Percentage Change Calculator

How to calculate percentage change

Percentage change measures how much a value has increased or decreased relative to its original value. The formula is: ((New Value − Original Value) ÷ |Original Value|) × 100. A positive result means an increase; a negative result means a decrease.

This is different from percentage difference, which compares two values without designating one as the "original." Percentage change is directional — it tells you the rate of growth or decline.

When to use percentage change

Percentage change is used to measure investment returns, price changes, population growth, revenue growth, inflation rates, and any situation where you need to express a change relative to a starting point. Unlike absolute change ($10 increase), percentage change tells you how significant the change was relative to the starting value.