How to Add Percentage in Excel

    Asmi DhakalBy Excel 4 Mins Read

    Performing arithmetic operations such as addition isn’t as straightforward when you’re dealing with percentage values. If you’re trying to add two percentage values together, you can simply put the plus operator (+) in between the percentage values inside a formula. This will add your percentages.

    However, if you try to sum up a percentage value and another value, say an amount, your result may look different. This is because a percentage value is a fraction of an amount over the total amount times 100. As percentage and amount values differ, increasing percentage values can be a bit tricky.

    How to Calculate Percentages in Excel

    Percentages are simply the product of a fraction and the number 100. There are a number of methods you can calculate percentages in Excel depending on your values. For starters, if your data is already converted into a fraction and you wish to change them into percentages, you do not have to use the percentage formula in them.

    Add Percentage Format

    This is if your data is already in the (amount)/(total amount) fraction. You can use these steps to convert the data into percentages. If you’re into shortcuts, you can also use the Ctrl + Shift + % shortcut to convert the fraction into percentages.

    1. Select your cell.
    2. Head to the Home tab.
    3. From the Numbers section, select the % button.
      Change Cell to Percentage Style Excel

    Use the Percentage Formula

    If your data is not in a fraction, you will have to use the Percentage formula to convert them into percentiles. To make this calculation, you will need the amount, and the total amount of the value you wish to generate the percentage value of.

    To make the explanation a bit easier, we have this range of data that we will be calculating the percentage values.

    In range B2:B10, we have a profit amount of 10 items. In the adjacent cells, C2:C10we have the total amount of each of these items. Let’s use the percentage formula to calculate the profit percentage for each of these items:

    =B2/C2
    How to Calculate Percentage in Excel

    You can use Flash Fill to apply this formula to the remaining cells. After this, select the cell range and use the Ctrl + Shift + % shortcut to convert the values into percentages.

    Increase Percentage by Percentage

    This is the simplest of additions involving percentages. Although, you must be aware of how calculations are only done inside formulas. Many times, when my formulas don’t work, I have noticed it is because I forget to add the equals to (=) sign before my calculation.

    You can use the plus (+) operator or the SUM function to perform the operation.

    Use the Plus Operator

    You can either directly use the value or even use cell references to add up values using the Plus operator. To use the plus operator, contrast the formula in the following format:

    =(percentage value) + (percentage value)
    Add Percentage Values

    Use the SUM Function

    For this method, we will be using the Insert Function utility. If you’re just starting with Excel, I recommend using this tool to help you enter the correct arguments to avoid errors.

    1. Use Shift + F3 on your keyboard to open the Insert Function window.
    2. Under Select a function, choose SUM > OK.
      Choose SUM function Insert Function Excel
    3. Enter your values in the section next to Number. If you want to pass a reference, click on the arrow symbol and select the reference cell from the sheet.
    4. Click OK.
    Use Insert Function Tool

    Add Percentage by an Amount

    Take, for instance, you’re selling a T-shirt for 300. You applied a 10% discount, reducing the price to 270. You realize that the scheme isn’t working very well for you. After analyzing the profit margin, you come to the point that you can sell the T-shirt for 250.

    Now, you could calculate the new percentage by simply using the percentage formula, what if you didn’t know the original price of the T-shirt? In that case, you would have to calculate the total amount using the discounted percentage and the discounted amount.

    Step 1: Calculate the Total Amount from the Discount Percentage

    Here’s the formula you must apply to calculate the total amount:

    =(discounted amount)/(discount percent)
    Calculate Total Amount Excel

    Step 2: Calculate the New Discount Percentage

    After you get the total amount, you can then calculate the new discount percentage with the percentage formula:

    =(new discount amount/total amount) * 100
    Calculate Discount Percentage Excel

    Asmi is a content writer specializing in MS Office. She loves writing Excel-related content to assist other users to learn their way around the program. She started using Excel when she first entered the industry as a marketing intern. Soon, she realized that learning the often-overlooked spreadsheet program was no piece of cake. In her articles, she attempts to brief out complex topics to help beginner to intermediate-level Excel users. Asmi uses Excel for everything, including creating a grocery list to managing her personal finance. She’s a bit dramatic when it comes to the Flash Fill feature; so much so that could write a eulogy out of it. When she’s not working, you’ll find her learning a new recipe, or cleaning up her mess (out of the failed recipe).

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