Step 1: Calculate the discount amount
Multiply the original price by the discount percentage and divide by 100.
Discount amount = Original price × Discount percentage ÷ 100
Step 2: Calculate the sale price
Subtract the discount amount from the original price.
Sale price = Original price − Discount amount
You can combine the two steps:
Sale price = Original price × (1 − Discount percentage ÷ 100)
Example: 30% off $85
- Discount: $85 × 30 ÷ 100 = $25.50.
- Sale price: $85 − $25.50 = $59.50.
You save $25.50 and pay $59.50 before tax or fees.
Estimate a discount mentally
Break the percentage into familiar pieces. To estimate 15% of $60:
- 10% of $60 is $6.
- 5% is half of 10%, so it is $3.
- 15% is $6 + $3 = $9.
The estimated sale price is $60 − $9 = $51.
Stacked discounts are not added
A 20% discount followed by another 10% discount is not 30% off. On a $100 item, the first discount gives $80. The second discount removes 10% of $80, leaving $72. The combined discount is 28%.