In this blog, I will show you how to calculate percentages in Excel by following this simple step.

Here are 3 Formula in Excel of percentage

Method 1: Basic Percentage Formula in Excel

The basic formula to calculate percentage is

Percentage = (Part / Total) × 100

If the cell is set up as a percentage in Excel, you don’t need to multiply by 100.

Let’s assume we have a simple set of data. We need to find out what percentage (%) of the Pens  in the total Products proportion.

All we have to do is write the following formula into cell D8 and hit Enter.

=C6/D6

After entering the formula in cell D8, press Enter. You will see the result is 0.1. We thought it would be about 10% (10 percent).

You need to multiply the formula by 100. Excel doesn’t need that, though. In the Number category on the Home tab, Excel offers a button for Percentage Style.

• Go to the Home tab, then go Number Group or you can also use keyboard shortcut Ctrl+1 and directly go to Number Group.
• Click on Percentage, then choose the number of decimal places you want, and then click OK.

Ctrl + Shift + % is the keyboard shortcut for Percentage Style.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + % after or before your calculation to select the cell(s). It will change the number to percentage (%) style.
• We now have our result in the right format (10.0%) by using the Percentage Style on Cell D8.

Imp Note: Keep in mind that Ctrl + Shift + % is a quick way to format percentages. Also, there is no set way to calculate percentages in Excel; you need to change the formula depending on the type of calculation you’re doing.

ALSO READ: How to Recover Unsaved Excel File

Method 2: Calculating Percentage Increase or Decrease

The most common scenario in which you must calculate percentage change is when you have two values and need to determine how much has changed from one to the other.

Formula for Percentage Increase:

Assume I have the data set as displayed below, with cell A2 containing the pen’s old price and cell B2 containing its current price.

To find the percentage increase, use the following formula:

=Change in Price/Original Price

The following formula can be used in Excel to determine the price % increase:

=(B2-A2)/A2

The results are shown as decimals; you have to convert them into percentages.

To change this decimal to a percentage, click the percentage icon (%) in the Number group on the Excel ribbon’s Home tab after selecting the column containing the number.

After clicking on the percentage (%) sign, the result will be shown in percentage value.

Formula for Percentage Decrease:

The process for calculating a percentage decrease is very similar to that of calculating a percentage increase.

Assume you have two values below, where the new price is less than the previous one.

In this situation, you may calculate the percentage decrease using the formula below:

=(B2-A2)/A2

Method 3: Calculating Percentage of Total

To find the percentage that each item adds to the total:

To find the % for Product A, type the following formula in C2:

=B2/B5

After that, hit Enter and format as a percentage.

For the remaining items, duplicate the formula.

Common Percentage Uses in Excel

• Sales Growth: (New Sales - Old Sales)/Old Sales
• Profit Margin: (Profit / Revenue)
• Attendance Rate: (Present Days / Total Days)
• Exam Scores: (Marks Obtained / Total Marks)

The post Percentage Formula in Excel: 3 Ideal Methods appeared first on XcelNote.

These formulae can help you develop a solid basis for your Excel skills, regardless of your role—student, office worker, or business owner.

These formulae can help you develop a solid basis for your Excel skills, regardless of your role—student, office worker, or business owner.

Why Learning Excel Formulas is Essential for Beginners

Understanding basic Excel formulas can drastically increase your efficiency and help you avoid manual work. If you’ve been searching for:

• Best Excel Formulas for Beginners
• Top Excel Functions you must know
• Simple Excel formulas to Boost Productivity

…you’re in the right place.

ALSO READ: How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel – A Step-by-Step Guide (With Examples)

Top 25 Excel Formulas Every Beginner Should Learn

Here’s a complete list of essential Excel formulas that will improve your day-to-day tasks.

1. SUM – Add Numbers Quickly

Formula:

=SUM(A1:A5)

What it does: Adds all numbers in the range A1 to A5.

Example Use Case: Calculate total monthly expenses by summing values in an expense column.

2. AVERAGE – Find the Mean Value

Formula:

=AVERAGE(B1:B5)

What it does: Returns the average of all the values in a given range.

Example Use Case: Determine the average test score of students in a class.

3. IF – Make Logical Decisions

Formula:

=IF(A1>100, "High", "Low")

What it does: Checks if A1 is greater than 100. If yes, returns “High”; otherwise, “Low”.

