Discount Calculator
Instantly find the sale price, savings amount, original price, or compare multiple discounts — before you click "add to cart".
Mode
Result
Do Stacked Discounts Multiply?
Yes — successive discounts are not simply added. A 20% discount followed by a 10% discount does not equal 30% off. The calculation is multiplicative: you first pay 80% of the original price, then 90% of that price. So: 0.80 × 0.90 = 0.72, meaning you pay 72% of the original — equivalent to a single 28% discount, not 30%.
This is why the "Stack Coupons" mode shows both the stacked final price and the equivalent single discount — so you can see the real saving.
Everything About the Discount Calculator
How percentage discounts work, the exact formulas, and smart shopping strategies to maximize savings.
How It Works
- Choose mode: % off, final price, or reverse (what % off?)
- Enter original price and discount percentage OR sale price
- Instantly see discounted price and amount saved
- Use multiple-discount mode to stack coupons and see combined %
The Formula
Sale Price = Original × (1 − Discount% ÷ 100)
Savings = Original − Sale Price
% Saved = (1 − Sale ÷ Original) × 100
Stacked discounts: apply each % sequentially, not additively. A 20% + 30% stack = 44% total, not 50%.
Pro Tips
- Stacked discounts of 20% + 30% = 44% total — not 50% (they apply on the post-discount price)
- Cashback portals (Rakuten, Honey) add 1–5% on top of any posted discount
- On Amazon, check camelcamelcamel.com for price history — many “sale” prices aren’t real discounts
- Sales tax is calculated on the discounted price, not the original — big savings on expensive items
Frequently Asked Questions
How do stacked discounts really work? +
Each discount applies to the already-reduced price — they multiply, not add. For two discounts d1 and d2, the effective combined discount is: 1 − (1−d1)(1−d2). So 20% off + another 20% off = 1 − (0.8 × 0.8) = 1 − 0.64 = 36% total, not 40%. The higher the individual discounts, the larger the difference between the apparent and actual savings. Retailers stacking coupons know most shoppers mentally add percentages instead of calculating correctly.
How do I calculate the original price from a sale price? +
Original price = Sale price ÷ (1 − discount decimal). Example: you paid $75 and got 25% off: $75 ÷ 0.75 = $100 original. This is useful when retailers show only the sale price. Reverse-calculate to identify actual savings and compare whether the “deal” is better than it looks. Also useful for understanding VAT-inclusive pricing: if a tax rate is 10%, exclude-tax price = $110 ÷ 1.10 = $100.
Is BOGO 50% off the same as 25% off? +
Only if you planned to buy two items anyway. “Buy One Get One 50% Off” on a $40 item: pay $40 + $20 = $60 for two items ($30 each = 25% off compared to buying two at full price). If you only wanted one, there's no deal — you'd spend $20 more than needed. BOGO tactics work by pushing consumers to buy more than they intended, which is profitable for the retailer even at the apparent discount.
What is anchor pricing and how should I think about it? +
Anchor pricing sets a high “original” price next to the sale price to make the discount look larger. Research shows consumers evaluate deals relative to the stated original regardless of whether items were ever sold at that price. The FTC and consumer protection agencies have pursued cases against retailers fabricating reference prices. Best defense: compare to competitor prices rather than the same product's stated original price.
What's the difference between percent off and dollar amount off? +
Percent off scales with the item price (a bigger absolute saving on expensive items). Dollar-amount-off discounts have the same savings regardless of price. Example: 20% off a $50 item = $10 saved. $10 fixed discount on a $50 item = 20% savings. For cheap items, dollar-off can be a better deal percentage-wise. For expensive items, percentage-off typically wins. Always calculate the actual dollar savings and compare to alternatives before deciding.