# How to calculate Percentage using excel formulas

## 1. Excel formula for percentage change

Normally in mathematics, the percentage change is usually given by; %Change = (change/initial value) *100. The change is usually a difference between the two values in context. Change =new value-old value. We can also accomplish this task quickly and easily in excel. So supposing we need to find the percentage change between two values in excel, we would use the following steps.

### Procedure:

2. Enter two distinct values in two separate cells. Probably vertically adjacent cells. E.g. D3 and C3. Let the first value you enter in a cell by the initial value and the second one be the value after the change.

3. Add a column for % change

4. Type in the following formula. Note that the formula basically performs a subtraction. This essentially finds the change.

=c2-b2

5. Now Divide the result of the formula with the Initial value. The final formula should be as follows.

=(c2-b2)/C2.

Navigate and select the Home tab.

7. Under the Number group, click the percentage symbol to apply a percentage format. The value inside the cell is automatically changed from a decimal to a percentage.

Note that: The % change can be positive or negative. A negative change shows a decrease while a positive one represents an increase.

## 2. Excel formula for percentage increase:

The percentage increase is the ratio of the increase to the initial value. It is given by (increase/initial value) *100.

To find the percentage increase

## Procedure.

2. Identify two cells where an increase was noted. Calculate the difference in values for the two cells after an increase. e.g. =(E7-D7)

3. Divide the output with the initial value. E.g. =(c2-b2)/C2

4. Drag the top cell to auto calculate for the rest. Then Press the percentage symbol under number group.

After pressing the % symbol it should now look as follows

Note that: We can increase the value of cell D7 by multiplying the contents of the cell with the percentage increase as follows

=E3*(1+Percentage increase)

## 3. Excel formula for percentage of total

Percentage total = (value/Total value) *100. To get this in Excel

## Procedure:

1. Identify the cell with the total value and the value to be quantified. e.g. H7 and I7

2. Add a column for the percentage of the total.

3. Click on a cell in the column created. This is the cell into which the formula for the percentage total is to be entered.

4. Type the following formula =B2/A2

5. Press the percentage symbol under the number group while in the Home tab.

Percentage formulas 2

## 4. Excel formula for percentage difference

A percentage difference can be defined as an absolute percentage of the difference between two values. It is thus used to quantify the ratio of the difference between two values to their average in percentage. The reason for finding the average is usually because we cannot choose a specific reference value between the two cell content.

%difference= (absolute Difference/ average value of the two) *100. The average is given by: (first value+ second value)/2

## Procedure:

2. Add a column for %Difference.

3. Type the following formula in the topmost cell in the column.

= ABS ((B2-A2)/ ((B2+A2)/2))

4. Press the percentage symbol under the number group.

## 5. Excel formula for percentage decrease

Whenever there is a decrease, the new value recorded is usually lower than the initial one. Therefore, to find the percentage decrease we must calculate the decreases recorded first. The decrease is then divided with the initial value to get the ratio of decrease. The formula for percentage decrease can be defined as:

Percentage decrease = (decrease/initial value) * 100. To find the decrease we subtract the new value from the old one.

## Procedure:

1. Add a column for the % decrease.

2. Perform subtraction of the two cell values to find the difference

E.g. =(A2-B2)

3. Edit the formula to Divide the difference with the initial number

=(A2-B2)/A2

4. Press enter.

5. Click on the cell and select the percentage symbol.

## 6. Excel formula for percentage average

Normally, to get the percentage, we usually sum the totals for the values that we wish to have the average and then divide the result by the number of items. The same method can be followed for percentages.

We can also opt to calculate the percentage average comfortably just as we would for normal figures using the average function.

## Procedure:

1. Highlight the row of cells that need to have percentages.

2. Click the percentage symbol under the number group.

3. Add another column OR Cell for % average.

4. Type in the following formula the top cell of the column

=AVERAGE(C2:C3)

5. Press Enter.

## 7. Excel formula for Percentage achieved.

In most instances of our lives, we are constrained to set targets. At the end of a given time, we then identify our progress or simply our achievement with respect to the targets we had set. From the achievements and target, we can then calculate the percentage of score/achievement very easily. It is important to note that the percentage achieved is calculated as follows

%achieved= (achievement/target) *100

From this general mathematics formula, we see that to find the percentage achieved, we need to divide the achievement with the target. The result is then multiplied with 100. Excel can help us automate the process of calculating the percentage achieved using a formula as follows.

## Procedure.

1. Add a column for % achieved. This column will include the results of our formula.

2. Add target values against the corresponding values of achievement.

3. Type in the following formula in the topmost cell of the %achieved column.

=B2/A2

4. Press the percentage symbol. Pressing the percentage symbol converts the decimal value to a percentage by multiplying the result by a hundred.

## Procedure:

We can also have a given single cell to house our Target. Using absolute referencing we can then calculate the percentage of achievement.

Type the following formula for procedure 3 and press the percentage symbol:

=F8/\$C\$17

## 9. Excel Formula for Percentage addition

We can add a given percentage directly to a whole number. For example, 20+50% of 20=30.

Procedure:

1. Add a column for a result as well as a percentage to add.

2. Ensure your column has the right percentages. You can add values, press the % symbol and make some editing.

3. Type the following formula in a cell inside the result column.

=A2+(A2*B2)

4. Save changes.

10. Excel formula for adding a percentage increase.

1. Include a column for the result.

2. Format the percentage column using the percentage symbol.

3. Type the following formula in the cell.

=D7*(1+(F7))

4. Press Enter key on the keyboard.

5. Save changes. This will store any unsaved changes that might have been made.