How to Calculate Percentages in Excel [With Keyboard Shortcuts]

Knowing how to calculate percentages in Excel is one of the most valuable spreadsheet skills you can learn. Whether you’re calculating discounts, sales growth, profit margins, tax amounts, exam scores, or monthly expenses, Excel can perform percentage calculations quickly and accurately.

In this guide, you’ll learn every common method to calculate percentages in Excel, along with useful keyboard shortcuts that help you work faster.

How to Calculate Percentages in Excel [All Methods with Keyboard Shortcuts]

Before using formulas, remember that Excel recognizes percentages in two ways. You can type a number followed by the % symbol, such as 25%, or enter its decimal equivalent, such as 0.25. Both represent the same value.

For example, if Cell A2 contains 200 and Cell B2 contains 25%, the formula:

=A2*B2

returns 50 because 25% of 200 equals 50.

Now let’s explore every popular method.

1: Understand How Excel Stores Percentages

Before performing calculations, it’s helpful to understand how Excel handles percentages internally.

Open Excel and enter 50% into any empty cell. Press Enter, then click the cell again. Look in the Formula Bar. Excel actually stores this as 0.5, even though it displays 50%.

Similarly:

• 100% = 1
• 75% = 0.75
• 20% = 0.20

This is why Excel can perform percentage calculations automatically.

Keyboard Shortcut

Press Ctrl + ` (grave accent) to display formulas throughout the worksheet. Press the shortcut again to return to the normal view.

2: Format Numbers as Percentages

If your values appear as decimals instead of percentages, you simply need to apply percentage formatting.

Select the cells containing decimal numbers. Open the Home tab and locate the Number group. Click the Percent Style (%) button. Excel immediately converts decimal values into percentage format.

For example:

• 0.15 becomes 15%
• 0.60 becomes 60%
• 1 becomes 100%

Keyboard Shortcut

Press Ctrl + Shift + %

This instantly applies the Percentage format to the selected cells.

If you want to increase or decrease decimal places, use the Increase Decimal or Decrease Decimal buttons on the Home tab.

3: Calculate a Percentage of a Number

One of the most common Excel tasks is finding a percentage of a value.

Suppose you want to calculate 20% of 450.

Enter 450 in Cell A2.

Enter 20% in Cell B2.

Click Cell C2.

Type:

=A2*B2

Press Enter.

Excel returns 90.

You can use this method for taxes, commissions, discounts, tips, bonuses, and many other calculations.

Keyboard Shortcut

Press F2 to edit the selected formula without using the mouse.

4: Calculate What Percentage One Number Is of Another

Sometimes you need to know what percentage one value represents compared to another.

For example, if you sold 85 products out of a target of 100, you can calculate the completion percentage.

Enter:

100 in Cell A2

85 in Cell B2

In Cell C2, type:

=B2/A2

Press Enter.

Now apply the Percentage format.

The result becomes 85%.

This formula is commonly used for:

• Sales targets
• Attendance
• Project completion
• Exam scores
• Business reports

Keyboard Shortcut

After entering the formula, press Ctrl + Shift + % to display the answer as a percentage.

5: Calculate Percentage Increase

Businesses often compare values from different months or years.

Suppose sales increased from $500 to $650.

Enter:

500 in Cell A2

650 in Cell B2

Type the following formula:

=(B2-A2)/A2

Press Enter.

Format the result as a percentage.

Excel returns 30%, meaning sales increased by 30%.

This method is widely used for:

• Revenue growth
• Salary increases
• Website traffic
• Investment returns
• Population growth

6: Calculate Percentage Decrease

Calculating decreases works almost the same way.

Suppose expenses dropped from 800 to 600.

Enter:

800 in Cell A2

600 in Cell B2

Type:

=(A2-B2)/A2

Press Enter.

Apply percentage formatting.

The result is 25%, indicating a 25% decrease.

This formula is useful for:

• Budget reductions
• Price drops
• Inventory reduction
• Weight loss tracking
• Cost savings

7: Add a Percentage to a Number

If you want to increase a value by a percentage, Excel makes it easy.

Suppose a product costs $120, and you want to increase it by 15%.

Enter:

120 in Cell A2

15% in Cell B2

Type:

=A2*(1+B2)

Press Enter.

The answer is 138.

This formula is useful when calculating:

• Tax
• Salary increments
• Price increases
• Profit margins
• Annual raises

Keyboard Shortcut

Press Ctrl + Enter after entering the formula if multiple cells are selected. Excel fills every selected cell with the same formula.

8: Subtract a Percentage from a Number

You can also reduce values using percentages.

Suppose a product costs $300 and receives a 20% discount.

Enter:

• 300 in Cell A2
• 20% in Cell B2

Type:

=A2*(1-B2)

Press Enter.

The result becomes 240.

This method is commonly used for:

• Store discounts
• Promotional pricing
• Tax deductions
• Payroll deductions
• Budget reductions

9: Copy Percentage Formulas Across Multiple Rows

After creating one formula, you don’t have to type it repeatedly.

Click the cell containing your completed formula.

Move your mouse to the small square in the bottom right corner.

Double-click it to automatically copy the formula down the column if adjacent data exists.

Alternatively, drag it downward manually.

Excel automatically adjusts the cell references for every row.

Keyboard Shortcut

Press Ctrl + D to fill the formula downward.

Press Ctrl + R to fill formulas toward the right.

These shortcuts save significant time when working with large datasets.

10: Use Absolute Cell References in Percentage Formulas

Sometimes you want every calculation to use the same percentage.

Suppose every product has the same 18% tax stored in Cell B1.

Instead of writing:

=A2*B1

Use:

=A2*$B$1

The dollar signs create an absolute reference, meaning Excel always refers to Cell B1, even when you copy the formula.

Keyboard Shortcut

While editing a formula, place the cursor on the cell reference and press F4.

Excel cycles through:

A1

$A$1

A$1

$A1

This is one of the biggest time-saving shortcuts in Excel.

Common Keyboard Shortcuts for Percentage Calculations

Learning a few shortcuts makes Excel much faster to use.

• Ctrl + Shift + % applies the Percentage format.
• F2 edits the active cell.
• F4 creates or changes absolute references.
• Ctrl + D copies formulas downward.
• Ctrl + R copies formulas to the right.
• Ctrl + Enter enters the same formula into multiple selected cells.
• Ctrl + ` shows or hides formulas.
• Ctrl + C copies cells.
• Ctrl + V pastes copied cells.
• Ctrl + Z undoes the last action.

These shortcuts become second nature after regular use and greatly improve productivity.

FAQs

Why is Excel showing decimals instead of percentages?

Your cells are likely using the General or Number format. Select the cells and press Ctrl + Shift + % to display them as percentages.

How do I calculate 10% of a value in Excel?

Use the formula:

=A1*10%

or

=A1*0.10

Both formulas produce the same result.

How do I increase a number by 25%?

Use:

=A1*(1+25%)

Excel automatically calculates the increased value.

How do I subtract 15% from a number?

Use:

=A1*(1-15%)

This calculates the reduced value after subtracting 15%.

Why does Excel return 0.25 instead of 25%?

The formula result is correct, but the cell isn’t formatted as a percentage. Apply the Percentage format using Ctrl + Shift + %.

Can I use percentages in Excel formulas directly?

Yes. You can type percentages directly into formulas. For example:

=500*18%

Excel understands the percentage automatically.