Relative Change Calculator
Use our relative change calculator to calculate relative change quickly between an initial value and a final value. Includes the relative change formula, how to do calculating relative change step by step, and the relative change formula Excel version.
What is Relative Change?
Relative change measures how much a value changes compared to its starting point. It tells you the size of the change relative to the initial value, rather than just the raw difference.
When calculating relative change, you compare the difference (final − initial) to the initial value. The result can be written as a decimal (relative change) or as a percentage (relative change %).
This relative change calculator is useful for comparing growth or decline across different scales—for example, comparing a $10 increase from $20 versus a $10 increase from $200.
Relative Change Formula
Relative change is the difference divided by the initial value. Multiply by 100 to convert to percent.
RC is a decimal. Positive means increase, negative means decrease.
This is the relative change in percentage form.
A 15-point increase from 50 is a 30% relative change.
A 20-point decrease from 80 is a -25% relative change.
How to Use the Relative Change Calculator
- 1
Enter the initial value (starting value).
- 2
Enter the final value (ending value).
- 3
The calculator computes the relative change using (Final − Initial) ÷ Initial.
- 4
It also converts the result into relative change percent by multiplying by 100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Relative change = (Final − Initial) ÷ Initial. Relative change % = ((Final − Initial) ÷ Initial) × 100.
Subtract initial from final to get the difference, then divide by the initial value.
Yes. If the final value is less than the initial value, relative change is negative (a decrease).
Relative change is undefined because you would divide by 0. In that case, use absolute change or another measure.
If A1 is Initial and B1 is Final, use =(B1-A1)/A1 for relative change, or =((B1-A1)/A1)*100 for percent.
Yes—enter initial and final values to get relative change and relative change percent.