How to apply two discounts in a row in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2)Multiply by 1 minus each discount: =B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2). 20% off then 10% off is 28% off, not 30%.
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
E2, filled down toE6 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in E2, filled down to E6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
The second discount applies to the already reduced price, so the two multiply: 200 × 0.8 = 160, then 160 × 0.9 = 144. The desk ends up 28% off, not 30%, because the second 10% is taken from a smaller number.
=B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2)Result144
B2$200.00The value in B2.
C220%The value in C2.
1-C20.8The - operator subtracts.
B2*(1-C2160The * operator multiplies.
D210%The value in D2.
1-D20.9The - operator subtracts.
B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2144The * operator multiplies.
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =B2*(1-(C2+D2)) | $140.00, $71.99, $780.00…Different result | Adds the discounts together, which is right only when the store applies them both to the list price. Gives lower prices: the desk comes to $140 instead of $144. |
Common mistakes
- Adding the percentages overstates the saving when discounts are stacked.
- The order doesn't matter: 20% then 10% gives the same price as 10% then 20%.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Apply two discounts in a row
E2, apply the first discount and then the second to the list price, then fill down to E6.Questions
What is the combined discount percentage?
=1-(1-C2)*(1-D2): 28% for the desk.
What about a discount and then sales tax?
Multiply by 1 plus the tax rate after the discounts: =B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2)*(1+tax).
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.