percentage change calculator measures how much a value has increased or decreased relative to its starting point, expressed as a percentage. Enter the original (old) value and the new value, and the tool instantly shows the percentage change plus the absolute difference.

Percentage change is the standard way to compare growth or decline over time — stock prices, sales figures, website traffic, population, prices, and more. A positive result means an increase; a negative result means a decrease.

The formula

  • Percentage change = ((New − Old) ÷ |Old|) × 100
  • Absolute change = New − Old

How to use the percentage change calculator

  1. Enter the old value

    Type the original or starting number.

  2. Enter the new value

    Type the current or ending number — the result updates instantly.

  3. Read the change

    A positive percentage is an increase; a negative one is a decrease.

Frequently asked questions

How is percentage change calculated?
Subtract the old value from the new value, divide by the absolute old value, and multiply by 100. The result is positive for an increase and negative for a decrease.
What if the old value is zero?
A percentage change from zero is undefined (division by zero). The calculator shows the absolute change instead and notes that the percentage is not meaningful.
Is percentage change the same as percentage difference?
Percentage change uses one value as the base (the old value). Percentage difference averages the two values as the base, which is better when neither is a clear starting point.
Can the result be more than 100%?
Yes. If the new value is more than double the old value, the percentage change exceeds 100%.
Is the percentage change calculator free?
Yes, it is completely free and requires no account or sign-up.

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