# How to apply two discounts in a row in Excel

Multiply by 1 minus each discount: `=B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2)`. 20% off then 10% off is 28% off, not 30%.

**Excel:** `=B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2)` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Item | List price | Discount 1 | Discount 2 | Final price |
| Desk | 200 | 0.2 | 0.1 |  |
| Headset | 89.99 | 0.15 | 0.05 |  |
| Sofa | 1200 | 0.25 | 0.1 |  |
| Rug | 45 | 0.1 | 0.1 |  |
| Bookcase | 350 | 0.3 | 0 |  |

Formula in E2, filled to E6: `=B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2)`

Result: $144.00; $72.67; $810.00; $36.45; $245.00

## 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.

## Other ways

- `=B2*(1-(C2+D2))`: 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%.

## 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)`.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/successive-discounts