What is the formula for percentage difference?

Percentage Difference = (|V1 - V2| / ((V1 + V2) / 2)) × 100. You divide the absolute difference of two values by their average, then multiply by 100.

What is the difference between percentage change and percentage difference?

Percentage Change has a distinct 'old' (original) value and 'new' value and can be positive (increase) or negative (decrease). Percentage Difference compares two numbers without an original starting point, so the result is always non-negative.

Percentage Difference Calculator

Compare two positive numbers to calculate their relative percentage difference.

First Value (V₁)

Second Value (V₂)

Percentage Difference —

Absolute Difference (|V₁ − V₂|) —

Average of Values ((V₁ + V₂) / 2) —

Percentage Difference Formula

Percentage Difference = (|V₁ − V₂| / ((V₁ + V₂) / 2)) × 100%

For example, comparing 10 and 20:

• Absolute difference = |10 − 20| = 10

• Average = (10 + 20) / 2 = 15

• Percentage Difference = (10 / 15) × 100 = 66.67%

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use percentage difference?

Use percentage difference when you want to compare two numbers that represent the same kind of measurement, and neither number is considered the baseline or original value (e.g. comparing the height of two trees or the speeds of two runners).

Can percentage difference be negative?

No. Because it uses the absolute value (|V₁ − V₂|), percentage difference is always positive or zero.

Percentage Difference Calculator

Percentage Difference Formula

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use percentage difference?

Can percentage difference be negative?

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