Stacked bar chart comparing regular price vs. BOGO deal price for both items.
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Regular Price Item #1 | $49.99 |
| Regular Price Item #2 | $49.99 |
| Regular Price Both Items | $99.98 |
| BOGO Price Item #1 | $49.99 |
| BOGO Price Item #2 | $0.00 |
| BOGO Price Both Items | $49.99 |
| Total Savings | $49.99 |
| Actual Percent Savings | 50.00% |
BOGO (Buy One Get One) deals let you buy two items where the first is full price and the second is discounted. This calculator shows you the actual total cost, how much you save, and your true discount percentage — which is often less than the headline number suggests.
A shoe store offers "Buy One Pair, Get the Second Pair 50% Off." Pair #1 costs $100 and Pair #2 costs $80. What do you actually pay and save?
BOGO is an acronym for Buy One Get One. When purchasing two items, the first item is paid at full cost. The second item is given free or at a discount. Common types include BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) where the second item is free with maximum savings of 50% for equal-priced items, BOGOHO (Buy One Get One Half Off) where the second item is 50% off with maximum savings of 25%, and BOGO X% Off where the second item is discounted by a custom percentage.
BOGO stands for "Buy One Get One." It is a retail promotion where purchasing one item entitles you to a second item for free or at a reduced price. BOGO deals are common in clothing, shoes, groceries, and even cruise vacations.
Only if both items are the same price and it is a BOGO Free deal. A BOGO 50% off deal on equal-priced items actually saves you only 25% of the combined regular price, because you still pay full price for the first item.
If you are buying exactly two identical items, BOGO Free and 50% off both give you the same total. However, 50% off is better if you only want one item. BOGO Free forces you to buy two to get the discount.
Add both regular prices to get the total before discount. Then subtract the BOGO total (item #1 at full price plus item #2 at the discounted price). Divide the savings by the regular total and multiply by 100 to get the true percentage saved.
The second item (usually the lower-priced one) receives the discount. The first item is always paid at full price. Retailers typically apply the discount to the cheaper item to minimize their markdown.