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Percentage Calculators

Percent Error Calculator

Calculate percent error between an experimental (measured) value and the true (accepted) value, as used in science labs.

Enter values

Results update as you type.

Result

Percent error

2.1407%

Absolute error
0.21
Relative error
0.021407
Step-by-stepShow
  1. |9.6 − 9.81| ÷ |9.81| × 100 = 2.1407%

About the Percent Error Calculator

Calculate percent error between an experimental (measured) value and the true (accepted) value, as used in science labs.

Also known as: percentage error, experimental error, relative error, error percentage.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter measured value, true value.
  2. The result updates instantly as you type — press Calculate (or Enter) at any time.
  3. Open “Step-by-step” to see how the answer was worked out.
  4. Use Copy result or Share to save the answer or send a link with your inputs.

Formula

% error = |Measured − True| ÷ |True| × 100

Worked example

Using the values pre-filled in the calculator above:

  • Measured value = 9.6
  • True value = 9.81

the calculator returns:

  • Percent error: 2.1407%
  • Absolute error: 0.21
  • Relative error: 0.021407

Working

  1. |9.6 − 9.81| ÷ |9.81| × 100 = 2.1407%