Discount Calculator
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How to use
- 1 Enter the original price in dollars (the price before any discount).
- 2 Enter the discount percentage (0–100). Use the number from the sale tag, e.g. 30 for 30% off.
- 3 Click Calculate to see the sale price, dollars saved, and visual percentage breakdown.
- 4 For stacked discounts (an extra 10% off the sale price), run the calculator twice — first 30%, then 10% on the resulting sale price.
- 5 Add sales tax separately if your state charges it on the discounted price (most do).
About Discount Calculator
FAQ
Q How is the sale price calculated?
Sale price equals list price × (1 − discount rate). A 25% discount on an $80 jacket is $80 × 0.75 = $60. You can also compute saved dollars first: $80 × 0.25 = $20 saved, then $80 − $20 = $60 sale price. Both give the same answer.
Q Are stacked discounts additive?
No. A 30% then 20% stack does NOT equal 50% off — it equals 44% off. Apply each discount sequentially: $100 → $70 → $56 (saving $44 of $100). Multiply remaining fractions (0.70 × 0.80 = 0.56) and subtract from 1 for the total discount rate.
Q Is sales tax charged on the original or discounted price?
Almost every US state charges sales tax on the discounted price when the seller offers the discount (store coupon, sale, percent off). Manufacturer coupons are typically taxed on the pre-coupon price. Check your state Department of Revenue for exceptions.
Q What does BOGO 50% off really mean?
Buy One Get One 50% off means the second item is half price. Total cost for two items at $50 each is $50 + $25 = $75, an effective 25% off when averaged. BOGO Free is "buy one get one free" — effectively 50% off when you buy two. Per-item math is always cheaper than buying just one at full price.
Q How do I find the original price from a sale price?
Divide the sale price by (1 − discount rate). If a 40%-off item costs $36, the original was $36 / 0.60 = $60. This is useful for verifying advertised "regular prices" against past listings — required by many state pricing-fairness laws.
Q How do I tell if a Black Friday deal is a real deal?
Use price history tools — Honey, CamelCamelCamel (Amazon), and Keepa show price over time. Many retailers raise prices in October to make November discounts look larger. The FTC has prosecuted "fake reference price" cases against major retailers for this practice. A genuine 50% sale shows the price held steady before the promotion.
Q What's the math on "30% off your purchase plus 20% off coupon"?
Sequential, not additive. A $100 cart at 30% off = $70, then 20% coupon off = $56. Total saved: $44 (44%, not 50%). Stores intentionally use stacked discounts because customers perceive 30+20 as "50% off" — but you pay more than that math suggests.
Q Should I buy now or wait for a bigger sale?
Depends on the category and your patience. Holiday electronics often hit lowest prices Black Friday week and Cyber Monday. Apparel cycles 6–8 weeks behind season (winter coats hit deepest discount in February). For high-frequency purchases, set a price alert in CamelCamelCamel or Honey rather than waiting.
Official resources
FTC — Pricing and Discount Advertising Rules
US Federal Trade Commission rules on how retailers must advertise sales and reference prices.
IRS Publication 600 — Sales Tax Tables
IRS reference for state sales tax that applies on top of discounted prices.
BBB — Pricing and discount transparency
Better Business Bureau guidance on evaluating retailer discount claims and avoiding fake-list-price tactics.
NRF Holiday Spending Survey
National Retail Federation data on consumer discount behavior and seasonal pricing in the US market.