Calculate percentage increase
| Cell | Meaning | Example value |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | Old value | $50,000 |
| B2 | New value | $55,000 |
Formula
=(B2-A2)/ABS(A2)Expected result: 10%
Format the result cell as a percentage. The old value in A2 cannot be zero.
Percentage Increase Calculator
Find the percent growth from an old value to a higher new value, using the old value as the reference.
Percentage Increase Calculator
Increase from to =
How it works
Formula and steps
The formula shows how the percentage increase calculator turns your inputs into the result. Use it to check the calculation, then follow the example steps to see each part of the math.
Formula & steps
Percentage increase formula
I% = ((NV - OV) / |OV|) x 100
Use this when the new value is greater than the old value.
I%= Percentage increaseNV= New valueOV= Old value|OV|= Absolute old value- 1125 - 100 = 25
- 225 / 100 = 0.25
- 30.25 x 100 = 25% increase
Worked examples
Example 1
A salary rises from $50,000 to $55,000
- 1
Find the increase
$55,000 - $50,000 = $5,000
- 2
Divide by the old salary
$5,000 / $50,000 = 0.10
- 3
Convert to a percent
0.10 x 100 = 10% increase
Example 2
A price rises from $80 to $100
- 1
Find the increase
$100 - $80 = $20
- 2
Divide by the old price
$20 / $80 = 0.25
- 3
Convert to a percent
0.25 x 100 = 25% increase
Spreadsheet formulas
Calculate in Excel or Google Sheets
Enter the example values in the listed cells, then paste the formula into another cell. Excel and Google Sheets use the same formulas shown here.
Common uses
- Salary raises and wage growth
- Revenue or sales growth
- Price increases
- Traffic or performance growth
Common mistakes
- Using the new value as the denominator instead of the old value.
- Forgetting that an increase from zero is undefined.
- Adding percentage points and percentage increase as if they were the same measurement.
Percentage increase guide
How to calculate percentage increase
Percentage increase measures positive growth relative to the old value. It answers how much larger the new value is, not merely the numerical difference.
Use the old value as the denominator
Subtract the old value from the new value, divide that increase by the absolute old value, and multiply by 100. A rise from 80 to 100 is 20 / 80 x 100 = 25%.
Increase versus percentage change
Use this calculator when the new value is higher. If you do not know whether the result increased or decreased, the percentage change calculator reports the direction from its sign.
Calculate an increase or decrease →A zero starting value has no percentage increase
Growth from zero can be described as a numerical increase, but not as a conventional percentage increase because the formula would divide by zero.
FAQ
Subtract the old value from the new value, divide by the absolute old value, then multiply by 100.
No. Percentage increase from zero is undefined because the formula requires division by the old value.
Subtract the old salary from the new salary, divide the difference by the old salary, and multiply by 100. A rise from $50,000 to $55,000 is 10%.
Percentage increase is the positive case of percentage change. Use percentage change when the new value may be either higher or lower.
Calculating percentage increase starts with old and new values and solves for the rate. Adding a known percentage starts with the rate and multiplies the old value by 1 plus that rate as a decimal.
This calculator divides by the absolute old value so the result's sign shows direction. Percentage growth from a negative baseline can be hard to interpret, especially when crossing zero, so include the actual values with the percentage.
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