Example Use Case: Label sales values as “High” or “Low” based on performance.

4. COUNT – Count Numeric Entries

Formula:

=COUNT(A1:A10)

What it does: Counts how many cells in the range have numeric values.

Example Use Case: Count how many students submitted their grades numerically.

5. COUNTA – Count Non-Empty Cells

Formula:

=COUNTA(A1:A10)

What it does: Counts all cells that are not empty—text, numbers, or formulas.

Example Use Case: Count how many fields in a survey were filled out.

6. COUNTIF – Count with a Condition

Formula:

=COUNTIF(B1:B10, ">50")

What it does: Counts the number of cells in B1 to B10 that are greater than 50.

Example Use Case: Count how many employees scored more than 50 in a performance review.

7. SUMIF – Add with a Condition

Formula:

=SUMIF(A1:A10, ">100")

What it does: Adds up the values in A1 to A10 that are greater than 100.

Example Use Case: Total the revenue from transactions greater than $100.

8. VLOOKUP – Search Vertically

Formula:

=VLOOKUP(101, A2:C10, 3, FALSE)

What it does: Looks for 101 in column A and returns the corresponding value from column C.

Example Use Case: Find the name or price of a product by looking up its ID.

9. HLOOKUP – Search Horizontally

Formula:

=HLOOKUP("March", A1:D3, 2, FALSE)

What it does: Searches for “March” in the top row and returns the corresponding value from the second row.

Example Use Case: Retrieve monthly expenses or revenue from a horizontal table.

10. INDEX – Get Value by Position

Formula:

=INDEX(A1:C3, 2, 3)

What it does: Returns the value at the 2nd row and 3rd column in the range.

Example Use Case: Use with MATCH for dynamic lookups.

11. MATCH – Find Position of a Value

Formula:

=MATCH(75, A1:A10, 0)

What it does: Returns the relative position of 75 in the range.

Example Use Case: See where a specific score appears in a list.

12. LEN – Count Characters

Formula:

=LEN(A1)

What it does: Counts the number of characters in a cell, including spaces.

Example Use Case: Check if a phone number has the correct number of digits.

13. TRIM – Remove Extra Spaces

Formula:

=TRIM(A1)

What it does: Removes extra spaces from text—helpful for cleaning imported data.

Example Use Case: Clean up names or email addresses with extra spaces.

14. LEFT, RIGHT, MID – Extract Parts of Text

=LEFT(A1, 5)     → First 5 characters  
=RIGHT(A1, 3)    → Last 3 characters  
=MID(A1, 2, 4)   → 4 characters starting from position 2

What they do: Extract text from the left, right, or middle of a string.

Example Use Case: Separate area codes from phone numbers or extract order IDs.

15. CONCATENATE / TEXTJOIN – Combine Text

Formula:

=CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1)
=TEXTJOIN(", ", TRUE, A1:A3)

What they do: Join multiple text strings into one.

Example Use Case: Combine first and last names into a full name.

16. NOW – Current Date & Time

Formula:

=NOW()

What it does: Returns current system date and time.

Example Use Case: Timestamp reports or invoices automatically.

17. TODAY – Get Today’s Date

Formula:

=TODAY()

What it does: Returns today’s date, updated automatically.

Example Use Case: Track deadlines or overdue tasks.

18. TEXT – Format Numbers as Text

Formula:

=TEXT(A1, "MM/DD/YYYY")

What it does: Converts a number or date into a specific format as text.

Example Use Case: Format a number as currency or date in reports.

19. ROUND, ROUNDUP, ROUNDDOWN – Round Numbers

Formulas:

=ROUND(A1, 2)     → 2 decimal places  
=ROUNDUP(A1, 0)   → Round up to whole number  
=ROUNDDOWN(A1, 0) → Round down to whole number

What they do: Round numbers up, down, or normally.

Example Use Case: Round financial data to standard formats.

RELATED: Excel Shortcut

20. IFERROR – Handle Errors Gracefully

Formula:

=IFERROR(A1/B1, "Error")

What it does: Prevents ugly error messages by replacing them with custom text.

Example Use Case: Handle division by zero or missing lookup values.

21. AND, OR – Multiple Logic Checks

=AND(A1>0, B1<100)  
=OR(A1="Yes", B1="Approved")

What they do: Test multiple conditions in an IF statement.

