by In this tutorial, you will lean a quick way to calculate percentages in Excel, find the basic percentage formula and a few more formulas for calculating percentage increase, percent of total and more.
Calculating percentage is useful in many areas of life, whether it is restaurant tipping, reseller commission, your income tax or interest rate. Say, you've been lucky enough to get a 25% off promotion code on a new plasma TV. Is this a good deal? And how much will you eventually have to pay?
In this tutorial, we are going to explore a few techniques that will help you efficiently calculate percent in Excel and learn the basic percentage formulas that will take the guesswork out of your calculations.
Percentage basics
The term "per cent" is derived from the Latin per centum, meaning "by the hundred". As you probably remember from high school math class, a percentage is a fraction of 100 that is calculated by dividing the numerator by the denominator and multiplying the result by 100.
The basic percentage formula is as follows:
For example, if you had 20 apples and you gave 5 to your friends, how much did you give, percentage wise? By performing a simple calculation =5/20*100 you get the answer - 25%.
This is how you normally calculate percentages in school and everyday life. Computing percentage in Microsoft Excel is even easier since Excel performs some operations for you automatically, in the background.
Regrettably, there is no universal Excel formula for percentage that would cover all possible scenarios. If you ask someone "Which percent formula do I use to get the result I want?", most likely, you will get an answer like "Well, that depends on what exactly result you want to achieve."
So, let me show you a few simple formulas for calculating a percent in Excel such as a percentage increase formula, a formula to get percentages of a total and more.
Basic Excel percentage formula
The basic formula to calculate percentage in Excel is this:
If you compare it to the basic math formula for percentage, you will notice that Excel's percentage formula lacks the *100 part. When calculating a percent in Excel, you do not have to multiply the resulting fraction by 100 since Excel does this automatically when the Percentage format is applied to a cell.
And now, let's see how you can use the Excel percentage formula on real-life data. Suppose, you have the number of "Ordered items" in column B and "Delivered items" in column C. To find out the percentage of delivered products, perform the following steps:
- Enter the formula
=C2/B2in cell D2, and copy it down to as many rows as you need. - Click the Percent Style button (Home tab > Number group) to display the resulting decimal fractions as percentages.
- Remember to increase the number of decimal places if needed, as explained in Percentage tips.
- Done! : )
The same sequence of steps shall be performed when using any other percentage formula in Excel.
In the following example, column D displays a rounded percent of delivered items, without any decimal places showing.
Calculating percentage of total in Excel
In fact, the above example is a particular case of calculating percentages of a total. Now, let's investigate a few more examples that will help you make quick work of calculating a percent of a total in Excel on different data sets.
Example 1. The total is at the end of the table in a certain cell
A very common scenario is when you have a total in a single cell at the end of a table. In this case, the percentage formula will be similar to the one we've just discussed with the only difference that a cell reference in the denominator is an absolute reference (with $).The dollar sign fixes the reference to a given cell, so that it never changes no matter where the formula is copied.
For example, if you have some values in column B and their total in cell B10, you'd use the following formula to calculate percentages of the total:
=B2/$B$10
You use a relative cell reference to cell B2 because you want it to get changed when you copy the formula to other cells of column B. But you enter $B$10 as an absolute cell reference because you want to leave the denominator fixed on B10 when auto-filling the formula down to row 9.
Tip. To make the denominator an absolute reference, either type the dollar sign ($) manually or click the cell reference in the formula bar and press F4.
The screenshot below demonstrates the results returned by the formula, the Percentages of Total column is formatted as percentage with 2 decimal places showing.
Example 2. Parts of the total are in multiple rows
In the above example, suppose you have several rows for the same product and you want to know what part of the total is made by all orders of that particular product.
