How to Calculate Percentage in Microsoft Excel?

On a daily course, quite obviously, you need to operate and work on Microsoft Excel. Be on an extensive level or just basic data actions, but MS Excel is truly pervasive in your daily activities. Follow below mention steps to Calculate Percentage in Microsoft Excel.

Especially for large businesses, there is a lot of data work that takes place and you have to be super-efficient at the software.

However, due to the dynamic structure of the software, there are a lot of actions in Microsoft Excel. To make your work effectively done, you need to have a clear understanding of these actions.

One of such actions is calculating percentages in MS Excel. When talking about calculating percentages in MS Excel, it is not rocket science. Quite often, people get intimidated by the calculation of percentages in Microsoft Excel.

Whereas, in reality, it is actually pretty easy. Percentages as simply put are the calculation with respect to 100, i.e. if calculating 72 out of 100 it would be 72%.

Steps to Calculate Percentage in Microsoft Excel

Now when working on MS Excel, you can easily calculate the percentage. This article will help you to understand and learn the steps involved in calculating percentages.

Step 1: The first step to begin with while entering percentages in MS Excel is to start by inputting a decimal number.

As shown in the image below.

Step 2: Go to Home and click Number Group.

Step 3: Tap on the percentage symbol which will enable the application of percentage format. If you wish to modify the percentage which has been input in the cell, then select the respective cell and type a fresh percentage.

Make sure you do not re-type a decimal number for this.

Steps to Calculate the Total Percentage in Microsoft Excel

For the next action, you would be required to calculate the total percentage in Microsoft Excel. For doing the action of calculating total percentage you need to carefully surf the steps laid out below:

Step 1: Enter the formula =A1/B1. This will help to divide the values which are put in the respective cell. The slash icon (/) would work as a division operator here.

One thing to note here is that while you are starting with a new formula you must have an equal sign (=) for the same.

Step 2: Go to Home and click Number Group. Tap on the percentage symbol which will enable the application of percentage format.

Step 3: Go to Home and click Number Group. Tap once on the Increase Decimal button. Note here that, Excel will be always using the underlying precise value in calculations. This will be irrespective of the number of decimals you wish to select for display.

For the next section, one vital thing to learn about is calculating the percentage change. While entering percentages in MS Excel, there will be a difference of percentages between two numbers.

Steps to Calculate the Difference of Percentages between Two Numbers

If you wish to calculate the difference of percentages between two numbers, the following steps must be read carefully.

Step 1: In two different cells respectively, enter one old number and one new number.

Step 2: To start with, you need to first make the calculation of the difference between the one old number and one new number.

Step 3: For the next step, divide the result that you have procured by calculating the difference between the one old number and one new number with the formula =(B1/A1)/A1. You have to divide it the old number which you had entered first.

Here you must note that MS Excel will be using order which is by default as per the order in which calculations occur. In case, a part of the formula is found to be in parentheses, that particular part shall be first taken up by default for calculation.

Step 4: Go to Home and click Number Group. Tap on the percentage symbol which will enable the application of percentage format.

Step 5: Enter the formula =(B1/A1)/A1.

So, does calculating percentages in MS Excel still feel cryptic? No, right! Hopefully, this article has achieved 100% of the success percentage in helping you with your understanding of how to calculate percentage in MS Excel.

The steps mentioned above will guide you effectively in calculating percentage in MS Excel and hence make it easier for you to work on the software stress-free.

If you like this article and successfully helped you understand how to calculate percentages in MS Excel, stay hooked onto this space for more such detailed tutorial articles.

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