The formula
Discount amount = Original price × (Discount % ÷ 100)
Final price = Original price − Discount amount
Going the other way, if you know the original and the sale price:
Discount % = ((Original − Sale) ÷ Original) × 100
Worked example
A jacket marked ₹4,500 with 35% off:
| Step | Working | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Discount | 4,500 × 0.35 | ₹1,575 |
| You pay | 4,500 − 1,575 | ₹2,925 |
Why stacked discounts add up to less than you think
"40% off, plus an extra 10%" is not 50% off. The second discount applies to the already-reduced price.
| Offer | Looks like | Actually | On ₹5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% + 10% | 30% | 28% | ₹3,600 |
| 30% + 20% | 50% | 44% | ₹2,800 |
| 40% + 10% | 50% | 46% | ₹2,700 |
| 50% + 20% | 70% | 60% | ₹2,000 |
| 50% + 40% | 90% | 70% | ₹1,500 |
The shortcut: multiply what's left. 40% off leaves 60%, then 10% off leaves 90% of that. 0.60 × 0.90 = 0.54, so you pay 54% and the real discount is 46%.
Reading Indian sale pricing honestly
- MRP vs selling price. Many products never sell at MRP, so a "60% off MRP" tag may be closer to normal pricing than a genuine cut. Compare against what other sellers charge today.
- "Up to 70% off" means at least one item is 70% off. Most will be far less.
- Bank offers are usually capped — "10% instant discount up to ₹1,000" caps out at a ₹10,000 spend.
- Buy 2 Get 1 Free is a 33.3% discount, not 50%. You pay for three-thirds and receive three items for the price of two.
- GST is normally charged on the discounted price shown on the invoice. See the GST calculator.
- Coupon before or after the sale price changes the outcome. Check which order the site applies them.
Common mistakes
- Adding stacked discounts together instead of multiplying what remains.
- Treating a percentage off MRP as a percentage off market price.
- Missing the cap on a bank or card offer.
- Forgetting delivery charges, which can erase a small discount entirely.
- Buying something you didn't need because the percentage was large. A 70% discount on an unwanted item is 100% wasted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate a discount?
Multiply the original price by the discount percentage divided by 100 to get the saving, then subtract it from the original price.
Is 20% + 10% the same as 30% off?
No, it works out to 28%. The second discount applies to the already-reduced price, so stacked offers always total less than the sum.
How do I find the discount percentage from two prices?
Subtract the sale price from the original, divide by the original, and multiply by 100.
Is Buy 2 Get 1 Free a 50% discount?
No, it is 33.3%. You receive three items for the price of two, so you save one third of the total.
Is GST charged before or after discount?
Normally on the discounted price shown on the invoice. Discounts given after the sale must meet specific conditions to reduce the taxable value.
What does 'up to 70% off' mean?
That the largest discount in the sale is 70%. It applies to at least one item, and often only a few, while most products carry much smaller reductions.
Sale season mein kya dekhein
Big Billion Days, Great Indian Festival jaisi sales mein "70% off" aksar poori kahani nahi hoti.
- MRP badha kar discount dikhana — sale se kuch hafte pehle keemat badha di jaati hai. Kisi price-tracking site par 3 mahine ka itihaas dekh lijiye.
- "Up to 70%" — matlab kisi ek item par 70% hai, baaki par 10–20%.
- Bank offer ki limit — "10% off up to ₹1,000" ka matlab ₹20,000 ki kharid par sirf 5% hai.
- No-cost EMI — aksar upfront discount chhod dena padta hai, isliye wo poori tarah free nahi hota.
- Exchange offer — purane saamaan ka jo daam mil raha hai, use alag bech kar milne wale daam se tolein.
Per-unit price se tulna kariye
Bada pack hamesha sasta nahi hota.
| Pack | Daam | Per 100g |
|---|---|---|
| 200 g | ₹85 | ₹42.50 |
| 500 g | ₹199 | ₹39.80 |
| 1 kg | ₹425 | ₹42.50 |
Yahan 500 g wala sabse sasta hai, 1 kg wala nahi. Har pack ka per-unit daam nikalna aadat bana lijiye — kai baar chota pack behtar nikalta hai.
More questions
Sale mein 'up to 70% off' ka kya matlab hai?
Ki kuch chuninda items par adhiktam 70% chhoot hai. Zyadatar saamaan par kahin kam chhoot hoti hai.
Bada pack hamesha sasta hota hai kya?
Nahi. Har pack ka per-unit daam nikaliye — kai baar beech wala pack sabse sasta padta hai.
Related calculators and guides
Disclaimer. This calculator provides estimates for general guidance only and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Rates, rules and limits change, and your own situation may differ. Please verify current figures with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before acting on them.