Percentage Increase Calculator

Find out the percentage increase from an initial value to a final value.

Reverse Tool: Percentage Decrease Calculator

Percentage Increase Calculator

The percentage increase calculator helps you quickly determine how much a value has grown relative to its starting point. It is useful for tracking growth in prices, sales, population, performance metrics, and more.

Percentage Increase Formula

To calculate percentage increase, use this formula:

Percentage Increase = (Final Value − Initial Value) ÷ |Initial Value| × 100

Tip: Always use the absolute initial value in the denominator to avoid issues with negatives.

Step-by-Step Example

Problem: A product cost $36 last year and now costs $45. What is the percentage increase?

Subtract initial from final: 45 − 36 = 9
Divide by initial: 9 ÷ 36 = 0.25
Multiply by 100: 0.25 × 100 = 25%

Answer = 25.00%

Important Notes & Edge Cases

Initial value = 0: Division by zero makes the result undefined. Show a clear error message.
No increase: If the final value ≤ initial, use a percentage decrease calculator instead.
Negative values: These can occur in accounting or data analysis. Use the same formula but explain results clearly.

Common Uses of Percentage Increase

Finance: Calculate investment growth, interest, or revenue increases.
Retail: Track price inflation or markup changes.
Academics: Compare population growth or experimental results.
Business: Evaluate KPIs like monthly sales growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I calculate percentage increase manually?
A: Subtract the initial value from the final value, divide by the initial value, then multiply by 100.

Q: What if the initial value is zero?
A: The result is undefined because of division by zero. Report the absolute change instead.

Q: Is percentage increase the same as percentage change?
A: No. Percentage increase is used when the value grows. Percentage change includes both increases and decreases.