Discount Calculator

Calculate the sale price, how much you save, and the final total with tax.

Original Price ($)

Sales Tax % (optional)

Discount Percentage

How to Use the Discount Calculator

Enter the original price of the item. Select a preset discount percentage or type a custom percentage. Optionally enter your local sales tax rate. Click "Calculate Discount" to see the discount amount you save, the sale price, and the final total after tax.

How Discounts Are Calculated

The discount calculation is straightforward:

Discount Amount = Original Price × (Discount % ÷ 100)

Sale Price = Original Price - Discount Amount

For example, a $120 item at 25% off: $120 × 0.25 = $30 discount, so the sale price is $120 - $30 = $90.

If sales tax applies, it is calculated on the sale price (not the original price):

Final Total = Sale Price × (1 + Tax Rate ÷ 100)

Understanding Different Types of Discounts

Percentage Discounts

The most common discount type in retail. "20% off" means you pay 80% of the original price. Percentage discounts save more money on higher-priced items.

Dollar Amount Discounts

Fixed dollar discounts ("$10 off") save the same amount regardless of the item price. These are better for cheaper items where the fixed amount represents a higher percentage.

Buy One Get One (BOGO)

BOGO deals are effectively 50% off when you buy two items. "Buy one get one 50% off" is 25% off the total when buying two items.

Stacked Discounts

When multiple discounts are combined (e.g., 20% off + extra 10% coupon), they are applied sequentially, not added together. A 20% + 10% stacked discount gives you 28% total savings, not 30%.

Smart Shopping Tips

Compare the per-unit cost when "buy more save more" deals are offered.
Calculate the actual savings percentage before assuming a deal is good.
Check if the "sale" price is truly discounted from the regular price.
Remember that a $20 item at 50% off costs the same as a $10 item at full price.
Sales tax is calculated after discounts, so your tax is lower on sale items.

Common Discount Reference

Original	10% Off	25% Off	50% Off
$25	$22.50	$18.75	$12.50
$50	$45.00	$37.50	$25.00
$75	$67.50	$56.25	$37.50
$100	$90.00	$75.00	$50.00
$200	$180.00	$150.00	$100.00
$500	$450.00	$375.00	$250.00

When Are the Best Times to Shop for Discounts?

Major U.S. shopping holidays include Black Friday (November), Cyber Monday, Amazon Prime Day (July), Memorial Day, and Labor Day sales. End-of-season clearance sales often offer the deepest discounts (50-75% off) as retailers make room for new inventory. Electronics tend to be cheapest in January after CES, while clothing is most discounted at the end of each season.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate a discount?

Multiply the original price by the discount percentage divided by 100 to get the discount amount. Subtract the discount from the original price to get the sale price. For example, 20% off $50: $50 × 0.20 = $10 discount, so the sale price is $40.

Can I add sales tax after the discount?

Yes. Enter your local sales tax rate in the optional tax field. The calculator applies the discount first, then calculates sales tax on the discounted price to give you the final total.

How do I calculate a double discount?

For stacked discounts (e.g., 20% off then an extra 10% off), apply the first discount, then apply the second discount to the reduced price. A 20% + 10% discount is NOT the same as 30% — it equals 28% total.

What is the formula for discount percentage?

Discount Percentage = (Discount Amount ÷ Original Price) × 100. For example, if an item originally costs $80 and is now $60, the discount is ($20 ÷ $80) × 100 = 25%.

Is price before or after tax discounted?

Discounts are applied to the pre-tax price. Sales tax is then calculated on the discounted (reduced) price. This means you save on tax as well, since the taxable amount is lower.

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