Example Use Case: Approve applications that meet multiple criteria.

22. ISNUMBER, ISTEXT – Check Cell Type

=ISNUMBER(A1)  
=ISTEXT(B1)

What they do: Confirm whether a cell contains a number or text.

Example Use Case: Validate data inputs before processing.

23. PROPER, UPPER, LOWER – Change Case of Text

=PROPER("john doe") → John Doe  
=UPPER("text")      → TEXT  
=LOWER("TEXT")      → text

What they do: Standardize the case of text data.

Example Use Case: Format names or addresses consistently.

24. RANDBETWEEN – Random Numbers Between Two Values

Formula:

=RANDBETWEEN(1, 100)

What it does: Generates a random whole number between the two values.

Example Use Case: Create dummy data or conduct simulations.

25. UNIQUE – Return Unique Values (Excel 365/2019+)

Formula:

=UNIQUE(A1:A10)

What it does: Returns a list of unique entries from a range.

Example Use Case: Filter out duplicate email addresses or names.

The post Top 25 Excel Formulas for Beginners—Learn to Work Smarter, Not Harder! appeared first on XcelNote.

Method 1: Using the CONCATENATE Function (Excel 2016 and Earlier)

The CONCATENATE function is a simple method for combining text from multiple cells.

Steps to use CONCATENATE:

1. Click on the cell where you want the combined text.

2. Type the formula:=CONCATENATE(A1, B1)

3. Press Enter.

4. If you want a space between the text, modify the formula:

=CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1)

5. Drag the fill handle down to apply the formula to multiple rows.

NOTE: The CONCATENATE function is available in older versions of Excel but has been replaced by CONCAT in newer versions.

ALSO READ: How to Force Quit Excel on Windows

Method 2: Using the Ampersand (&) Operator (Quick and Simple)

If you want an easy-to-remember method, the ampersand (&) operator is good for you.

Steps to use the ampersand operator:

1. Click on the target cell.

2. Type the formula:=A1 & B1 and Press Enter.

3. To add a space, use:=A1 & " " & B1

4. Drag the fill handle to apply to other rows.

Method 3: Using the TEXTJOIN Function (For Advanced Users)

The TEXTJOIN function is perfect when you need to add multiple cells with a separator.

Steps to use TEXTJOIN:

1. Click on the cell where you want the result.

2. Type the formula:=TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, A1, B1, C1) and then Press Enter.

3. Drag the fill handle down for multiple rows.

Watch Video Here:

Bonus: Merging Columns Without Formulas.

If you do not wish to use formulas, follow these steps:

• To merge text, use one of the formulas provided above.
• Copy the merged column.
• To convert formulas into static text, right-click and then select Paste Special > Values.
• Delete the original columns as needed.

Final Thoughts

Combining text in Excel is simple and can be accomplished using functions such as CONCATENATE, CONCAT, TEXTJOIN, or the & operator. When working with multiple columns, TEXTJOIN is the most efficient method. For quick merging, the ampersand operator is a simple option.

Mastering these methods will save you time and improve your Excel data management!

The post How to Combine Text from Two or More Cells into One Cell in Excel appeared first on XcelNote.

Microsoft Excel (MS Excel) is a powerful spreadsheet software developed by Microsoft. It is widely used for data management, calculations, visualization, and analysis. Excel is part of the Microsoft Office suite and is available for Windows, macOS, and online as Microsoft 365.

Excel provides a grid-based interface where data is stored in cells, which are arranged in rows and columns. It is extensively used for various purposes such as accounting, business analytics, data science, education, project management, and more.

Why is MS Excel Important?

MS Excel is essential for businesses, students, accountants, analysts, and anyone who needs to organize and analyze data. It helps users perform tasks like:

• Creating tables and spreadsheets
• Performing mathematical calculations
• Data visualization with charts and graphs
• Automating tasks using formulas and functions
• Data analysis and reporting
• Budgeting and financial planning
• Tracking expenses and revenue
• Managing employee or student data
• Generating reports and dashboards

Features of MS Excel

ALSO READ: How to Auto-Adjust Cell Width and Height in Excel

1. Spreadsheets and Cells

Excel consists of workbooks containing multiple worksheets. Each worksheet is made up of cells arranged in rows and columns. A standard worksheet consists of 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns, providing ample space for data entry and management.