In this case, you can use the SUMIF function to add up all numbers relating to a given product first, and then divide that number by the total, like this:
=SUMIF(range, criteria, sum_range) / total
Given that column A contains all product names, column B lists corresponding quantities, cell E1 is the name of the product you are interested in, and the total is in cell B10, your real-life formula may look similar to this:
=SUMIF(A2:A9 ,E1, B2:B9) / $B$10
Naturally, you can put the product name directly in the formula, like this:
=SUMIF(A2:A9, "cherries", B2:B9) / $B$10
If you want to find out what part of the total a few different products make, add up the results returned by several SUMIF functions, and then divide that number by the total. For example, the following formula calculates the percent of cherries and apples:
=(SUMIF(A2:A9, "cherries", B2:B9) + SUMIF(A2:A9, "apples", B2:B9)) / $B$10
For more information about the SUM function, please check out the following tutorials:
How to calculate percent difference in Excel
Of all formulas for calculating percentage in Excel, a percent change formula is probably the one you would use most often.
Excel formula for percent increase / decrease
To calculate the percentage of difference between two values A and B, the generic formula is:
When applying this formula to real data, it is important that you correctly determine which value is A and which is B. For example, yesterday you had 80 apples and how you have 100, meaning that now you have 20 apples more than before, which is 25% increase. If you had 100 apples and now you have 80, your number of apples has reduced by 20, which is 20% decrease.
Considering the above, our Excel formula for percentage change takes the following shape:
And now, let's see how you can use this formula for calculating percent difference in your spreadsheets.
Example 1. Calculating percent difference between 2 columns
Suppose you have the last month prices in column B and this month prices in column C. Then your percent change formula takes this form:
=(C2-B2)/B2
To calculate the percent difference between two numbers correctly, carry out these steps.
- Enter the formula in any blank cell in row 2, say D2. This will output the result as a decimal number.
- Select the formula cell and click the Percent Style button on the Home tab to convert the decimal number to percentage.
- Drag the formula down to copy it to the below cells.
As the result, the formula calculates the percentage of change in this month (column C) comparted to last month (column B). Positive percentages that show percentage increase are formatted in usual black, while negative percentages (percent decrease) are formatted in red. To have this done automatically, set up a custom format for negative percentages as explained in this tip.
Example 2. Calculating percentage difference between two numbers
In case you have one column of numbers, say column C that lists weekly or monthly sales, you can calculate the percentage change between the previous week/month and the current one using this formula:
=(C3-C2)/C2
Where C2 and C3 are the numbers you are comparing.
Note. Please pay attention that you should skip the first row with data and put your percent difference formula in the 2nd cell, which is D3 in this example.
To display decimals as percentages, apply the percent format to the cells containing your formula, and you will get the following result:
To calculate the percentage of change between a certain number and all other numbers, fix the address of that cell by using the $ sign, e.g. $C$2.
For instance, to calculates the percent increase / decrease for each month compared to January (C2), the formula in D3 is:
=(C3-$C$2)/$C$2
When copying the formula to the below cells, the absolute reference ($C$2) will remain the same, while the relative reference (C3) will change to C4, C5, and so on based on a relative position of the row where the formula is copied.
For more formula examples, please see How to calculate percentage change in Excel.
Calculating amount and total by percentage
As you've just seen, calculating percentages in Excel is easy, and so is calculating amounts and totals if you know the percentage.
Example 1. Calculate amount by total and percentage
Suppose you are buying a new laptop for $950 and they charge 11% VAT on this purchase. The question is - how much do you have to pay on top of the net price? In other words, what is 11% of $950?
The following formula will help:
Assuming that the total value is in cell A2 and percent in B2, the above formula turns into a simple =A2*B2 and returns 104.50.
Remember, when you type a number followed by the percent sign (%) in Excel, the number is interpreted as a hundredth of its value. For example, 11% is actually stored as 0.11 and Excel uses this underlying value in all formulas and calculations.
In other words, the formula =A2*11% is equivalent to =A2*0.11. Naturally, you are free to use the decimal number corresponding to the percentage directly in a formula if this works better for your worksheets.
Example 2. Calculating total by amount and percentage
For example, you friend offered you his old computer for $400, which is 30% off the original price. You want to know what the original price was.
Since 30% is the discount, you deduct it from 100% first to know what percentage you actually have to pay (100% - 30% = 70%). Now you need the formula to calculate the original price, i.e. to find the number whose 70% equals 400.
The formula goes as follows:
Applied to real data, it may take any of the following shapes:
=A2/B2
or
=A2/0.7
or
=A2/70%
Tip. To get an answer to a more difficult question - how to calculate the interest amount of a loan payment knowing an interest rate - check out the IPMT function.
