Our Percent Error Calculator helps you quickly find how accurate your experimental results are compared to the theoretical value. It instantly calculates the percentage error using the absolute error formula and gives a clear understanding of measurement accuracy in science, statistics, and data analysis. Use this smart tool to improve precision and minimize calculation mistakes.
📊 Percent Error Calculator
Use this percent error calculator to easily estimate the percentage error of a given observation relative to a known or true value.
✓ Calculation results
📐 Formula Used
Percent Error is calculated using the following formula:
💡 What is Percent Error?
Percent error is a measurement of the discrepancy between an observed (measured) value and a true (accepted) value. It’s commonly used in science and statistics to describe the accuracy of measurements and calculations.
Percent Error Calculator – Accurate Percentage Error with Formula & Examples
Use this Percent Error Calculator to easily determine the difference between an experimental value and a theoretical value. This tool instantly finds the percentage error and helps you understand its formula, examples, and real-world applications — ideal for students, analysts, and researchers.
What is Percent Error?
Percent error measures the accuracy of an experiment by comparing the measured value to the true value. It shows how close your results are to expectations and is a key concept in science, statistics, and data analysis.
How to Calculate Percent Error
The percent error formula compares the difference between the experimental and theoretical values, divided by the theoretical value, then multiplied by 100. This gives the result as a percentage.
Absolute Error Formula
Absolute Error = |Experimental Value − Theoretical Value|
Relative Error Formula
Relative Error = Absolute Error ÷ Theoretical Value
Percent Error Formula
Percent Error = (|Experimental − Theoretical| ÷ Theoretical) × 100
Percent Error Example
Suppose the theoretical density of a metal is 8.9 g/cm³ and your measured value is 8.6 g/cm³. Percent Error = (|8.6 − 8.9| ÷ 8.9) × 100 = 3.37%. This means your experimental result is off by 3.37% from the expected value.
Percent Error, Margin of Error & Standard Error
While percent error measures accuracy compared to a true value, margin of error represents uncertainty in survey results, and standard error measures how much sample means vary in repeated experiments. Each plays a different role in statistical analysis.