Each cell has a unique reference, known as the cell address, which is defined by its row and column number (e.g., A1, B2, C3).

2. Formulas and Functions

Excel has built-in formulas and functions to perform calculations automatically. Some of the most widely used Excel functions include:

• SUM() – Adds numbers
• AVERAGE() – Finds the average of numbers
• IF() – Performs logical tests
• VLOOKUP() – Searches for a value in a table
• HLOOKUP() – Searches for a value in a row
• COUNTIF() – Counts the number of cells based on a condition
• LEN() – Finds the length of text in a cell
• LEFT() and RIGHT() – Extracts specific characters from text
• NOW() and TODAY() – Returns the current date and time

3. Charts and Graphs

Excel provides various chart types to help visualize data and trends. Some commonly used chart types include:

• Column Chart – Best for comparing values across categories.
• Pie Chart—Ideal for showing percentages.
• Line Chart – Useful for trend analysis over time.
• Bar Chart – Similar to column charts but displayed horizontally.
• Scatter Chart—Great for identifying relationships between variables.
• Histogram – Used for frequency distribution analysis.

4. Data Filtering and Sorting

Users can sort data in ascending or descending order and filter it to display only relevant information. Filters allow users to analyze specific subsets of data without modifying the entire dataset.

5. Pivot Tables

A Pivot Table is a powerful data summarization tool that enables users to quickly extract meaningful insights from large datasets. With Pivot Tables, users can:

• Group and categorize data dynamically
• Perform calculations without modifying raw data
• Create interactive reports for better insights

6. Conditional Formatting

Excel allows users to highlight data based on conditions using colors and formatting. For example, conditional formatting can be used to:

• Highlight the top 10% of values
• Change the color of negative numbers
• Identify duplicate values
• Apply data bars, color scales, and icon sets

7. Macros and Automation

Users can automate repetitive tasks using macros and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). Macros help save time by recording a sequence of actions and executing them with a single click.

8. Data Validation

Excel provides data validation tools to control the type of data entered in cells. This feature helps prevent errors and maintains data integrity. Examples include:

• Restricting a cell to accept only numbers
• Limiting input to a predefined list of options
• Setting a maximum or minimum value for numeric entries

How to Use MS Excel—A Step-by-Step Guide

ALSO READ: How to Create a qbj File From Excel

Step 1: Opening Excel

• Open MS Excel from the Start menu (Windows) or Applications (Mac).
• Click on Blank Workbook to start a new spreadsheet.

Step 2: Entering Data

• Click on a cell and type data.
• Press Enter to move to the next row or Tab to move to the next column.

Step 3: Using Formulas

• Click on a cell and type⁣ = followed by the formula.
• Example: Adds=SUM(A1:A5)The values in cells A1 to A5.

Step 4: Creating Charts

• Select the data.
• Go to Insert > Charts and choose the desired chart type.

Step 5: Saving the File

• Click on File > Save As and choose a location to save the file with an.xlsx extension.

Step 6: Applying Conditional Formatting

• Select the range of cells.
• Go to Home > Conditional Formatting.
• Choose a rule, such as highlighting values greater than a certain number.

Step 7: Creating a Pivot Table

• Select the dataset.
• Go to Insert > PivotTable.
• Choose the fields to analyze.

Conclusion

MS Excel is a must-have tool for anyone dealing with data. Whether you’re a student, business professional, data analyst, or accountant, learning Excel can improve efficiency and productivity. With its powerful features and automation capabilities, Excel remains the most widely used spreadsheet software in the world. Start exploring Excel today to master its powerful capabilities!

FAQs

Q1. What is MS Excel used for?

Ans: MS Excel is used for creating spreadsheets, performing calculations, data analysis, visualization, and automation.

Q2. Is MS Excel free?

Ans: No, MS Excel is a paid software, but Microsoft offers a free version with limited features online through Microsoft 365.

Q3. Can I learn Excel online?

Ans: Yes, there are many free and paid online courses, including Microsoft’s official training.

Q4. What are the best Excel functions?

Ans: Some of the best functions include SUM, AVERAGE, VLOOKUP, COUNTIF, and IF.

Q5. How can I improve my Excel skills?

Ans: Practice regularly, take online courses, and use Excel for real-world tasks.

The post MS Excel (Microsoft Excel) – A Complete Guide appeared first on XcelNote.

