Original Value Calculator

Find the value before the increase or discount

is after aincreased, original was?

How it works

This is the reverse calculation: you know the final figure and the percentage applied, and you want the starting value. Useful for checking whether an advertised discount is genuine, and for separating a base amount out of an already adjusted price.

Original value = final value ÷ (1 ± percentage ÷ 100)

Example: an item advertised at $175 with 30% off was 175 ÷ 0.70 = $250 before the sale.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Convert percentage to decimal: -30% = -0.3
  2. Subtract from 1: 1 + (-0.3) = 0.7
  3. Divide final value by this: 175 ÷ 0.7 = 250.00000000000003

If 175 is the result after a 30% decrease, we work backwards. The final value is 0.7 times the original, so we divide to find the original.

Frequently asked questions

How do you find the price before a discount?

Divide the final price by what remained after the discount. With 30% off, divide by 0.70: $175 ÷ 0.70 = $250.

Why can I not just add the percentage back?

Because the percentage was taken from the original value, not the final one. Adding 30% to $175 gives $227.50, not the correct $250.

Can I use it to find a pre-tax amount?

Yes, as long as the tax was applied as a percentage of the base value. Enter the total paid and the tax rate to get the amount before tax.