Triple Discount Calculator
Calculate the final price after applying three successive percentage discounts, the total savings, and the equivalent single discount rate.
Enter Price and Discounts
Understanding Triple Discounts
When multiple discounts are offered on an item (e.g., "20% off, plus an additional 10% off, plus another 5% off"), they are usually applied **sequentially**. This means each subsequent discount is calculated based on the *already reduced* price, not the original price. It's different from simply adding the percentages together.
How It's Calculated:
- Calculate the price after the first discount:
Price 1 = Original Price × (1 - Discount 1 %) - Calculate the price after the second discount (applied to Price 1):
Price 2 = Price 1 × (1 - Discount 2 %) - Calculate the final price after the third discount (applied to Price 2):
Final Price = Price 2 × (1 - Discount 3 %)
Alternatively, the combined formula is:
Final Price = Original Price × (1 - Disc 1 %) × (1 - Disc 2 %) × (1 - Disc 3 %)
Total Savings & Equivalent Discount:
- Total Amount Saved: Original Price - Final Price
- Equivalent Single Discount Rate: This shows what single percentage discount would result in the same final price.
Formula: (Total Amount Saved / Original Price) × 100%
Or: (1 - (Final Price / Original Price)) × 100%
Notice that three successive discounts of 20%, 10%, and 5% are *not* equal to a 35% discount, but rather an equivalent single discount of 31.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How are successive discounts calculated?
Each discount percentage is applied to the price remaining *after* the previous discount has been applied. They are multiplicative, not additive.
2. Why can't I just add the percentages (e.g., 20% + 10% + 5% = 35%)?
Because the second and third discounts are calculated on a smaller base price (the already discounted price), not the original price. Adding them directly overestimates the total discount.
3. Does the order in which discounts are applied matter?
Mathematically, for percentage discounts, the order does *not* change the final price or the total amount saved. A 20% then 10% discount gives the same final price as a 10% then 20% discount. However, if one discount is a fixed amount ($ off), the order *can* matter.
4. What is the "Equivalent Single Discount"?
It's the single percentage discount that would achieve the same final price as applying the multiple successive discounts. It helps in comparing different discount offers.
5. How do I calculate the final price quickly?
Convert each discount percentage to its decimal multiplier (e.g., 20% off = multiply by 0.80, 10% off = multiply by 0.90, 5% off = multiply by 0.95). Multiply the original price by all these multipliers: Original Price × 0.80 × 0.90 × 0.95 = Final Price.
6. Can I apply more than three discounts?
Yes, the principle remains the same. You would continue multiplying by (1 - Discount%) for each additional discount. This calculator is specifically set up for three.
7. Where are multiple discounts commonly used?
Retail sales events (e.g., clearance + loyalty discount + coupon), B2B pricing (e.g., volume discount + early payment discount + promotional discount), and complex service packages.
8. What if one discount is a fixed amount (e.g., $10 off)?
This calculator only handles percentage discounts. If fixed amounts are involved, you need to calculate step-by-step, being mindful of the order specified in the offer.
9. How is this different from a markup then a discount?
A markup *increases* the price before a discount is applied. This calculation only deals with successive *reductions* from an original price.
10. Is the "Total Amount Saved" simply the sum of individual discounts?
No. The total amount saved is the difference between the Original Price and the Final Price after all discounts are applied sequentially.
Examples (USD)
- Scenario 1: Price $100, Discounts 20%, 10%, 5%
- After 20%: $80.00
- After 10% (on $80): $72.00
- After 5% (on $72): $68.40 (Final Price)
- Total Saved: $31.60
- Equivalent Discount: 31.60%
- Scenario 2: Price $500, Discounts 15%, 15%, 15%
- Final Price: $500 * (1-0.15) * (1-0.15) * (1-0.15) = $307.06
- Total Saved: $192.94
- Equivalent Discount: 38.59%
- Scenario 3: Price $80, Discounts 50%, 10%, 10%
- Final Price: $80 * 0.50 * 0.90 * 0.90 = $32.40
- Total Saved: $47.60
- Equivalent Discount: 59.50%
- Scenario 4: Price $1200, Discounts 5%, 5%, 5%
- Final Price: $1200 * 0.95 * 0.95 * 0.95 = $1028.85
- Total Saved: $171.15
- Equivalent Discount: 14.26%
- Scenario 5 (Same as 1, different order): Price $100, Discounts 5%, 10%, 20%
- Final Price: $100 * 0.95 * 0.90 * 0.80 = $68.40 (Same final price)
- Total Saved: $31.60
- Equivalent Discount: 31.60%
- Scenario 6 (Large Price): Price $5,000, Discounts 10%, 10%, 10%
- Final Price: $5000 * 0.90 * 0.90 * 0.90 = $3,645.00
- Total Saved: $1,355.00
- Equivalent Discount: 27.10%
- Scenario 7 (One Zero Discount): Price $150, Discounts 25%, 0%, 10%
- Final Price: $150 * 0.75 * 1.00 * 0.90 = $101.25
- Total Saved: $48.75
- Equivalent Discount: 32.50%
- Scenario 8 (Small Discounts): Price $60, Discounts 2%, 3%, 1%
- Final Price: $60 * 0.98 * 0.97 * 0.99 = $56.48
- Total Saved: $3.52
- Equivalent Discount: 5.87%
- Scenario 9 (Large Single Discount Dominates): Price $1000, Discounts 50%, 5%, 5%
- Final Price: $1000 * 0.50 * 0.95 * 0.95 = $451.25
- Total Saved: $548.75
- Equivalent Discount: 54.88%
- Scenario 10 (All Zero Discounts): Price $75, Discounts 0%, 0%, 0%
- Final Price: $75.00
- Total Saved: $0.00
- Equivalent Discount: 0.00%
