How to Calculate Percentage in Excel? With Step by Step Examples

To calculate percentage in Excel, start by dividing the part value by the total value and then multiply by 100. For example, if you have a score of 50 out of 200, enter =50/200*100 to get the percentage. Many people get stuck on using the right formula or formatting the results correctly. 

This guide will walk you through easy steps to calculate percentage formula in Excel and help you make your results clear and accurate every time.

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How to Calculate Percentage in Excel? Formulas and Examples

Excel is a powerful tool packed with formulas and functions that make calculations and data analysis straightforward. One key skill is knowing how to calculate percentages, which comes up often in sales reports, grades, and financial data.

Calculating a percentage means finding what portion one number is of another and expressing it as a fraction of 100. In Excel, this is done by dividing the numerator (part) by the denominator (total) using a simple formula like =Numerator/Denominator. You don’t always need to multiply by 100 if you format the result as a percentage.

Here’s how to enter this formula smoothly:

• Select the cell where you want the result.
• Type = to start the formula, then use cell references (like A1/B1) instead of typing numbers directly. This keeps your calculations flexible and easy to update.
• Press Enter to calculate the result.
• To display the decimal as a percentage, press Ctrl + Shift + % or click the % button in the Home tab’s Number group.

This approach ensures your percentages update automatically when your data changes, and your worksheet stays clean and easy to manage. Avoid hardcoding numbers in formulas and always double-check your cell references to prevent errors.

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1. How to Calculate Percentage in Excel Using =Part/Total

Calculating percentages in Excel is easier than it sounds. At its core, finding a percentage means figuring out what part one number is of another. In Excel, this is done by dividing the part by the total. Once you enter the formula, you just need to format the result to show it as a percentage. 

This simple process helps you quickly turn raw numbers into meaningful insights, whether you’re working on sales data, grades, or budgets.

Step 1: Understand the Formula
The basic formula to calculate a percentage is:

=Part / Total

• Part is the portion or amount you want to find the percentage of.
• Total is the whole or total amount.

This formula divides the part by the total to get a decimal number. For example, if you want to find what percentage 5 is of 20, you write =5/20. This gives you 0.25.

Step 2: Enter Your Data in Excel

• Open Excel and select a blank worksheet.
• In cell A1, enter the part value (e.g., 5).
• In cell B1, enter the total value (e.g., 20).

Step 3: Write the Percentage Formula

Click on cell C1 where you want the percentage result to appear.

Type the formula:
=A1 / B1

Press Enter.

You will see a decimal number (in this case, 0.25).

Step 4: Format the Result as a Percentage

• Select cell C1 where the decimal result is shown.
• Go to the Home tab on the Excel ribbon.
• In the Number group, click the Percent Style (%) button.

This converts the decimal (0.25) into a percentage (25%).

Step 5: Adjust Decimal Places (Optional)

With cell C1 still selected, click the Increase Decimal or Decrease Decimal buttons next to the % button to show more or fewer decimal places (e.g., 25.00%).

Summary Example:

That’s it! You’ve calculated a percentage in Excel using the simple =Part/Total formula and formatted the result as a percentage.

Also Read: 60 Advanced Excel Formulas to Boost Professional Efficiency

2. Calculate the Percentage of Variation in Excel

When you want to figure out how much two values change from one another in relation to the starting value, computing the percentage of variation is helpful. An illustration is given below:

Step 1: Open Excel.

Step 2: Enter the starting value, say 100, in cell A1.

Step 3: Enter the result, for instance, 150, in cell B1.

Step 4: Enter the expression “=((C2-D2)/D2)*100” in cell C1.

Step 5: To see the result, press Enter.

Step 6: Cell C1 in Excel will show the outcome of the calculation of the variation’s percentage. In the given scenario, the result will be 50, signifying a 50% rise from the starting value of 100 to the final value of 150.

Also Read: Ribbon in Excel: A Comprehensive Guide to Explore in 2025

3. Increase or Decrease a Number Using the Percentage

Sometimes, you need to find out how much a value has gone up or down compared to its original amount. Excel helps you calculate this easily using simple formulas for percentage increase and decrease. Understanding these calculations is useful for tracking growth, losses, or changes in data like sales, prices, or scores.

