A percentage discount changes the customer price but does not reveal seller profit on its own. Apply the rate to list price, then subtract each relevant cost separately. The examples illustrate arithmetic, not tax or pricing advice.
Discounted price formula
Put product in A, list price in B, discount rate in C, and sale price in D. With B2=500 and C2=20%, D2 is 400. Format C2 as a percentage; entering 20 and then applying percent format would display 2000%.
For two successive discounts, do not just add the rates. Apply the second reduction to the price after the first: 20% followed by 10% is a 28% total reduction, not 30%.
| List price | Discount | Sale price |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | 20% | 400 |
=B2*(1-C2)Estimate campaign contribution
Use E for product cost, F for commission, G for shipping, and H for allocated ads. If D2=400, E2=240, F2=40, G2=30, and H2=20, I2 is 70.
That 70 is illustrative contribution after listed variable costs, not net profit if returns, packaging, taxes, or fixed costs are excluded. Use consistent tax-inclusive or tax-exclusive price bases and check actual settlements.
=D2-E2-F2-G2-H2Review the worksheet safely
Keep before- and after-discount prices on the same row and retain the original product list. Sort the resulting file by discount or contribution to inspect low-margin products.
SheetCommand can preview and sort supported files; do not assume it automatically computes this multicolumn profit formula. Build it in Excel and check a sample row by hand.
Frequently asked questions
What is 20% off 500?
The sale price is 400. In Excel, use =500*(1-20%).
Is 20% off followed by 10% off a 30% reduction?
No. The second discount applies to the remaining price, making the combined reduction 28%.
Sources and further reading
SheetCommand
Review your e-commerce export
SheetCommand previews, sorts, and summarizes supported CSV/Excel files; it does not connect to marketplaces or carriers.