Result

80

New value = original × (1 − percentage ÷ 100)

How it works

The original value is multiplied by 1 minus the percentage expressed as a decimal, so a 20% decrease multiplies by 0.80.

Formula: New value = original × (1 − percentage ÷ 100)

Examples

A discounted price

100 decreased by 20% is 100 × 0.80 = 80.

A larger decrease

50 decreased by 40% is 50 × 0.60 = 30.

Things to keep in mind

  • This calculator finds the value after a decrease. To go the other way — working out what a value was before a known decrease — use the reverse-percentage mode on the main Percentage Calculator instead.
  • A percentage decrease of 100% or more always gives zero or a negative result, since decreasing a value by 100% removes all of it. This is a correct, if unusual, answer rather than an error.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decrease a number by a percentage?

Multiply the number by 1 minus the percentage divided by 100. For a 20% decrease on 100, multiply 100 by 0.80 to get 80.

What happens if I enter a decrease of more than 100%?

The result goes negative, which is mathematically correct: decreasing 100 by 150%, for example, gives −50.