Spreadsheets
Percentage formulas and formatting in Excel and Google Sheets, and how to fix the usual errors.
SpreadsheetsHow to calculate a percentage in Excel
The basic Excel percentage formula is =part/whole, formatted as a percentage. Copy-ready formulas for percent of target, percent of a number, increases, decreases and percentage change, with a worked sheet.
SpreadsheetsPercentage change formula in Excel and Google Sheets
Percentage change in a spreadsheet: =(B3-B2)/B2 or =B3/B2-1, formatted as a percent. Fill it down for month-over-month change, compare to a fixed base with $B$2, and handle zeros and negatives.
SpreadsheetsHow to calculate percentages in Google Sheets
Percentage formulas in Google Sheets: =A2/B2 with Format as percent, COUNTIF for the share of responses, TO_PERCENT, and ARRAYFORMULA for a whole column. Worked example with survey answers.
SpreadsheetsWhy Excel shows 2500% instead of 25%, and other format problems
If Excel shows 2500% instead of 25%, the cell holds 25, not 0.25. Why percent format multiplies by 100, how to fix a whole column with Paste Special, and other display issues like rounding and text.
SpreadsheetsHow to add or subtract a percentage in a spreadsheet
Raise a column of prices by 5% with =B2*(1+$E$1), cut them with =B2*(1-$E$1), and round to cents with ROUND. Keep the rate in one cell so you can change it later. Worked price-list example.
SpreadsheetsDiscount and sale price formulas for spreadsheets
Spreadsheet discount formulas: sale price =B2*(1-C2), discount percentage =1-D2/B2, savings =B2-D2, and stacked discounts =B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2). Worked product table with copy-ready formulas.
SpreadsheetsPercent of total in a spreadsheet with absolute references
Percent of total in Excel: =B2/$B$6, with dollar signs so the total cell stays fixed when you fill down. Why the formula breaks without them, plus SUM-based and table-based alternatives.
SpreadsheetsVAT and sales tax formulas in spreadsheets
Spreadsheet VAT formulas: VAT =ROUND(B2*$F$1,2), gross =B2+C2, net from gross =ROUND(D2/(1+$F$1),2). An invoice layout that rounds per line and still adds up, plus mixed rates.
SpreadsheetsPercentage charts in spreadsheets: pie, stacked bar or something else
Which chart to use for percentages in Excel or Google Sheets: pie or 100% stacked bar for parts of a whole, bar charts for comparing shares, line charts for rates over time. Setup steps and labeling tips.
SpreadsheetsCommon spreadsheet percentage errors and how to fix them
Fix the most common spreadsheet percentage errors: #DIV/0! from zero or blank cells, 2500% from double scaling, wrong totals from unanchored references, #VALUE! from text numbers, and changes that don't add up.