• To calculate percentage increase, subtract the old value from the new value, then divide that result by the old value:

(New - Old) / Old

This tells you how much the number has grown compared to where it started.

• To calculate percentage decrease, subtract the new value from the old value, then divide by the old value:

(Old - New) / Old

This shows how much the number has fallen from its original amount.

After entering these formulas in Excel, format the result cell as a percentage to see the increase or decrease clearly.

Increasing or Decreasing a Number by a Percentage

Sometimes you need to add or subtract a certain percentage from a number. For example, calculating a price after a discount or a salary increase. Excel makes this easy with simple formulas.

To increase a number by a percentage:

1. Suppose the original number is in cell A1 (e.g., 200).

2. The percentage increase is in cell B1 (enter it as a decimal or percentage, for example, 10% or 0.1).

In cell C1, enter the formula:
=A1 * (1 + B1)

3. Press Enter. Excel will show the increased value (for 200 increased by 10%, the result will be 220).

To decrease a number by a percentage:

1. Original number in A1 (e.g., 200).

2. Percentage decrease in B1 (e.g., 15% or 0.15).

In C1, enter:
=A1 * (1 - B1)

3. Press Enter. Excel will calculate the decreased value (for 200 decreased by 15%, the result will be 170).

Note:

• Make sure cell B1 is formatted as a percentage or entered as a decimal.
• This method works for any percentage increase or decrease and can be applied to prices, quantities, or any numeric data.

This formula keeps your calculations clear and lets you quickly adjust numbers based on percentages.

Also Read: How to use Pivot Table in Excel? Step by Step Tutorial

Formatting Tips for Percentages in Excel

Once you calculate percentages in Excel, how they appear on your screen makes a big difference. Proper formatting helps you read and interpret your data quickly and accurately. Excel offers simple tools to display numbers as percentages without needing to change your formulas.

Use Excel’s Percentage Format:

• After entering a formula like =A1/B1, select the result cell. 
• On the Home tab, click the Percent Style (%) button in the Number group. 
• This converts the decimal (e.g., 0.25) into a percentage (25%).
• This is better than multiplying by 100 in your formula because it keeps calculations clean and reduces errors.

Adjust Decimal Places:

• Sometimes you want to see more or fewer digits after the decimal point.
• With the percentage cell selected, use the Increase Decimal or Decrease Decimal buttons next to the % button on the ribbon.
• This controls how precise your percentage looks (e.g., 25%, 25.0%, or 25.00%).

Avoid Common Formatting Mistakes:

• Don’t multiply your formula by 100 and format the cell as a percentage—this will show the number 100 times larger than intended.
• Make sure your input data is consistent. For example, if you enter percentages as decimals in formulas, don’t also format those input cells as percentages, or your results may be off.

Use Cell Styles for Consistency:

• If you’re working with multiple percentage cells, apply the percentage format to all of them at once by selecting the range before clicking the % button.
• This keeps your worksheet looking uniform and professional.

Also Read: Top 15 Ways to Improve Excel Skills [Actionable Tips] 

Properly formatting percentages makes your data easier to understand and your spreadsheets look polished. It’s a small step that can prevent big misunderstandings in your analysis.

Try applying these formulas to your own data sets. Practice with real numbers like sales figures, test scores, or budgets to get comfortable. Remember to always format your results as percentages to avoid confusion.

Keep your formulas simple and double-check cell references when copying them across rows or columns. This will help you avoid errors and make your spreadsheets more reliable.

Conclusion

Calculating percentage in Excel starts with dividing the part by the total and formatting the result as a percentage. This blog covered basic formulas, how to enter them, percentage increase and decrease calculations, adjusting values by percentages, and tips for formatting and avoiding common mistakes.

Despite these straightforward steps, many still struggle with applying these formulas correctly and interpreting results in their data sets. Getting comfortable with these basics is key to making your data clear and actionable.

To help bridge this gap, upGrad’s personalized career guidance can help you explore the right learning path based on your goals. You can also visit your nearest upGrad center and start hands-on training today!

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