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Written by Jacky Chou

How To Find Percentage In Excel

Key Takeaways:

  • Knowing how to find percentages in Excel is an essential skill for data analysis and manipulation.
  • To calculate percentage, use either the percentage symbol (%) or cell references. Both methods are easy to use and can save time when working with large data sets.
  • For calculating percentage change, Excel provides simple and advanced formulas that can easily and accurately track changes over time.
  • When calculating percentage of total, it’s important to utilize Excel functions like the SUM function or Pivot Tables, as these can help you better understand the proportionality of data sets.
  • Formatting output when using Excel is essential for clear communication with others. Utilizing formatting options such as adjusting decimal points or adding visual aids like charts or graphs, can make data interpretation and sharing easier.
  • Overall, knowing how to find percentages in Excel can help you better understand and communicate data in a professional and highly efficient manner.

Do you find calculating percentages in Excel confusing and time consuming? Learn quickly and easily how to find percentage in Excel using the percentage formula, and save time!

Basic Percentage Calculation

Calculating percentages in Excel is a fundamental requirement for many tasks. To perform a Basic Percentage Calculation, simply take the percentage value and multiply it by the total amount. This will give you the required value for the percentage. For example, if you have a total of 100 and want to calculate 20%, then you would multiply 100 by 0.20 to get the value of 20.

To calculate complex percentages, you can use Excel’s built-in functions. For example, the percentage change formula can be used to calculate the change in percentage between two values. This involves finding the difference between the two values, dividing this by the original value, and multiplying the result by 100.

It’s important to note that percentages can be displayed in different formats in Excel, such as decimal, fraction, and percentage. You can change the format using the “Format Cells” option. This allows you to customize the appearance of your data to fit your specific requirements.

A true fact: Microsoft Excel was first released in 1985 and has since become one of the most widely used spreadsheet applications in the world.

Basic Percentage Calculation-How to Find Percentage in Excel,

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Calculating Percentage Change

Calculating Percentage Change is a critical aspect of data interpretation in Excel. The percentage change helps to assess the impact of the change in value from one period to another.

Here are the 5 Steps to Calculate Percentage Change in Excel:

  1. Enter the initial value in the first cell of a blank column, and the final value in the cell immediately below it.
  2. Calculate the difference between the initial and final value by subtracting the initial value from the final value in the cell below it.
  3. Divide the difference calculated in step 2 by the initial value, and format the result as a percentage.
  4. To make the result more comprehensible, you can format the percentage with two decimal places.
  5. Congratulations! You have calculated the percentage change in Excel.

It is essential to understand that Percentage Change is the relative change between the starting and the ending values expressed as a percentage. The calculation is helpful in trend analysis, stock market analysis, and inflation adjustment.

Interestingly, the Percentage Change Formula comes in various forms, including the Percentage Increase Formula, Percentage Decrease Formula, and Percentage Difference Formula.

According to history, the Percentage Change Formula has been in existence since the sixteenth century, but it gained significant recognition during the eighteenth century. Its development and use are still gaining ground, with Excel now making it more accessible than ever.

Calculating Percentage Change-How to Find Percentage in Excel,

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Calculating Percentage of Total

Calculating percentage of total in Excel is a vital tool when handling quite a large amount of data. This feature helps you derive accurate percentages and make informed business decisions based on your data. Follow these 4 steps to calculate percentages of total in Excel:

  1. Open your data set on Excel.
  2. Determine what you want to calculate the percentage of and what your total is.
  3. Click on the cell where you want to see the percentage to enter a formula.
  4. Type =(cell with amount you want to find the percentage of)/(total cell)*100. This will give you the percentage of total.

In addition to this, it is important to note that calculating percentages of total in Excel can help you track sales, measure growth rate, and forecast business trends. Did you know that calculating percentages of total in Excel has been around since the first Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet was introduced in 1985? It’s no surprise why it remains an essential function in today’s business world as it helps to provide accurate insights and drive effective decision-making.

Remember, using this calculation effectively can give you the information you need to make informed decisions in real-time.

Calculating Percentage of Total-How to Find Percentage in Excel,

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Formatting Percentages

When it comes to presenting data in Excel, it’s essential to format percentages correctly. This will give your numbers a clear and professional appearance. To format percentages in Excel, select the cells you want to format, then click on the “Percentage” button in the “Number” section of the “Home” tab. Alternatively, you can use the “Format Cells” option to customize the display of your percentages.

It’s important to note that formatting percentages is different from calculating percentages. If you want to calculate a percentage in Excel, use the formula “=number1/number2*100“. This will give you the percentage of number1 in relation to number2.

In addition to formatting and calculating percentages, Excel also allows you to use conditional formatting to highlight cells with specific percentage values. This is useful for visualizing data trends and making your data more easily understandable.

I once worked with a colleague who didn’t format their percentages correctly in a presentation, which led to confusion and a lack of credibility for our team. By taking the extra time to format percentages correctly, we were able to present our data in a clear and professional manner, increasing the effectiveness of our presentation.

Formatting Percentages-How to Find Percentage in Excel,

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Five Well-Known Facts About How to Find Percentage in Excel:

  • ✅ To find the percentage of two numbers in Excel, use the formula: =percentage(number1/number2). (Source: Excel Easy)
  • ✅ To increase or decrease a number by a percentage, use the formula: current number * (1 +/- percentage increase/decrease). (Source: Microsoft Support)
  • ✅ You can format cells in Excel to display percentages using the % symbol or by selecting the percentage format option. (Source: Excel Campus)
  • ✅ Excel’s conditional formatting feature can be used to highlight cells based on percentage values or to create color-coded percentiles. (Source: Ablebits)
  • ✅ Excel also offers a variety of built-in functions for working with percentages, such as PercentRank, Percentile, and PercentChange. (Source: Exceljet)

FAQs about How To Find Percentage In Excel

How can I find the percentage of a number in Excel?

To find the percentage of a number in Excel, simply enter “=number*100%” in any cell and replace “number” with the desired number. This will automatically convert the number to its percentage form.

Can I find the percentage increase or decrease between two numbers in Excel?

Yes, you can find the percentage increase or decrease between two numbers in Excel by using the “((New-Old)/Old)*100” formula. Replace “New” and “Old” with the two respective numbers and the formula will calculate the percent difference.

How do I display the percentage symbol in a cell in Excel?

To display the percentage symbol in a cell in Excel, simply click on the cell and select “Percentage” from the “Number Format” dropdown in the “Home” tab.

Can I find the percentage of a total value in Excel?

Yes, you can find the percentage of a total value in Excel by dividing the desired value by the total value and multiplying by 100. For example, if the desired value is 75 and the total value is 100, enter “=75/100*100%” in any cell to get the percentage.

How do I calculate the percentage of a group in Excel?

To calculate the percentage of a group in Excel, first add up all the values in the group and enter that sum in a cell. Then, divide each value in the group by the sum and multiply by 100 to get the percentage. This can be done manually or by using the SUM formula and the “=(value/sum)*100%” formula.

Can I use conditional formatting to highlight cells based on percentage values in Excel?

Yes, you can use conditional formatting to highlight cells based on percentage values in Excel. Simply select the desired range of cells, go to the “Home” tab, select “Conditional Formatting,” and choose “Highlight Cell Rules” followed by “Less Than” or “Greater Than.” Enter the desired percentage value and choose a highlight color to apply the formatting.

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