Finding Original Price Calculator

Calculate Original Price

Visual representation of prices

Final Price	Percentage (%)	Type	Original Price
80	20	Discount	100.00
120	20	Markup	100.00
50	50	Discount	100.00
150	50	Markup	100.00

Example calculations for reference

What is an Original Price Calculator?

An Original Price Calculator is a tool used to determine the price of an item *before* a discount was applied or a markup was added. It's essentially a reverse percentage calculator. If you know the final price (the sale price or the price after markup) and the percentage of the discount or markup, this calculator helps you find the initial price.

Anyone who wants to understand the initial pricing of a product or service can use an Original Price Calculator. This includes shoppers wanting to know the pre-sale price, business owners analyzing pricing strategies, or anyone dealing with percentage-based price changes.

A common misconception is that you can simply add the discount percentage back to the final price to get the original price. This is incorrect because the percentage was calculated based on the original price, not the final price. The Original Price Calculator uses the correct formula to reverse the calculation.

Original Price Calculator Formula and Mathematical Explanation

The formula used by the Original Price Calculator depends on whether a discount was applied or a markup was added.

When a Discount was Applied:

If the final price is the result of a discount, the formula is:

Original Price = Final Price / (1 - (Discount Percentage / 100))

Here, (1 - (Discount Percentage / 100)) represents the remaining proportion of the original price after the discount.

When a Markup was Added:

If the final price is the result of a markup on the original cost/price, the formula is:

Original Price = Final Price / (1 + (Markup Percentage / 100))

Here, (1 + (Markup Percentage / 100)) represents the total proportion relative to the original price after the markup.

Variables Table:

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Final Price	The price after the discount or markup	Currency (e.g., $, £, €)	> 0
Discount Percentage	The percentage deducted from the original price	%	0-100 (realistically 0-99 for reversal from non-zero final price)
Markup Percentage	The percentage added to the original price/cost	%	> 0
Original Price	The price before the discount or markup	Currency (e.g., $, £, €)	Depends on inputs

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Example 1: Finding Price Before Discount

You bought a jacket for $120 during a 25% off sale. What was the original price?

• Final Price = $120
• Discount Percentage = 25%
• Using the Original Price Calculator (or formula): Original Price = $120 / (1 – 0.25) = $120 / 0.75 = $160.
• The original price of the jacket was $160.

Example 2: Finding Cost Before Markup

A retailer sells an item for $75, and they typically add a 50% markup on their cost (original price from their perspective). What was the cost?

• Final Price = $75
• Markup Percentage = 50%
• Using the Original Price Calculator (or formula): Original Price (Cost) = $75 / (1 + 0.50) = $75 / 1.5 = $50.
• The retailer's cost for the item was $50.

For more detailed discount calculations, you might find our Discount Calculator useful.

How to Use This Original Price Calculator

1. Enter the Final Price: Input the price you paid or the current price after the percentage change in the "Final Price" field.
2. Enter the Percentage: Input the percentage value (e.g., 20 for 20%) in the "Percentage" field.
3. Select the Type: Choose whether the percentage was a "Discount Applied" or a "Markup Added" from the dropdown menu.
4. View the Results: The calculator will instantly display the "Original Price", the "Amount of Discount/Markup", and the formula used. The chart and table will also update.
5. Interpret: The "Original Price" is the value before the discount or markup was applied.

This Original Price Calculator helps you understand the initial value before any percentage adjustments.

Key Factors That Affect Original Price Calculation Results

• Final Price: The starting point for the calculation. A higher final price, given the same percentage, will result in a higher original price.
• Percentage Value: The magnitude of the discount or markup. Larger percentages lead to a greater difference between the final and original prices.
• Type (Discount or Markup): This determines whether the percentage is subtracted from or added to 1 in the denominator of the formula, significantly changing the result. A discount means the original price was higher, a markup means it was lower than the final price.
• Accuracy of Inputs: Ensure the final price and percentage are entered correctly. Small errors in inputs can lead to noticeable differences in the calculated original price.
• Rounding: While the calculator provides precise results, real-world prices might have been rounded after the discount/markup, which the reverse calculation cannot perfectly account for in all cases if original rounding is unknown.
• Multiple Discounts/Markups: This Original Price Calculator assumes a single percentage change. If multiple discounts or markups were applied sequentially, the calculation becomes more complex and needs to be done step-by-step in reverse order. Consider using a Sale Price Calculator to understand forward calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is an Original Price Calculator?

It's a tool that helps you find the price of an item *before* a discount was applied or a markup was added, given the final price and the percentage change.

How do I calculate the original price from the sale price?

Divide the sale price by (1 minus (discount percentage / 100)). Our Original Price Calculator does this for you.

Can I use this for markups as well?

Yes, select "Markup Added" in the "Type" dropdown, and the calculator will find the price before the markup.

What if the discount was 100%?

If the discount was 100%, the final price should be 0. If the final price is greater than 0 with a 100% discount, it implies an impossible scenario for this reverse calculation from a non-zero final price, or the original price was effectively infinite relative to the non-zero final price, which is unlikely.

Is original price the same as cost price?

It depends on the context. For a shopper, the original price is the price before a sale. For a retailer calculating based on a markup, the "original price" they might be reversing to is their cost price. You can explore more with a Cost Price Calculator.

What if there were multiple discounts?

This calculator is for a single percentage change. If there were multiple (e.g., 20% off then an additional 10% off), you'd need to reverse the last discount first, then the one before it, using the intermediate result.

Why can't I just add the percentage back?

Because the percentage was calculated based on the original price, which is different from the final price. Adding the percentage to the final price will not give you the correct original price (unless the percentage is 0).

How accurate is the Original Price Calculator?

The calculator is mathematically accurate based on the inputs provided. Accuracy depends on the precision of the final price and percentage you enter.

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