Original price × discount = what you actually pay.
Discount formulas
Sale price = Original × zhe ÷ 10 (or Original × (1 − off%))
Savings = Original − Sale price
How does the discount calculator work?
A discount calculator tells you the final price after a reduction and how much you save. You can enter discounts in two ways: as a percentage off (e.g. 30% off) or as a Chinese "折" (zhe) value. Enter the original price and the discount, and the calculator shows both the sale price and your savings instantly.
Understanding Chinese "折" (zhe)
In China, discounts are expressed in "折" where the number tells you the percentage of the original price you pay, not the percentage off. This is the opposite of Western convention:
- 9折 (9 zhe) = pay 90% = 10% off
- 8折 (8 zhe) = pay 80% = 20% off
- 7折 (7 zhe) = pay 70% = 30% off
- 5折 (5 zhe) = pay 50% = 50% off (half price)
- 3折 (3 zhe) = pay 30% = 70% off
When you see "7折" in a Chinese store, the formula is: sale price = original × 7 ÷ 10. Enter 7 in the discount field above to get the result.
Step-by-step: calculate any discount
- Enter the original price. The price before the discount, e.g. ¥599.
- Enter the discount. Use "折" for Chinese-style discounts (enter 7 for 7折) or the percentage off (enter 30 for 30% off).
- Click Calculate. You see the final price and total savings.
Practical examples
- Shopping festival (Double 11): A jacket marked ¥899 at "5折". Sale price = 899 × 5 ÷ 10 = ¥449.50. You save ¥449.50.
- Percentage off: A phone at ¥3,999 with 20% off. Sale price = 3,999 × (1 − 0.20) = ¥3,199.20. Savings = ¥799.80.
- Stacking discounts: An item at ¥200 with "8折" plus an extra "9折" coupon. Combined: 200 × 0.8 × 0.9 = ¥144. Total off = 28%.
- Comparing two deals: Store A offers ¥500 at "7折" (¥350). Store B offers the same item at ¥480 with "75折" (¥360). Store A is cheaper despite the higher original price.
Tips for smarter shopping
- Check the original price. Some retailers inflate the "original" price before a sale to make the discount look bigger. Compare against prices at other stores.
- Beware of "最低X折" (minimum X% off). "最低3折" means the cheapest items are 3折, not that everything is 3折. Most items may be only 7–9折.
- Calculate the effective discount. When stacking multiple discounts, multiply them: 0.8 × 0.9 = 0.72, meaning an effective 28% off — not 20% + 10% = 30%.
- Buy what you need. A discount only saves money if you would have bought the item anyway. Buying things you do not need just because they are "on sale" is not saving.
FAQ
What does "7折" mean?
In China, 7折 means you pay 70% of the original price (a 30% discount in Western terms). Sale price = original × 7 ÷ 10. Enter 7 in the field above.
How do I calculate a percentage discount?
Sale price = original × (1 − discount% ÷ 100). For 20% off ¥3,999: 3,999 × 0.8 = ¥3,199.20.
How do stacked discounts work?
Multiply them: 0.8 × 0.9 = 0.72 = effective 28% off. Not 20% + 10% = 30%.
Is a bigger discount always better?
Compare the final price, not the percentage. A 70% off item at a high original price may cost more than 50% off a lower-priced one.
What does "最低X折" mean?
"最低X折" means the smallest discount is X折, only on select items. Most items may be only 7–9折.