Discount Calculator
Calculate final sale prices, total monetary savings, and post-discount sales tax. Supports stacked percentage discounts (e.g. 30% + 15% off), fixed dollar coupons, and reverse original price lookup free.
Discount Mode & Inputs
Quick Answer: How Do Stacked Percentage Discounts Work?
Stacked discounts (e.g. 30% storewide clearance + 15% VIP promo code) do NOT add up to 45%. Instead, they compound sequentially: the 30% discount is applied first to the original list price, and the 15% coupon is applied to the already-discounted price. For example, a $100 item with 30% off becomes $70, and an extra 15% off $70 yields a final price of $59.50 (an effective 40.5% total discount).
Understanding Retail Discount Formulas
Shoppers and retail merchants rely on key mathematical formulas to evaluate sale prices and promotional margins:
- Single Discount (% Off):
Sale Price = Original Price × (1 - Discount / 100). - Stacked Double Discount (% + %):
Sale Price = Original Price × (1 - Discount 1 / 100) × (1 - Discount 2 / 100). - Post-Discount Sales Tax:
Final Total = Sale Price × (1 + Sales Tax Rate / 100). Tax is calculated on the net price after all discounts are subtracted. - Reverse Original Price Lookup:
Original Price = Sale Price / (1 - Discount / 100).
Retail Discount Strategy Comparison Table
Compare standard retail promotional structures and their effective savings impact:
| Promotional Deal Type | Calculation Method | Effective Savings | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat % Off | Single percentage reduction on list price | Exact stated percentage | Storewide Sales (20% – 50% Off) |
| Stacked Multi-Discount | Sequential compounding percentage off | Higher effective % than single deals | Clearance Items + VIP Promo Codes |
| Fixed ($) Off Coupon | Flat dollar reduction ($25 Off $100) | Higher % savings on lower-priced items | Minimum Purchase Thresholds |
| BOGO (Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off) | 50% off lower-priced item in basket | 25% maximum total basket discount | Inventory Clearance & Multi-Buys |
Explore Complementary Financial & Design Tools
- Create client invoices with itemized discounts using Business Invoice Maker.
- Calculate gross revenue after trade discounts in Business Revenue Calculator.
- Determine promotional sales volume needed with Break-Even Calculator.
- Plan monthly retail savings in Budget Allocation Tool.
- Accelerate debt reduction with Debt Payoff Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions and answers about the Discount Calculator.
How do stacked percentage discounts work?
Stacked discounts (e.g., 30% storewide + 15% coupon) do not add up to 45%. The 30% discount is applied first to the list price, and the 15% coupon is applied to the already-reduced price, resulting in an effective discount of 40.5%.
Should sales tax be calculated before or after the discount?
In almost all tax jurisdictions, sales tax is calculated AFTER applying the discount. You only pay sales tax on the net price you actually pay for the item.
How does Reverse Discount Mode work?
Reverse mode allows you to calculate the original list price if you only know the final sale price and the discount percentage: Original Price = Final Sale Price / (1 - Discount Percentage).
Is '50% off' the same as 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free'?
Yes, if both items are identical in price! However, if you buy items of different prices, 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free' discounts 100% of the lower-priced item, making the overall discount percentage less than 50% across the total basket.
Is my shopping or business pricing data stored anywhere?
No! RaikTools Discount Calculator runs 100% locally inside your web browser. None of your prices, discounts, or tax inputs are transmitted or saved on external servers.