How to increase / decrease a number by percentage
The holiday season is upon us and this indicates a change in your usual weekly spendings. You may want to consider different options to find out your optimum weekly allowance.
To increase an amount by a percentage, use this formula:
For example, to increase the value in cell A1 by 20%, the formula is:
=A1*(1+20%)
To decrease an amount by a percentage:
For instance, to reduce the value in cell A1 by 20%, the formula is:
=A1*(1-20%)
In our example, if A2 is your current expenditures and B2 is the percentage you want to increase or reduce that amount by, here are the formulas you'd enter in cell C2:
Increase by percentage:
=A2*(1+B2)
Reduce by percentage:
Suppose, you have a column of numbers that you want to increase or reduce by a certain percent, and you want to have the updated numbers in the same column rather than add a new column with the formula. Here are 5 quick steps to handle this task: Increase by percentage: Reduce by percentage: Naturally, you are free to replace 20% in the above formulas with the percentage you want. And here's the result - all the numbers in column B are increased by 20%:
In the same fashion, you can multiply or divide a column of numbers by a certain percentage. Simply enter the desired percentage in an empty cell and follow the steps above.=A2*(1-B2)
How to increase / reduce an entire column by a percentage
=1+20%=1-20%
This is how you calculate percentage in Excel. And even if working with percentages has never been your favorite kind of math, by using these basic percentage formulas you can get Excel to do the work for you. That's all for today, thank you for reading!
725 comments
I am very satisfied the way to explain with snapshot.
i have a question. i want to count 100% above value. please guide
for exapmle
12 67 558%
375 120 32%
171 72 42%
180 87 48%
188 238 127%
298 19 6%
80 83 104%
538 109 20%
42 17 40%
69 24 35%
85 89 105%
98 19 19%
72 40 55%
144 10 7%
21 24 113%
76 77 102%
12 19 158%
69 47 68%
12 2 17%
26 26 102%
43 6 14%
22 10 45%
12 30 250%
17 23 138%
12 6 50%
12 3 25%
12 1 8%
21 10 47%
21 8 38%
12 1 8%
12 7 58%
11 6 54%
11 6 54%
28 4 14%
13 7 52%
12 8 67%
13 19 142%
18 19 107%
12 1 8%
26 4 16%
22 5 22%
12 19 158%
12 17 142%
16 5 32%
11 2 18%
17 8 48%
38 5 13%
17 5 30%
12 6 50%
12 16 133%
24 8 33%
12 7 58%
12 8 67%
12 5 42%
12 16 133%
12 17 142%
30 15 50%
18 8 45%
16 5 32%
12 18 150%
11 5 45%
26 2 8%
how we get percentage with percentage in a cell
Exp. 100 (100*80%)+(80*12%)= 89.6 in a one cell
Hi Svetlana.
I want to follow % calc as you wrote above for entire column, but not able because of excel 2016 paste special appears different way. Could you explain please? thank you
Hi Jey,
In my Excel 2016, Paste Special seems to be the same as in the screenshots. Anyway, you can use the Paste Special shortcut that works in all Excel versions since 2007. So, here are the steps:
1. Input your percentage formula (like =1+20%) in an empty cell, select it and press Crtl+C to copy the cell.
2. Select the column (or a range of cells) that you want to increase/reduce by %, and press Ctrl+Alt+V to open the Paste Special dialog.
3. Select "Multiply" or press M, and hit Enter. Done!
Having difficulty figuring my "IF" out.
Example:
Cell N5 through N16 has basic numbers identified as how many days. The day numbers should no exceed 15. If, in the case I am going to use N16 as an example, exceeds 15 by 5 so it would become 20. What is the percentage of days that ran on time? How do I create that formula?
I know it must be me but I have spent literally hours trying to find the answer to my percentage problem and have all but given up. It can't be that difficult.
i have a register of students with for example 111101110 showing an individual's attendance and absence. What is the formula I need to use to show the % he/she attended - this is just so frustrating. Let's assume the register shows the marks in row D.
Hello Derek,
Is my understanding correct that for each student you have 1's and 0's in separate cells in the same row? If so, you can use the following formula to calculate the percentage of 1's in row 2, columns B to E:
=COUNTIF(B2:E2, 1)/COUNTIF(B2:E2, "<>"&"")
If your register is organized differently, please provide the details.
