What is the Sale Price?
The sale price calculation runs both ways. Given an original and a sale price, you can find the true discount. Given a sale price and an advertised discount, you can check what the original price must have been — a quick test for inflated "was" prices.
Formula & worked example
Original = Sale price / (1 − discount%)
Worked example: paying ₹2,400 on a ₹4,000 item is a saving of ₹1,600 — a 40% discount. Conversely, if a sign says 40% off and the price is ₹2,400, the original must have been ₹4,000. If the tag claims ₹6,000, the discount is really 60% or the original price was inflated.
How to use this sale price calculator
- Enter the sale price you actually paid or were quoted.
- Enter the original price if it is displayed.
- Enter the advertised discount to cross-check the implied original.
- Compare the two — a mismatch suggests an inflated original price.
Smart tips
- Use the implied-original check to spot fake discounts, a common tactic during sale seasons.
- Compare against the price on other retailers rather than trusting the "was" price.
- A genuine discount on something you did not need is still money spent, not saved.
- Check the price history on marketplaces — many items are cheapest outside advertised sale periods.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the original price from a sale price?
Divide the sale price by (1 − discount as a decimal). ₹2,400 at 40% off implies an original of 2,400 / 0.6 = ₹4,000.
How do I calculate the discount percentage?
Subtract the sale price from the original, divide by the original, and multiply by 100.
How do I spot a fake discount?
Work back from the sale price and advertised percentage. If the implied original differs from the displayed "was" price, the tag is inflated.
Is a bigger discount always a better deal?
No. Compare final prices across retailers. A 70% discount on an inflated price can cost more than 20% off a fair one.
Want the theory behind the numbers? Read our shopping guides on the Money Blog.
Written by Gurjeet Singh, Sharpen Solutions. Last reviewed 30 Sep 2026. How we check these numbers.