Percentage calculator
Percentage Error Calculator
Percentage error expresses the absolute difference between a measured value and an accepted reference value as a percentage of the reference.
Percentage error
2%
Absolute error expressed as a percentage of the accepted value.
Formula
(|Measured − Accepted| / |Accepted|) × 100Step-by-step calculation
- 1
Subtract the accepted value from the measured value.
- 2
Take the absolute value of the difference.
- 3
Divide by the absolute accepted value and multiply by 100.
Formula
Percentage Error = (|Measured Value − Accepted Value| ÷ |Accepted Value|) × 100
How to calculate it
- Find the difference between the measured and accepted values.
- Take the absolute value of that difference.
- Divide by the absolute accepted value and multiply by 100.
A measured value is 48 and the accepted value is 50
Values: Absolute error = |48 − 50| = 2.
Result: 2 ÷ 50 × 100 = 4% error.
Frequently asked questions
Is percentage error always positive?
The standard absolute percentage error formula gives a non-negative result. It measures error magnitude, not direction.
How is percentage error related to relative error?
Percentage error is relative error multiplied by 100, expressed with a percent symbol.
Can percentage error be calculated with a zero accepted value?
No. The accepted value is the denominator, so a zero accepted value makes the formula undefined.