Percentage error calculator
Compare a measurement with a known reference value.
Formula
Error (%) = |measured − reference| / |reference| × 100
Absolute percentage error ≈ abs((98)-(100))÷abs((100))×100
How to use
- Enter the measured value.
- Enter the nonzero reference in the same units.
- Read the absolute percentage error.
Examples
- 98 versus 100 gives 2%.
- 11 versus 10 gives 10%.
Frequently asked questions
Can the answer be negative?
No. This tool reports the magnitude of the relative error.
What if the reference is zero?
The relative error is undefined, so no result is returned.
Does a small error prove precision?
No. Precision concerns agreement between repeated measurements.
Sources
Updated: