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.

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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)

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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

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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

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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.

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