Syntax
The formula itself is always plain division — what turns 0.25 into "25%" on screen is the cell's number format, not the formula. That distinction matters most for percent change: =(new-old)/old gives a negative result for a decrease, which is correct, but it's easy to accidentally divide by the wrong cell and get a number that's technically valid but means the opposite of what you intended.
Examples
The basic percentage: what share B2 is of C2, shown as a percent once you apply percentage formatting to the cell.
Percent change from an old value (A2) to a new one (B2) — positive for an increase, negative for a decrease.
Adds 8% on top of a value in one step — a common way to apply tax or a fixed markup.
Percent of total: what share of the overall total belongs to just the "Widget" rows.
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Explain a percentage formula →More formulas