The Basic Formula for Percentage Increase

To calculate percentage increase in Excel, subtract the original value from the new value, divide by the original value, and multiply by 100. The formula is: ((New Value - Original Value) / Original Value) * 100.

If your original value is in cell A1 and your new value is in cell B1, you would type =((B1-A1)/A1)*100 into an empty cell. Excel will return the percentage increase as a number — for example, 25 means a 25% increase.

You can also write this formula without the *100 at the end and format the cell as a percentage. Both methods give the same result, but formatting as percentage is cleaner if you are building a spreadsheet others will read.

Key Takeaways

  • The percentage increase formula divides the change by the original amount, then multiplies by 100 to express it as a percentage.
  • You can type the formula directly with cell references, or use absolute references (with dollar signs) to copy the formula down a column without it changing.
  • Formatting cells as percentage automatically multiplies by 100, so you can omit the *100 from your formula if you format afterward.
  • Negative results mean a decrease rather than an increase — a -20% result means the value dropped by 20%.
  • The formula works the same way whether you are tracking sales growth, price changes, population shifts, or any other metric that changes over time.

Setting Up Your Data in Columns

Organize your spreadsheet so the original value and new value sit in separate columns. Put a label at the top of each column — "Original" in column A, "New" in column B, and "Percent Increase" in column C, for example.

Enter your numbers starting in row 2. If you have multiple rows of data (comparing sales from January to February for different products, or tracking price changes across multiple items), each row becomes one calculation. This layout makes it straightforward to copy your formula down and calculate the increase for all rows at once.

Using Absolute References to Copy Formulas

If you have a single original value that you want to compare against multiple new values, use an absolute reference so the original cell does not change when you copy the formula down. An absolute reference uses dollar signs: $A$1 instead of A1.

For example, if your baseline value is in A1 and you have new values in B2, B3, and B4, type =(B2-$A$1)/$A$1*100 in cell C2. When you copy this formula to C3 and C4, the B reference updates to B3 and B4, but the $A$1 stays locked to A1. Without the dollar signs, the formula would incorrectly reference A2 and A3 as you copy down.

Formatting Cells as Percentage

After you enter your formula, you can format the result as a percentage to make it easier to read. Select the cells containing your results, right-click, and choose "Format Cells." Select "Percentage" from the Category list on the left.

When you format as percentage, Excel automatically multiplies your decimal result by 100 and adds the % symbol. If you used *100 in your formula, you will see numbers like 2500% instead of 25%. To avoid this, either remove the *100 from your formula before formatting, or format first and then adjust your formula.

Most people find it cleaner to write the formula without *100 and then format the cells as percentage. This way your formula stays straightforward and the formatting handles the display.

Handling Negative Results and Decreases

A negative percentage result means the value decreased, not increased. If you calculate -15%, the new value is 15% lower than the original. This is correct — the formula works for both increases and decreases.

If you want to distinguish between increases and decreases visually, you can use conditional formatting to color negative results red and positive results green. Select your result cells, go to Conditional Formatting in the Home tab, and set up rules based on whether the value is greater than or less than zero.

Real Examples: Sales, Prices, and Inventory

Suppose you sold 200 units last month and 250 this month. Your original value is 200, your new value is 250. The formula gives you ((250-200)/200)*100 = 25%. Your sales increased by 25%.

If a product cost $40 last year and costs $32 now, the formula gives you ((32-40)/40)*100 = -20%. The price dropped by 20%. If inventory was 500 units and is now 625, the formula gives you ((625-500)/500)*100 = 25%. Inventory grew by 25%.

The formula is identical in every case. Only the numbers change. Once you build it once, you can copy it to any new data.

Copying Formulas Across Multiple Rows

After you enter your formula in one cell, click on that cell and look for the small square in the bottom-right corner (the fill handle). Click and drag it down to copy the formula to the cells below. Excel automatically adjusts the cell references for each row.

If you have 50 rows of data, you do not need to type the formula 50 times. Type it once, then drag the fill handle down to row 51. All 50 rows will calculate at once. If you used absolute references correctly, the locked cells stay locked while the row references update.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between formatting as percentage and multiplying by 100 in the formula?

Both give the same result, but formatting is cleaner. If you multiply by 100 in the formula and then format as percentage, Excel multiplies by 100 again, giving you 2500% instead of 25%. Use one method or the other, not both. Most people prefer to omit *100 from the formula and format the cells as percentage afterward.

Can I calculate percentage increase if the original value is zero?

No — dividing by zero causes an error in Excel (displayed as #DIV/0!). If your original value is zero, percentage increase is undefined mathematically. You would need to handle this case separately, either by leaving it blank or noting it as "not applicable."

How do I show percentage increase with a specific number of decimal places?

Right-click the formatted cells, choose "Format Cells," select "Percentage," and set the number of decimal places in the field labeled "Decimal places." Enter 1 for one decimal place (25.0%), 2 for two (25.00%), or 0 for no decimals (25%).

Does the formula work the same way in Google Sheets?

Yes. Google Sheets uses the same formula syntax and the same formatting options. Type the formula the same way, and the percentage formatting works identically. The fill handle works the same way too.

What if I want to calculate the percentage of the new value instead of the original?

That is a different calculation: ((New - Original) / New) * 100. This tells you what percentage of the new value the change represents. Most people want percentage increase based on the original value, but if you need the other method, swap which cell you divide by.