Discount Calculator
Calculate discounts, savings & sale prices
Stacked Discount Math ā What "20% + 10% Extra" Actually Saves
Retailers know "Up to 50% off + Extra 10%" sounds bigger than the math actually works out to. Discounts multiply, they don't add. Here's the actual percentage saved for every common stacked-discount combination.
| First discount | +10% extra | +15% extra | +20% extra | +25% extra | +30% extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% off | 28% saved | 32% saved | 36% saved | 40% saved | 44% saved |
| 30% off | 37% saved | 40.5% saved | 44% saved | 47.5% saved | 51% saved |
| 40% off | 46% saved | 49% saved | 52% saved | 55% saved | 58% saved |
| 50% off | 55% saved | 57.5% saved | 60% saved | 62.5% saved | 65% saved |
| 60% off | 64% saved | 66% saved | 68% saved | 70% saved | 72% saved |
| 70% off | 73% saved | 74.5% saved | 76% saved | 77.5% saved | 79% saved |
The math: "50% off + extra 20%" means you pay 50% Ć 80% = 40% of the original price, so you save 60% (not 70%). Formula: final_saved = 1 ā (1ādā)(1ādā). The bigger the first discount, the less the second one adds in absolute terms.
The retailer's favourite trick: "Up to 70% off + extra 10% on first order" sounds like 80% off. Reality: 73% off. The "extra 10%" only added 3 percentage points on the already-deep discount. This isn't deceptive ā it's just multiplicative math working as it always does. Knowing this stops you from over-anchoring on the deal.
Three Discount Tactics Retailers Use That You Should Spot
Discount marketing is one of the most psychologically engineered fields in retail. These three tactics specifically rely on customers not doing the math the discount calculator above does. Spot them and you negotiate or wait better.
1. Anchor-price inflation
A product gets listed at ā¹4,999 MRP for 2 weeks, then "discounted 60% to ā¹1,999". The real selling price was always ā¹1,999 ā the MRP was inflated to make the discount look big. Indian e-commerce sites (especially during sale periods like Big Billion Days, Great Indian Festival) do this routinely. Counter: check the product's price history on price-tracking sites (KeepaIndia, BuyHatke).
2. The "free + shipping" trap
"FREE with ā¹99 shipping" or "Buy 1 Get 1 + ā¹50 handling" reframes a paid item as free. The discount calculator helps: enter the actual all-in price (item + shipping + GST + convenience fee) vs the original price. Often the "free" deal is barely better than just paying the listed price. Counter: always compute final delivered price, not list price.
3. Cashback ā discount
"10% cashback up to ā¹150" looks like 10% off but is usually delayed credit you might never use. A ā¹5,000 purchase advertised as "10% cashback" is actually ā¹150 max cashback (3%) + you've blocked ā¹5,000 today. Counter: mentally convert cashback to its actual percentage on the cap, not the headline rate. Often the credit-card cashback equivalent (1-2%) is closer to reality.
When discounts are real: end-of-season clearance (last sizes/colours), inventory closeouts (discontinued models), exit-from-category sales (e.g. brand pulling out of region), and "festive launch" pricing on genuinely new SKUs. Look for stockouts as a positive signal ā if a discounted item is selling out, the price reflects real demand, not anchor inflation.
When This Calculator Helps Most
šļø Sale season shopping
Compare effective prices across stacked offers ā "30% off + 10% bank discount + ā¹500 instant cashback" ā to find the actual lowest delivered price.
š¦ Bulk vendor negotiation
Quickly recompute total savings if a supplier offers an extra 5% on a bulk order. Use the percentage-of-savings mode to validate the new total against your target margin.
š·ļø Pricing your own products
If you sell on Amazon/Flipkart, work backwards from the sale price needed to hit a specific margin. The reverse-discount mode (final price ā original) makes pricing-for-promotion easy.
šø GST-inclusive vs exclusive prices
Combine with our GST Calculator when comparing offers that mix MRP-inclusive and net-of-GST pricing (B2B vs B2C deals).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate the sale price after a percentage discount?
To calculate the sale price, multiply the original price by the discount percentage and subtract the result from the original price. For example, a 20% discount on a product priced at Rs 1,000 means you save Rs 200 and pay Rs 800.
How do I find the discount percentage if I know the original and sale price?
Subtract the sale price from the original price to get the discount amount, then divide by the original price and multiply by 100. For instance, if an item drops from Rs 500 to Rs 350, the discount is (150/500) x 100 = 30%.
How do stacked or double discounts work?
Stacked discounts are applied sequentially, not added together. A 20% discount followed by an additional 10% discount does not equal 30% off. Instead, the second discount is applied to the already-reduced price, resulting in a total effective discount of 28%.
Is a higher discount percentage always a better deal?
Not necessarily. A higher discount percentage on an inflated original price may still cost more than a smaller discount on a fairly priced item. Always compare the final sale price across sellers rather than relying solely on the discount percentage.
How can I calculate savings on bulk or multi-item purchases?
Multiply the per-item discount amount by the number of items you are purchasing. This calculator lets you enter the total original price for all items and apply the discount at once to see your total savings instantly.