How to calculate a discount and the sale price

A discount is a percent taken off the price. Find the percent of the price, then subtract it to get the sale price.

Two steps: the discount, then the sale price

  1. Find the discount: the percent of the original price. 25% of $40 is $10.
  2. Subtract it from the price. $40 − $10 = $30. That is the sale price.

The words matter. “25% off” means take away 25%. “25% of” means find 25%. Underline the small word before working anything out.

See it: pictures to draw with your child

Copy these onto paper or a whiteboard. A quick sketch makes the idea concrete before any written method.

25%100%1040percentamount
The shaded 25% is the discount ($10). The rest, $30, is what you pay.
Price: $40Sale: $30
The sale price bar is 75% of the original bar.
percentamount0%$025%$1075%$30100%$40
25% of $40 is $10 off, so you pay 75%: $30.

The shortcut: what percent do you pay?

If 25% is taken off, you pay the other 75%. So the sale price is 75% of $40, which is $30. In one step: $40 × 0.75 = $30.

This multiplier idea works for any discount. 30% off means pay 70% (× 0.7), and 15% off means pay 85% (× 0.85). It is the same method as a percent decrease.

Working out discounts in your head

Most sale percents are friendly. 50% off is half price, and 25% off is a quarter less. For 10% off, divide by 10 and subtract.

For example, 20% off $35. 10% is $3.50, so 20% is $7. The sale price is $35 − $7 = $28. See percent mental math for more tricks.

Find the discount

Type the percent off and the price. Subtract the answer from the price to get the sale price.

Two discounts in a row

Sometimes a sale adds an extra discount, such as “20% off, then another 10% off”. That is not 30% off. The second discount is taken from the already reduced price.

For example, on $100: 20% off gives $80, then 10% off $80 gives $72. That is 28% off in total, not 30%. With multipliers: 100 × 0.8 × 0.9 = 72.

Working backwards to the original price

If a sale price is $60 after 25% off, the $60 is 75% of the original. So 25% is $20, and the original price was $80.

This uses the same idea as finding the whole. A common mistake is adding 25% of $60 back on, which gives $75, not $80.

Which deal is better?

Comparing deals is real-world maths children enjoy. Is “$15 off” better than “20% off” on a $70 jacket? 20% of $70 is $14, so $15 off saves more.

On a $100 jacket, 20% off saves $20, so the percent deal wins. The best deal depends on the price, which is a good lesson in itself.

Quiz: discounts

Find sale prices and discounts. Type prices like 24.50.

Where this fits: percentages step by step

  1. What is a percent
  2. Percent to fraction
  3. Fraction to percent
  4. Percent to decimal
  5. Decimal to percent
  6. Comparing fractions, decimals and percents
  7. Benchmark percents
  8. Percent mental math
  9. Over 100% and under 1%
  10. Percent of a number
  11. Finding the percent
  12. Finding the whole
  13. Percent change
  14. Percent increase and decrease
  15. Discounts and sale price (this page)
  16. Sales tax
  17. Tips
  18. Simple interest
  19. Markup, commission and percent error
  20. Percent word problems

What to say to your child

A short script for teaching it the first time. Pause after each line and let your child do the next step.

  1. “This $60 toy is 50% off. How much is it now?” ($30.)
  2. “And 25% off $60?” (25% is $15, so $45.)
  3. “What percent do you actually pay with 25% off?” (75%.)
  4. “So the sale price is 75% of 60. Same answer?” (Yes, $45.)
  5. “Is 20% off then 10% off the same as 30% off?” (No, it is less.)

More worked examples

Example 1: 30% off $50

30% of $50 is $15. $50 − $15 = $35. Or $50 × 0.7 = $35.

Example 2: 15% off $80

10% is $8 and 5% is $4, so $12 off. Sale price $68.

Example 3: half price $27

Half of $27 is $13.50.

Example 4: original price

A $45 sale price after 10% off: $45 is 90%, so 10% is $5 and the original was $50.

Practice questions (answers below)

Ask these out loud or write them down. Check each answer, and ask “how did you get that?” for one or two.

  1. 50% off $30
  2. 25% off $80
  3. 10% off $45
  4. 20% off $25
  5. How much is saved with 30% off $60?
  6. Multiplier for 40% off
  7. 75% off $200
  8. $15 off or 20% off a $70 game?
  9. A $36 sale price after 25% off. Original?
  10. Stretch: 20% off then 10% off $50
Show the answers
  1. $15
  2. $60
  3. $40.50
  4. $20
  5. $18
  6. 0.6
  7. $50
  8. $15 off
  9. $48
  10. $36

Common mistakes

Stopping at the discountGives 25% of $40 = $10 as the sale price.Fix: subtract it: $40 − $10 = $30.
Adding two discountsThinks 20% then 10% off is 30% off.Fix: the second discount is from the lower price: 28% off.
Working back with the sale priceAdds 25% of the sale price back on.Fix: the sale price is 75% of the original: divide by 0.75.

How to teach it at home

Catalogue sale

Pick items from a catalogue and work out sale prices.

Best deal hunt

Compare “$10 off” and “15% off” on different prices.

Shop helper

At the shops, let your child check the sale price on the shelf.

By grade

More for each grade: Grade 7 math and the CBSE class 7 maths guide.

Worksheets and practice

Discount and sales tax worksheet, page 1

Discount and sales tax worksheet: printable PDF with an answer key. · Make a fresh test

Percent practice · percent calculator · fraction, decimal and percent converter · percentage quiz · percent levels · percent games · percentages for kids

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Questions parents ask

How do you calculate a discount?

Multiply the price by the percent as a decimal. 25% off $40: 0.25 × 40 = $10 off.

How do you find the sale price?

Subtract the discount from the price, or multiply by the percent you still pay. 25% off $40: $40 × 0.75 = $30.

Is 20% off then 10% off the same as 30% off?

No. It is 28% off, because the second discount comes off a lower price.

How do you find the original price from a sale price?

Divide the sale price by the percent you paid. $30 after 25% off: $30 ÷ 0.75 = $40.

What grade learns discounts?

Grade 7 under Common Core 7.RP.A.3. In India, class 8.