120 → 165: 37.5% increase.
Show calculation steps
- 165 − 120 = 45.
- Divide by |120| = 0.375.
- Multiply by 100 = 37.5%.
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Track monthly orders
120 orders last month → 165 this month
- 01
Subtract: 165 − 120 = 45 additional orders.
- 02
Use the starting month: 45 ÷ 120 = 0.375.
- 03
Convert to a percentage: 0.375 × 100 = 37.5%.
Illustrative example · Compare periods of similar length. A change in order count does not measure profit.
Load this example ↗Formula & method
Percentage change is directional: the original value is the baseline, so swapping the old and new values usually produces a different percentage.
PercentScope also shows the absolute difference and a visual old-versus-new comparison so you can interpret the result without doing extra math.
Choose a baseline before comparing values
Enter values in the same units and for comparable periods. From 80 to 100, the increase is 25%. From 100 back to 80, the decrease is 20%. Both differences are 20 units, but the original values differ.
Negative values and a zero baseline
PercentScope divides by the absolute value of the original number. Under this convention, −100 to −50 gives +50%. Percentage changes involving negative values or crossing zero can be misleading in financial reports, so report the absolute change and this convention alongside the percentage. A zero original value has no defined percentage change.
Comparing rates or independent measurements
A rate moving from 20% to 25% rises by 5 percentage points and by 25% relative to its original rate. Use the percentage points calculator to see both.
When neither value is an original baseline, use the percentage difference calculator for a symmetric comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What if the original value is zero?
A standard percentage change is undefined when the original value is zero because the formula would divide by zero.
Is percentage change the same as percentage difference?
No. Percentage change uses the original value as the baseline; percentage difference compares two values symmetrically using their average.