Percentage increase chart
A quick reference for applying percentage increases and decreases using multipliers. Instead of calculating the change and adding it back, multiply by a single factor. This chart shows the multiplier for common percentages and what 100 becomes.
Percentage change multipliers
| Change | Multiplier | 100 becomes |
|---|---|---|
| +5% | × 1.05 | 105 |
| +10% | × 1.10 | 110 |
| +15% | × 1.15 | 115 |
| +20% | × 1.20 | 120 |
| +25% | × 1.25 | 125 |
| +50% | × 1.50 | 150 |
| +100% | × 2.00 | 200 |
| −5% | × 0.95 | 95 |
| −10% | × 0.90 | 90 |
| −20% | × 0.80 | 80 |
| −25% | × 0.75 | 75 |
| −50% | × 0.50 | 50 |
To increase a number by a percentage, multiply by one plus the percentage as a decimal: a 20 percent rise means times 1.20. To decrease, multiply by one minus the decimal: a 20 percent cut means times 0.80. The multiplier method is faster than working out the change separately and is easy to chain.
Need to compute a percentage?
Use the Percentage Calculator for any value or change.
The multiplier method
Any percentage increase can be applied in one step. For a 15 percent increase, multiply by 1.15; for a 15 percent decrease, multiply by 0.85. This is quicker than finding the change and adding it, and it makes repeated changes easy: two successive 10 percent increases multiply by 1.10 twice, giving 1.21, a 21 percent rise overall, not 20.
Reversing a change
To undo a percentage increase you divide rather than multiply by a matching percentage. A price raised by 25 percent (times 1.25) is restored by dividing by 1.25, not by cutting 25 percent. This is a common source of error, since a 25 percent rise followed by a 25 percent cut does not return to the start.
FAQ
How do I increase a number by a percentage?
Multiply by one plus the percentage as a decimal. For a 30 percent increase, multiply by 1.30.
How do I decrease a number by a percentage?
Multiply by one minus the decimal. For a 30 percent decrease, multiply by 0.70.
Why does a 50 percent rise then a 50 percent fall not return to the original?
Because the fall applies to the larger amount. 100 rises to 150, then 50 percent of 150 is 75, leaving 75, not 100.