Reverse Percentage Calculator

Find the original value before a percentage change. Works for discounts, price increases and any percentage reversal.

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Original price
Original value
Final value
Difference
Percentage change

How to use this calculator

Select your currency at the top — it auto-detects from your location but you can switch it manually. Enter the final amount you know, choose whether it was a decrease or an increase, enter the percentage, and hit calculate.

How to find the original price before a discount

  1. Take the sale price (e.g. $85)
  2. Subtract the discount percentage from 100 (e.g. 100 - 15 = 85)
  3. Divide by 100 to get a decimal (e.g. 0.85)
  4. Divide the sale price by that decimal (e.g. $85 / 0.85 = $100)

The original price was $100. The 15% discount saved $15. The calculator handles this in one step.

Common uses for reverse percentage

Shopping is the most common scenario. You see an item for $60 in a 25% off sale and want to check if the original price was genuine. Divide $60 by 0.75 and you get $80. If you've seen that item at $80 before, the deal is real. If not, it's a manufactured discount.

The same logic applies to salary negotiations, VAT reverse calculations, and any situation where you know the result of a percentage change but need the starting point.


Frequently asked questions

How do I find the original price before a discount?
Divide the sale price by (1 minus the discount / 100). An $85 item after 15% off: $85 / 0.85 = $100 original.
What is reverse percentage?
Working backwards from a final value to find the original value before a percentage change was applied.
How do I work backwards from a percentage increase?
Divide the final amount by (1 + percentage / 100). A price of $120 after a 20% increase: $120 / 1.20 = $100 original.
What is the reverse percentage formula?
Decrease: Original = Final / (1 - percentage/100). Increase: Original = Final / (1 + percentage/100).

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