Percentages & % change in Google Sheets
Percentages in Google Sheets are ordinary numbers shown with a % format: 25% is stored as 0.25. To measure growth, divide the change by the starting value: =(C2-B2)/B2. A positive result is an increase, a negative one a decrease.
To find a part's share of a total, divide the part by the total and lock the total with $ so you can fill down: =C2/$C$5. Then apply Format → Number → Percent, or the % button in the toolbar.
Syntax
=(new - old) / old
Example
=(C2-B2)/B2
From 200 to 250 is a 25% increase.
Common mistakes
- Dividing by the new value instead of the old one.
- Leaving out the parentheses:
=C2-B2/B2 divides first. - Multiplying by 100 and also formatting as %, which shows 2500%.
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