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Percentage Difference Calculator

Enter two numbers to see how far apart they are as a percentage of their average.

Any number.

Any number. The order does not matter.

This result is an estimate only. Double-check important figures before relying on them.

How it is calculated

  • Gap = the absolute difference between the two numbers
  • Average = (|first| + |second|) ÷ 2
  • Percentage difference = gap ÷ average × 100

When one number is the starting value, use the percentage change calculator. For everyday percentages, use the percentage calculator.

Worked example

The numbers 50 and 80:

  • Gap: 80 − 50 = 30
  • Average: (50 + 80) ÷ 2 = 65
  • Percentage difference: 30 ÷ 65 × 100 = 46.15%

Why your number may differ

Different fields define “percentage difference” slightly differently. This calculator uses the symmetric method with the average of the two numbers. If you want a change from an original value, use percentage change instead.

Frequently asked questions

How is percentage difference calculated?

Percentage difference = the gap between the two numbers ÷ their average × 100. For 50 and 80, the gap is 30 and the average is 65, so the difference is 46.15%.

What is the difference from percentage change?

Percentage change measures from a starting value to a new one, so the order matters. Percentage difference compares two numbers equally, so the order does not matter. Use change when one value is the “before”.

Why is it a bigger percentage than I expected?

It divides by the average of the two numbers, not by one of them. That makes the percentage larger than a change measured from the bigger number, and smaller than one measured from the smaller number.

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