Method 1: Using Transpose (Paste Special)

The simplest way to change data orientation is to use Excel’s Transpose tool.

Step 1: Select the horizontal data range you want to convert.

Step 2: Press Ctrl + C to copy the data.

Step 3: Click on an empty cell where you want the vertical data to begin.

Step 4: Right-click and select Paste Special > Transpose (or press Ctrl + Alt + V, then select Transpose and click OK).

Step 5: The data will now be pasted vertically.

Method 2: Using the TRANSPOSE Function

If you want to keep the data dynamically connected (so that changes are automatically updated), use the TRANSPOSE function.

STEP 1: Select a vertical range that matches the number of horizontal cells you want to transpose.

STEP 2: Type the formula:

=TRANSPOSE(B1:F1)

(Replace B1:F1 with your actual range.)

STEP 3: Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter (for older Excel versions) or simply press Enter (for newer versions with dynamic arrays).

Your data will now appear vertically and update automatically if the original data changes.

Final Thoughts

Switching data from horizontal to vertical in Excel is simple if you use the appropriate technique. The Transpose (Paste Special) approach is ideal for static data, but the TRANSPOSE function performs better when data is dynamic. For huge datasets, Power Query provides an advanced solution. Select the strategy that best meets your needs and enhance your Excel workflow!

The post How to Change HORIZONTAL Data to VERTICAL in Excel appeared first on XcelNote.

Seeing Your Money and Savings Goals Microsoft ExcelOh, one of the easiest and ubiquitous tool to try out this exercise. These are just a few of the many options that Excel offers to create your own expense tracker, but can actually make it easier by keeping things simple and adjustable to how you might use them. In this post, we would provide you a step-by-step guide on how to create an expense tracker in Excel

What is an Excel expense tracker?

An Excel expense tracker is a digital tool used to track and manage expenses in Microsoft Excel. You’re probably familiar with it as a “spreadsheet,” in which users enter various expenses into predefined categories to efficiently track their financial management.

Why excel for expense tracking?

Excel is a common and simple tool to use Basicalistically, it is rows and columns, but also includes the likes of formulas, charts, etc. It is also highly customizable so that you can easily make your tracker reflect the way in which expenses are incurred, on a daily or weekly level. And not to mention, with Excel, you can work on your tracker anytime, anywhere because it does not require any specialized software.

ALSO READ: How to Create a qbj File From Excel

Here is Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Expense Tracker in Excel

Step 1: Open a New Excel workbook

The first step is to open Excel and add a new workbook. You could give it a simple name, such as “Personal Expense Tracker.”

Step 2: Create Columns for Your Data

Next, name the columns in your expense tracker. Some common column names/categories are: Month, Date, Description, Category, Income, Debits, and Balance. You can create your own columns based on your requirements.

After that, we’ll convert these columns into tables with alternating rows. For this, we will select all of the columns and then go to the Format as Table style option in the Home tab of Excel and select any of the table formatting views you prefer.

Step 3: Enter Sample Data

Manually insert a few expenses to test your tracker. For example:

Step 4: Apply Formatting

• Format the date column as Date.
• Format the Amount and Balance columns as currency.
• Select the headers and then click Data > Filter to enable sorting.

Step 5: Use Formulas for Automatic Calculation

Calculate the remaining balance:

• If you’re keeping track of your balance, enter the initial amount in the first row of the Balance column.
• To update the balance, use the following formula:

=E2-D3

• Drag the formula down to apply it to every row.

Step 6: Create a Summary Section

To gain insight into your spending, prepare a summary using Excel functions.

• Total Expenses: =SUM(D2:D100)
• Expenses by Category: Use SUMIF() to calculate category-wise expenses.

=SUMIF(B2:B100, "Food", D2:D100)

Step 7: Add a Chart for Visualization

• Select a data range.
• To visualize your spending, go to Insert > Chart and select Pie Chart or Bar Graph.
• Customize it with labels and colors to make it easier to read.

Final Thoughts

Creating an expense tracker in Excel is a quick and efficient approach to managing your finances. Stay on top of your budget and make informed financial decisions by updating your tracker on a regular basis, using calculations, and tracking expense patterns. To further enhance your tracker, consider adding additional features such as conditional formatting or automatic reporting!

The post How to Create an Expense Tracker in Excel appeared first on XcelNote.