Percentage Difference Calculator

About Percentage Difference

The percentage difference is a measure of how much two values differ relative to their average. It’s useful when comparing two values where neither is clearly the “before” or “after” value, unlike percentage change.

Formula:

When to Use:

• Comparing two experimental results (e.g., lab measurements)
• Measuring variance between similar items (e.g., product weights)
• Analyzing differences between data points (e.g., survey responses)
• Comparing prices of products from different stores
• Evaluating performance metrics in sports or business

Example Calculations:

Example 1: If Value 1 is 80 and Value 2 is 100:

Example 2: If Value 1 is 50 and Value 2 is 75:

FAQ:

• What is the difference between percentage difference and percentage change? Percentage difference compares two values relative to their average, while percentage change measures the change from an initial value to a final value.
• Can percentage difference be negative? No, because the formula uses the absolute difference, ensuring the result is always positive.
• When should I use this calculator? Use it when you need to compare two values without a specific order, such as comparing test results or product prices.

Step-by-Step Manual Calculation:

1. Subtract the smaller value from the larger value to get the absolute difference.
2. Add the two values and divide by 2 to find the average.
3. Divide the difference by the average.
4. Multiply by 100 to convert to a percentage.