A product costs €249 and is on sale at 30% off — but is the original crossed-out price actually genuine? And what remains after several stacked discounts? The discount calculator instantly works out what an item costs after a percentage discount, shows the savings in euros, and exposes the common mistake people make with combined discounts.
Step by Step: How to Use the Discount Calculator
- Enter the original price: Enter the regular retail or list price in euros — e.g. €149.00. If prices are shown net or gross, note whether the discount applies to the net or gross amount.
- Enter the discount percentage: Type in the percentage from the offer, invoice, or sale sign — e.g. 25%.
- Read the result: The calculator shows the discount amount in euros, the new price, and the percentage saved from the original price.
- Check multiple discounts (optional): For stacked discounts (e.g. 20% trade discount + 10% promotional discount) calculate each step separately — the percentages do not simply add up.
- Use reverse calculation: If only the final price and the discount rate are known, the calculator can also work backwards to find the original price.
Practical Examples
Example 1 – Black Friday shopping: Laptop at €1,299, 20% sale. Discount amount: 1,299 × 0.20 = €259.80. New price: €1,039.20. If the "original price" was artificially inflated just before the sale, a price comparison on sites like idealo is worthwhile.
Example 2 – B2B purchasing with stacked discounts: List price €500, first a 20% trade discount, then a 10% promotional discount. Wrong: 20 + 10 = 30% → €350. Correct: 500 × 0.80 × 0.90 = €360 (= 28% total discount). The €10 difference becomes significant at scale.
Example 3 – Reverse calculation to find the discount rate: Item now costs €74.90, original price was €99.90. Discount rate = (99.90 − 74.90) / 99.90 × 100 = 25.0%.
Discount Calculation: Price After Reduction
Formulas: Discount amount = Price × Discount / 100. New price = Price × (1 − Discount / 100). €149 minus 25% = 149 × 0.75 = €111.75. Multiple stacked discounts: 20% then 10% ≠ 30%; the correct total is 28% (100% × 0.8 × 0.9 = 72%).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why don't 20% + 10% equal a 30% total discount?
Because the second discount is applied not to the original price but to the already-reduced price. Mathematically: (1 − 0.20) × (1 − 0.10) = 0.72, meaning a 28% total discount. The more discount stages there are, the greater the deviation from simple addition.
How do I calculate the discount rate if I only know the old and new price?
Formula: Discount % = (Original price − New price) / Original price × 100. Example: from €80 to €60 → (80 − 60) / 80 × 100 = 25%.
Does the discount on VAT-liable goods apply to the gross or net amount?
Trade and volume discounts typically apply to the net amount; VAT is then added on top of the discounted net. For consumer prices, the displayed price is always the gross price including 19% VAT.
