Percent Of Percent CalculatorFree online math calculator — instant results, no sign-up
Calculate the combined percentage represented by a percentage of a percentage.
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About the Percent Of Percent Calculator
The Percent Of Percent Calculator finds the percentage of an original whole represented by a percentage of an already selected portion. With the default inputs, it calculates 30% of a 20% portion, giving a combined percentage of 6% of the original whole.
- First percentage
- The portion of the original whole to use as the starting amount, expressed as a percentage and defaulting to 20%.
- Percentage of that amount
- The share to take of the first portion, expressed as a percentage and defaulting to 30%.
Formula and method
C = (P / 100) × (Q / 100) × 100 = (P × Q) / 100; with the defaults, C = (20 × 30) / 100 = 6%.
- PFirst percentage, entered as a percentage value such as 20 rather than its decimal equivalent.
- QPercentage of that amount, entered as a percentage value such as 30 rather than its decimal equivalent.
- CCombined percentage of the original whole.
Convert both percentage inputs to decimal proportions, multiply those proportions, and convert the product back to a percentage. For the default inputs, 20 / 100 = 0.20 and 30 / 100 = 0.30; their product is 0.06, which is 6% of the original whole.
Worked example
These are the calculator's starting values and the results it actually produces for them.
Inputs
- First percentage20
- Percentage of that amount30
Results
- Combined percentage6
How to use the Percent Of Percent Calculator
- 1Enter 20 in First percentage to select 20% of the original whole.
- 2Enter 30 in Percentage of that amount to take 30% of the selected portion.
- 3Calculate the combined percentage using (20 × 30) / 100.
- 4Read the Combined percentage output as 6%, measured against the original whole.
Reading your result
The Combined percentage row reports the final portion as a percentage of the original whole, not of the first selected portion. With the default inputs, the displayed value of 6 means 6% of the original whole: that is the same amount as 30% of its 20% portion.
Limitations
This calculation assumes the second percentage applies to the first portion, rather than independently to the original whole. It does not add percentages or calculate the total effect of successive price increases or discounts. No original amount is entered, so the result is a percentage rather than a monetary value or quantity. The formula supports decimal percentage values mathematically, but negative values or values above 100% do not describe ordinary nested portions of a whole.
Common questions
Why do 20% and 30% give 6% instead of 50%?+
The second percentage applies only to the first portion. Multiplying 0.20 by 0.30 gives 0.06, or 6%; adding the percentages would describe a different calculation.
Does reversing the two percentage inputs change the result?+
No. Since multiplication is commutative, 30% of 20% and 20% of 30% both equal 6% of the original whole, although the description of the intermediate portion changes.
Can I use the combined percentage to find an actual amount?+
Yes, if you know the original amount. With the default result of 6%, multiply that original amount by 0.06 to find the final quantity.
Does this calculate the total discount from a 20% discount followed by a 30% discount?+
No. Successive discounts apply to the amount remaining after each reduction, so their total discount uses 100 × [1 − (1 − 20/100) × (1 − 30/100)]. This calculator instead finds 30% of the 20% portion itself.
Does the calculator save my information?+
Calculations run in your browser. While signed in, inputs and results are automatically recorded in account history; saving a result creates a separate saved record.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes and are not financial, medical or legal advice.