Which number should go first?

Put the number you are comparing from first, such as the cheaper shop, last year's figure or your current plan.

Is there another way to measure percentage difference?

Yes. Some fields divide the gap by the average of both numbers instead, which gives the same answer either way round. That method gives a different number from this calculator.

What is the difference between percent and percentage points?

If a rate moves from 4% to 5%, that's 1 percentage point but a 25% increase. Our percentage points guide explains this in more detail.

Percentage difference between two numbers

How this calculator works

This calculator compares two numbers and shows how far apart they are as a percentage, measured from the first number. It is useful for comparing prices between two shops, two quotes, or this year's figure against last year's.

Subtract the first number from the second, divide by the first number, and multiply by 100. The result tells you whether the second number is higher or lower, and by how much.

Worked example: two quotes of $250 and $300

Find the gap: 300 − 250 = 50.
Divide by the first number: 50 ÷ 250 = 0.2.
Multiply by 100: 0.2 × 100 = 20.

The second quote is 20% higher than the first.

Quick reference: comparing against 100

First	Second	Difference
100	90	10% lower
100	95	5% lower
100	105	5% higher
100	110	10% higher
100	125	25% higher
100	150	50% higher

Common mistake

Expecting the same answer when you swap the numbers. $300 is 20% more than $250, but $250 is only 16.67% less than $300, because each comparison starts from a different number.

Questions people ask

Which number should go first?: Put the number you are comparing from first, such as the cheaper shop, last year's figure or your current plan.
Is there another way to measure percentage difference?: Yes. Some fields divide the gap by the average of both numbers instead, which gives the same answer either way round. That method gives a different number from this calculator.
What is the difference between percent and percentage points?: If a rate moves from 4% to 5%, that's 1 percentage point but a 25% increase. Our percentage points guide explains this in more detail.

Learn more

Read all percentage guides →

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