Percentage Change Calculator
Calculate absolute and percentage differences between initial and final values with worked steps.
About Percentage Change
Percentage change quantifies the relative shift between an old baseline value and a new value as a proportion of the original amount.
Formula
Percentage Change = [ (V2 - V1) / |V1| ] × 100
- A positive result represents a Percentage Increase.
- A negative result represents a Percentage Decrease.
Worked Example
Changing from 120 to 165:
[(165 - 120) / 120] × 100 = (45 / 120) × 100 = +37.5% increase
Frequently Asked Questions
Why divide by the initial value instead of the final value?
Percentage change measures relative growth starting from the baseline. Dividing by the final value calculates margin or share instead.
Can percentage decrease exceed 100%?
In standard financial contexts, a decrease cannot exceed 100% unless values drop into negative territory (such as net debt or negative temperatures).
What is the difference between percentage change and percentage points?
Percentage change measures relative change. Percentage points measure the arithmetic difference between two percentages (e.g., 5% to 7% is a 2 percentage point increase, but a 40% relative increase).
What if the initial value is zero?
Division by zero is undefined; growth from an initial baseline of zero cannot be expressed as a finite percentage.
Calculate in three steps
- 1Enter your valuesUse the fields above and check the units shown beside each input.
- 2Run the calculationSelect Calculate to refresh the result with your latest values.
- 3Review or shareCompare the result, reset the form, print it, or share this page.