How to Calculate Percentage Increase (Formula + Examples)
Percentage increase tells you how much a value has grown relative to its starting point. It shows up everywhere — salary raises, price changes, website traffic, investment returns — and the formula is simpler than most people remember.
The formula
Percentage increase = (New value − Original value) ÷ Original value × 100
Three steps:
- Subtract the original value from the new value.
- Divide that difference by the original value.
- Multiply by 100 to get a percentage.
If the result is negative, you have a percentage decrease.
Prefer to skip the math? Our free Percentage Calculator handles increase, decrease and “X is what percent of Y” instantly.
Worked examples
Example 1: Price increase
A subscription goes from $12 to $15 per month.
- Difference: 15 − 12 = 3
- Divide by original: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25
- Multiply by 100: 25% increase
Example 2: Salary raise
Your salary rises from $52,000 to $58,500.
- Difference: 58,500 − 52,000 = 6,500
- 6,500 ÷ 52,000 = 0.125
- 12.5% raise
Example 3: Website traffic
Traffic grows from 8,400 to 21,000 visits per month.
- Difference: 21,000 − 8,400 = 12,600
- 12,600 ÷ 8,400 = 1.5
- 150% increase — yes, percentage increases can exceed 100%
The most common mistake
People often divide by the new value instead of the original. Going from 100 to 150 is a 50% increase (50 ÷ 100), not 33%. The denominator is always the value you started from.
The reverse matters too: a 50% increase followed by a 50% decrease does not get you back to the start. 100 → 150 → 75. Percentages are always relative to their own base.
Percentage increase vs. percentage points
If a conversion rate goes from 2% to 3%, that’s:
- an increase of 1 percentage point, and
- a 50% relative increase
Marketers and journalists mix these up constantly. When a number is already a percentage, be explicit about which one you mean.
Quick reference
| Change | Percentage increase |
|---|---|
| 100 → 110 | 10% |
| 100 → 125 | 25% |
| 100 → 150 | 50% |
| 100 → 200 | 100% |
| 100 → 300 | 200% |
For any other numbers, the Percentage Calculator gives you the answer instantly — and if you’re working with money over time, the Compound Interest Calculator shows how repeated percentage growth stacks up.