Percentage Difference Formula

Use percentage difference to compare two values when neither is a natural starting point.

Formula

% difference = |A − B| ÷ ((A + B) ÷ 2) × 100

Example

Two shops charge 48 and 52

  1. |48 − 52| = 4
  2. Average: 50
  3. 4 ÷ 50 × 100

8%

Related measures

MeasureFormulaUse it when
Percentage change(new − old) ÷ old × 100one value came first
Percentage difference|A − B| ÷ mean × 100two values of equal standing
Percentage error|measured − true| ÷ true × 100comparing with a known value