Percentage Error Calculator
Enter your measured (experimental) value and the true (accepted) value to calculate the percentage error.
Percentage Error Calculator
Calculate the percentage error between a measured or experimental value and the true or accepted value — commonly used in science and lab experiments.
This calculator provides an estimate for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional financial, mechanical or engineering advice.
Percentage error is a standard way to express how far a measured or experimental result is from the true or accepted value, used widely in physics, chemistry and engineering lab work.
Example
- With the default values shown above, this calculator returns: Error Amount ≈ -2.00; Percentage Error ≈ 2.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the formula for percentage error?
Percentage Error = |Experimental Value − True Value| ÷ |True Value| × 100.
Can percentage error be negative?
This calculator reports the absolute (unsigned) percentage error, which is the standard convention in science. The 'Error Amount' result shows the signed difference if you need to know the direction.