Real Discount Checker
Check whether the advertised discount is real, and whether now is a good time to buy.
How it decides
- If the price is more than 3% above the past lowest price, the verdict is "Overpriced right now" — this check comes first, whatever the label says.
- If the advertised discount is 5 percentage points or more above the real one, it is a "Fake discount".
- If the real discount is 30% or more, or the price is at or below the past lowest, it is a "Real discount".
- Anything else is an "Ordinary discount" — if you are not in a hurry, compare a few more options.
Examples
| Situation | Price | Real discount | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sneakers advertised as "40% off" | $120.00 → $89.00 Advertised: 40% | 26% | Fake discount — the label is inflated |
| List price $50, now $32 | $50.00 → $32.00 | 36% | Real discount — a good time to buy |
| 10% off cosmetics | $30.00 → $27.00 | 10% | An ordinary discount |
| On sale — but last month's low was $21 | $30.00 → $24.00 Past low: $21.00 | 20% | Overpriced right now — hold off |
What people often miss when reading a discount
- Check that the list price is a real price first. The discount is measured against the list price, so a list price set artificially high makes any sale price look like a big discount. The "Past lowest price" field in this calculator is there to cut through that illusion.
- See whether coupons or card discounts are folded into the number. If the advertised percentage includes a coupon or an instant card discount, it is not the price everyone pays. Enter the amount you will actually be charged as the sale price to get an accurate result.
- A bigger percentage is not always a cheaper price. A $100 item at 50% off ($50) can cost more than an item that normally sells for $40 and is 20% off ($32). Compare similar products by price per unit as well.
- Remember when the sales happen. The same product often drops further during holiday and year-end sales. If you are not in a hurry, check the past lowest price before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
How is the real discount calculated?
(list price − sale price) ÷ list price × 100. For example, an item with a list price of $120 sold for $89 is $31 ÷ $120 × 100 ≈ 26% off.
What is a fake discount?
A case where the advertised percentage is 5 percentage points or more above the real one. It happens when the list price is inflated, or when coupons and card discounts are mixed into the advertised number.
Do I have to enter a past lowest price?
No, it is optional. If you enter it, the tool warns you with "Overpriced right now" when today's price is more than 3% above that past low.
Where are the prices I enter stored?
Nowhere. The calculation happens only in your browser; nothing is sent to a server or stored.
More free tools
Add it to your home screen and it opens like an app — after the first visit it works offline too. What you type never leaves your device.