Whether you’re a student tracking your test scores or an adult checking price changes in your monthly budget, learning how to calculate percentage change in Excel is a useful skill. It helps you understand how much something has increased or decreased over time. Let’s break this down in the easiest way possible with clear examples. You can also use an online percentage calculator if you’re short on time or working on a mobile device.
What is Percentage Change?
Percentage change is the difference between two numbers shown as a percent. It shows how much a value has gone up or down. It’s commonly used in school grades, shopping discounts, population growth, and business profits.
Percentage Change Formula:
Percentage Change = ((New Value – Old Value) / Old Value) × 100
Let’s look at a basic example.
Example: You scored 60 on your first test and 75 on your second test.
- Old value = 60
- New value = 75
Plug into the formula:
((75 – 60) / 60) × 100 = (15 / 60) × 100 = 25%
So, your score increased by 25%. You can also verify this with a percentage calculator to double-check your math.
Step-by-Step Guide to Calculate Percentage Change in Excel
Let’s say you have two numbers in Excel: the old value in cell A1 and the new value in cell B1.
1. Open Excel
Start by opening Microsoft Excel and typing your values into two cells.
| A (Old Value) | B (New Value) |
| 200 | 250 |
2. Apply the Formula
In cell C1, enter this formula:
=(B1 – A1) / A1
This gives you a decimal value.
3. Convert to Percentage
To change the decimal into a percentage:
- Click on cell C1
- Go to the “Home” tab
- Click on the % symbol in the number section
This will show the percentage change. In this case, the result will be 25%.
If you want the formula to automatically show the result as a percentage, you can also use:
=((B1 – A1) / A1) * 100
This formula gives the same result but in number format. You can manually add the “%” symbol in the next column or round it if needed.
Tips for Students and Adults
- Students can use this to track grade improvements across subjects.
- Adults can use it for budgeting, checking savings or price increases.
Example for budgeting:
You spent $400 on groceries last month and $500 this month.
((500 – 400) / 400) × 100 = 25%
Your spending increased by 25%. Use a simple percentage calculator if you want quick help while budgeting.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing up old and new values – Always subtract the old value from the new one.
- Forgetting to divide by the old value – The formula won’t work correctly without this.
- Not formatting as a percentage – Excel shows a decimal unless you format the result.
Using a percentage increase calculator can help you avoid these common errors when you’re in a rush or doing multiple calculations.
Bonus: Calculate Percentage Decrease
If your new value is smaller than the old one, the same formula works. You’ll just get a negative percentage, which shows a decrease.
Example: Old rent = $800
New rent = $720
((720 – 800) / 800) × 100 = (-80 / 800) × 100 = -10%
This means your rent decreased by 10%. You can quickly check this using a percentage difference calculator.
Summary
Calculating percentage change in Excel is simple when you understand the formula:
((New – Old) / Old) × 100
Use it for grades, savings, budgeting, or even comparing prices while shopping. And if Excel isn’t your thing, you can always try percentage calculator online to get results fast.
FAQs
1. What is the easiest way to calculate percentage change in Excel?
Use the formula =(New – Old) / Old in a cell and format it as a percentage. It’s quick, accurate, and works for any number.
2. Can I use Excel to calculate both percentage increase and decrease?
Yes, the same formula works for both. A positive result means an increase, and a negative result means a decrease.
3. Is there a tool to help me calculate percentage if I don’t have Excel?
Absolutely. You can use an online percentage calculator on your phone or computer for fast and accurate results.