You are the owner of the on‐line computer and accessories store called Super Star. Daily you get
details of transactions for that day in the evenings. You have a discount policy that all orders above
Rs.5,000 get 5% discount and those that are above Rs.10,000 get 10% discount. The Super Star Club
Members get 15% discount on all orders plus standard discount if their orders are above Rs5,000 or
Rs10,00
Hey,
Can anybody help me to calculate below formula in excel.
=100-(10*5)*10%
Please answer me
Thanks
The fees is $1750,$1750,$1900,$1900,$2050 so please help me how to get the building donation using formula 10% of fees
hello, i have vehicles on my site for any given time but i must have them completed and returned within 8 hours ( 480 minutes )
i want the 480 minutes to be 100% and need to calculate how long one is on site.
ie,
one is here 480 mintues =100%
one is here 240 minutes =50%
one is here 720 minutes =150%
Do you know how i would do the formular?
Thanks
The projected revenue for Jan, Feb and Mar are $1000, $2000, and $2500 respectively. The projected expenses as a percentage of revenue for each month are: Rent = 25%, Operating Expenses = 35%, Administrative expenses = 10% and Miscellaneous expenses = 8.5%. Create a projected Income Statement and formatted it so it looks good
Month Rev Rent Operating Expense Admin Expenses Misc. Expenses Total Expenses Net Income
Jan $1,000.00
Feb $2,000.00
Mar $2,500.00
Rent Operating Expense Admin Expenses Misc. Expenses
25.00% 35.00% 10.00% 8.50%
how do I find a formula for the pecentage
For example
Coloum A
25
10
10
5
20
30
Down in total i want 100%, Above in breakup
Hlp me in Formula
BRA 1106 430466
JFH 2245 473809
MENS PREMIUM 3120 698216
MODERN CLASSIC 1868 464180
SOCKS 795 102146
SPORTS 3479 1437586
TOWELS 209 35307
Total 12910 3669494
How do i remove Contribution percantage wise ???
if 80%-99.9% of the target will get 75RS, >=100%-120% rs.150, and >=120% will get 200, how to calculate in excel.
Hi Need some help. I have a decimal .086 that is equal to 100% or $400.00.
Now an excel spreadsheet wish to work out (don't know if one can use the if command) I need to calculate the dollar amount at say 65% of .086 returning a $ amount.
I want % formula
Hi, I need some help. Looking to do a monthly spreadsheet that would have daily answers as yes or no. We then want a percentage of time the answer is yes. I am not sure how to do this. Are you able to assist? I appreciate your help.
I need some assistance.
I have revenue, but discounted by a percentage, but then that value is discounted as well.
Example; Revnue ($10,000) chance in receiving project 25% and then if that project is awarded we may have 75% of that work.
How would I create a formula?
Thank you
i need a small help.
can u pls telll me how to create a formula so that,
after adding between to box in a row, even if the answer is more than 100,the result displayed inthe total box should be only 100.
that means the total value should not be shown more than 100.
for eg:
65+55=120, but in the total value box it should be only 100.
thankyou,
Hi Mathew,
You can use the following approach: =IF(SUM()>100, 100, SUM())
For example: =IF(SUM(A1:C1)>100, 100, SUM(A1:C1))
Hi Svetlana,
You are doing a good job. God Bless you.
I want to ask you one question.
I want to calculate 50%+20% Discount from the MRP.
For Example = MRP is Rs. 100. if i will give discount 50% then the value will be 50 and again 20% then final value would be 40. Total % of discount is 60%. I have mentioned MRP, First Discount and Second Discount. Now i want to calculate the final value after deduction of discount. Kindly help me. What would be the formula.
Thanks in Advance
Best
Rahul Thakur
Hi,
I have to calculate the Lost Time Incident Frequency Rate of past year lost time accidents with current year. LTIFR formula is lost time incidents* 200000/total man-hours worked. The LTIFR for 2015 is 1.30 and 2016 is 4.35 until month of June. Now i want calculate it in percentage and compare 2015 data with 2016. I want to find how much in percentage is raised from last year.
please help me...