Percentage Change Calculator
Calculate the percentage increase or decrease between two values.
Result
Change
20.00
Percentage change (%)
25.00
Direction
Increase
How it works
Percentage change measures how much a value has grown or shrunk relative to its starting point: (new − old) ÷ old × 100. Going from 50 to 75 is a +50% change; going from 80 to 60 is a −25% change. The sign matters: a positive result is an increase, a negative one is a decrease. Because the change is always measured against the original value, a rise from 100 to 150 (+50%) and a fall from 150 to 100 (−33%) are not symmetric. Don't confuse percentage change with percentage points. If an interest rate moves from 4% to 6%, that is a 2 percentage-point rise but a 50% increase in relative terms — two correct but very different statements.
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Frequently asked questions
How is a percentage increase different from a decrease?
The formula is the same; the sign tells you the direction. A positive result is an increase, a negative result is a decrease.
What is the difference between percentage change and percentage points?
Percentage points are the plain difference between two percentages (4% to 6% = 2 points), while percentage change is that difference relative to the start (a 50% increase).
What if the original value is zero?
Percentage change is undefined when the starting value is 0, because you cannot divide by zero — there is no baseline to compare against.
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