Discount Calculator
$0.00 final price
How Stacked Discounts Actually Work
When a store advertises "20% off, plus an extra 10% off," the second discount applies to the already-reduced price, not the original price — so two discounts never simply add together. A $100 item at 20% off becomes $80, and a further 10% off that $80 brings it to $72, an effective discount of 28%, not 30%. This calculator applies discounts sequentially the same way a retailer's register does, then adds sales tax last, since tax is normally calculated on the final discounted price.
A Common Pitfall: Tax-Then-Discount vs. Discount-Then-Tax
Most U.S. retailers calculate sales tax on the price after all discounts have been applied, which is what this calculator assumes. Some coupons or promotions (particularly manufacturer coupons rather than store discounts) are legally required to be taxed before the coupon is deducted — if a specific offer works that way, treat the tax figure here as an estimate rather than exact.
Comparing the Real Cost of a "Deal"
A percentage-off deal is only a good deal relative to what you'd otherwise spend. If you're financing a larger discounted purchase, the loan calculator can help you see the real monthly cost, and the sales tax calculator is useful if you need to work out tax amounts on their own for budgeting or receipts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do two discounts of 20% and 10% add up to 30% off?
No. Stacked discounts apply sequentially, not additively. A 20% discount followed by a 10% discount on the reduced price results in an effective discount of 28%, since the second discount is calculated on the already-lowered price rather than the original price.
Is sales tax calculated before or after the discount?
This calculator applies sales tax to the price after all discounts, which matches how most U.S. retailers handle everyday percentage-off sales. Some manufacturer coupons are taxed differently under certain state rules, so treat the tax figure as an estimate if you're using a coupon rather than a storewide discount.