Percentage change and growth are essential concepts in business, finance, education, and everyday life. Whether you're tracking revenue, test scores, weight, or investments, understanding these values gives you insight into trends and performance. In this article, you'll learn exactly how to calculate percentage change and growth — with formulas, examples, and a free tool to make it easy.
Percentage change refers to how much a number increases or decreases relative to its starting value. It's commonly used to measure profit, price increases, grade changes, and more.
Percentage Change = ((New - Old) / Old) × 100
If your stock was $100 last year and is $120 today, the change is:
((120 - 100) / 100) × 100 = 20% increase
Percentage growth is similar to percentage change but is typically used when tracking increases over time — like year-over-year revenue, population growth, or fitness goals.
The formula is the same as percentage increase: ((New - Start) / Start) × 100
Your savings grew from $5,000 to $6,500 in 12 months. That's:
((6500 - 5000) / 5000) × 100 = 30% growth
Skip the manual math and use our all-in-one percentage calculator to instantly calculate:
It's perfect for shopping discounts, sales trends, investment returns, or academic tracking — and it works instantly.
How do I calculate percentage growth between two numbers?
Use this formula: ((New - Start) / Start) × 100. Or just plug into our calculator.
How do I calculate percentage loss?
Use ((Old - New) / Old) × 100. This shows how much value dropped as a percent.
What is the difference between percent change and percent difference?
Percent change is directional (increase or decrease). Percent difference compares two values regardless of which is larger.
Can I use this for money, scores, or grades?
Yes! Percentage change applies to money, points, scores, or anything measurable.
What’s the easiest way to do all this?
Use the free Percentage Calculator — it handles all variations for you instantly.
Whether you're tracking growth, decline, or difference, knowing how to calculate percentages is a powerful skill. Bookmark our Percentage Calculator and use it to stay informed, accurate, and in control.