Enter a Percentage | Percentage of Total | Increase by Percentage | Percentage Change
Calculating percentages in Excel is easy. Percentage simply means 'out of 100', so 72% is '72 out of 100' and 4% is '4 out of 100', etc.
Enter a Percentage
To enter a percentage in Excel, execute the following steps.
1. First, enter a decimal number.
2. On the Home tab, in the Number group, click the percentage symbol to apply a Percentage format.
Result.
Note: to change the percentage in cell A1, simply select cell A1 and type a new percentage (do not type a decimal number).
Percentage of Total
To calculate the percentage of a total in Excel, execute the following steps.
1. Enter the formula shown below. This formula divides the value in cell A1 by the value in cell B1. Simply use the forward slash (/) as the division operator. Don't forget, always start a formula with an equal sign (=).
2. On the Home tab, in the Number group, click the percentage symbol to apply a Percentage format.
Result.
3. On the Home tab, in the Number group, click the Increase Decimal button once.
Result.
Note: Excel always uses the underlying precise value in calculations, regardless of how many decimals you choose to display.
Increase by Percentage
To increase a number by a percentage in Excel, execute the following steps.
1. Enter a number in cell A1. Enter a decimal number (0.2) in cell B1 and apply a Percentage format.
2. To increase the number in cell A1 by 20%, multiply the number by 1.2 (1+0.2). The formula below does the trick.
Note: Excel uses a default order in which calculations occur. If a part of the formula is in parentheses, that part will be calculated first.
3. To decrease a number by a percentage, simply change the plus sign to a minus sign.
Percentage Change
To calculate the percentage change between two numbers in Excel, execute the following steps.
1. Enter an old number in cell A1 and a new number in cell B1.
2. First, calculate the difference between new and old.
3. Next, divide this result by the old number in cell A1.
Note: Excel uses a default order in which calculations occur. If a part of the formula is in parentheses, that part will be calculated first.
4. On the Home tab, in the Number group, click the percentage symbol to apply a Percentage format.
Result.
5. The (New-Old)/Old formula always works.
Note: visit our page about the percent change formula for a practical example.
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Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article about calculating percentages in Excel.
1. Enter a Percentage:
- In Excel, percentages are represented as decimal numbers.
- To enter a percentage, type the decimal number first and then apply the Percentage format by clicking the percentage symbol in the Number group on the Home tab.
2. Percentage of Total:
- To calculate the percentage of a total, use the formula
=A1/B1, where A1 is the part, and B1 is the total. - Apply the Percentage format to display the result, and you can adjust decimal places using the Increase Decimal button.
3. Increase by Percentage:
- To increase a number by a percentage, multiply the number by (1 + percentage in decimal form).
- Excel calculates formulas in a default order, respecting parentheses. Use a minus sign to decrease a number by a percentage.
4. Percentage Change:
- Calculate percentage change between two numbers using the formula
(New - Old) / Old. - Format the result as a percentage using the Percentage symbol in the Number group on the Home tab.
General Tips:
- Formulas always start with an equal sign (=).
- Excel uses the underlying precise value in calculations, irrespective of displayed decimals.
- Be mindful of the order of operations; parentheses take precedence.
These concepts are fundamental for anyone working with Excel in data analysis, financial modeling, or any scenario involving numerical computations. If you need further clarification or examples, feel free to ask.
