What is a percentage?

A percentage is a number or ratio expressed as a fraction of 100. It is often denoted using the percent sign (%). For example, 50% means 50 out of 100, or half. Percentages are used in everyday life for discounts, taxes, grades, statistics, and finance.

How to use this percentage calculator

Enter two values to find the third. You can calculate: what is X% of a number, what percent is X of Y, or add/subtract a percentage from a number. The calculator updates results as you type, so you get instant answers for homework, shopping, or budgeting.

Common percentage formulas

To find what P% of N is: (P/100) × N. To find what percent X is of Y: (X/Y) × 100. To add P% to N: N × (1 + P/100). To subtract P% from N: N × (1 − P/100). Our tool does these calculations for you automatically.