Percentage Increase Calculator
Calculate the percentage increase between two numbers. Perfect for salary raises, price increases, and growth rates.
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Formula
percentage increase = ((new value - original value) / original value) × 100Example
Complete Guide
Reviewed by PercentLab Editorial Team · Last updated:
A percentage increase calculator turns any before-and-after pair into a growth rate: subtract old from new, divide by old, multiply by 100. The formula ((New - Old) / Old) x 100 looks plain, but the denominator choice is where most people go wrong — always divide by the original value, never the new one.
The shortcut professionals use runs both directions from one multiplier. To apply an increase, multiply by (1 + rate): a 4% raise on $52,000 is $52,000 x 1.04 = $54,080. To reverse one, divide by the same multiplier: $54,080 / 1.04 = $52,000. One number replaces three steps.
Context matters as much as math. In the US, a 3-4% annual merit raise is typical, promotions land around 10-20%, and anything above inflation grows your real income. Use the worked examples below for salary talks, then read our full salary increase walkthrough for negotiation scripts.
Worked examples
Basic: from 100 to 125
- Find the change: 125 - 100 = 25.
- Divide by the original: 25 / 100 = 0.25.
- Multiply by 100: 0.25 x 100 = 25%.
A 25% increase — the absolute gain was 25.
Salary: 4% raise on $52,000
- Use the shortcut multiplier: 1 + 0.04 = 1.04.
- Multiply: $52,000 x 1.04 = $54,080 new salary.
- Yearly gain: $2,080, about $173 per month before tax.
New salary $54,080 — one multiplication, no separate addition.
Trap: 20% down then 20% up is not break-even
- Start at $150, drop 20%: $150 x 0.80 = $120.
- Rise 20% on the new base: $120 x 1.20 = $144.
- Compare: $144 vs the original $150 — still $6 short.
Percents apply to changing bases; recovering a 50% crash needs a 100% gain.
What common raises mean on a $60,000 salary
| Raise | Yearly gain | New salary |
|---|---|---|
| 3% (typical merit) | $1,800 | $61,800 |
| 4% | $2,400 | $62,400 |
| 5% | $3,000 | $63,000 |
| 7% (top performer) | $4,200 | $64,200 |
| 10% (promotion) | $6,000 | $66,000 |
Mistakes to avoid
Dividing by the new value instead of the old
From 100 to 125, (125-100)/125 gives 20% — wrong. The reference point is always the original: (125-100)/100 = 25%.
Adding sequential percents (6% + 4% = 10%)
Two yearly raises compound: $45,000 x 1.06 x 1.04 = $49,608, a 10.24% total — not 10%. Small difference now, big money over a career.
Mixing percentage points with percent
A rate rising from 10% to 15% gains 5 percentage points but 50% relatively. Salary headlines exploit this confusion — ask which one a quoted figure means.
Frequently Asked Questions
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