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.