Percentage Increase Calculator — Find % Growth Between Two Numbers

Percentage increase tells you how much something has grown, expressed as a proportion of where it started. It is different from just subtracting the two numbers — a jump from 10 to 20 and a jump from 1,000 to 1,010 are both "+10," but one is a 100% increase and the other is barely 1%. Context matters, and percentage increase captures that context.

This is the calculation behind salary hikes, price rises, population growth, exam score improvement, and business revenue growth reports. Enter the old (starting) value and the new (final) value, and this tool works out the percentage increase between them instantly.

Formula

Percentage Increase = ((New Value − Old Value) ÷ Old Value) × 100

The result is always relative to the old (starting) value, not the new one.

Worked Example

Worked example

Question: A salary goes from ₹30,000 to ₹36,000 per month. What is the percentage increase?

Step 1 — Find the difference: ₹36,000 − ₹30,000 = ₹6,000

Step 2 — Divide by the old value: ₹6,000 ÷ ₹30,000 = 0.2

Step 3 — Convert to a percentage: 0.2 × 100 = 20%

Answer: The salary increased by 20%.

Salary hikes specifically

When comparing job offers or appraisal letters, always check whether the quoted "hike" is calculated on your gross CTC or your in-hand/base salary — the same rupee increase can look like a very different percentage depending on which base is used.

What if the new value is smaller?

If the new value is lower than the old one, this calculation gives a negative percentage — that is actually a decrease, not an increase. Use the Percentage Decrease Calculator if you already know the value went down and want a cleaner (positive) result.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the formula for percentage increase?

Subtract the old value from the new value, divide that by the old value, then multiply by 100: ((New − Old) ÷ Old) × 100.

How do I calculate a salary hike percentage?

Same formula — treat your old salary as the "old value" and your new salary as the "new value." A rise from ₹40,000 to ₹46,000 is a (6,000 ÷ 40,000) × 100 = 15% hike.

Why is my percentage increase negative?

A negative result means the new value is actually lower than the old value — that is a percentage decrease, not an increase.

Is percentage increase the same as percentage change?

Percentage change is the general term that covers both increases and decreases. Percentage increase specifically assumes and reports growth.

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