Learn how to calculate percentage between two numbers in Excel with these easy-to-follow steps. This article will guide you on how to use simple formulas to determine the percentage increase or decrease in your data.
Excel, percentage calculation, formulas, data analysis
Introduction
Excel is a powerful tool for data analysis, and one of its most useful functions is the ability to calculate percentages between two numbers. Whether you’re analyzing sales data, budget information, or any other type of numerical data, understanding how to calculate percentage changes is essential. In this article, we’ll show you how to calculate percentage changes between two numbers in Excel with some easy-to-follow steps and formulas.
Step 1: Enter your data into Excel
Before you can start calculating percentages, you need to enter your data into Excel. You can do this by creating a new workbook in Excel and entering your data into the cells. Make sure your data is organized and easy to read. For example, if you want to calculate the percentage increase in sales from one year to the next, you could enter the sales figures for each year into separate columns.
Step 2: Determine the starting value
To calculate the percentage increase or decrease between two numbers, you need to determine the starting value. This is the value that you are comparing to the other value. In Excel, you can do this by selecting the cell containing the starting value. For example, if you want to calculate the percentage increase in sales from 2019 to 2020, you would select the cell containing the sales figure for 2019.
Step 3: Determine the ending value
After determining the starting value, you need to determine the ending value. This is the value that you are comparing to the starting value to determine the percentage increase or decrease. In Excel, you can do this by selecting the cell containing the ending value. For example, if you want to calculate the percentage increase in sales from 2019 to 2020, you would select the cell containing the sales figure for 2020.
Step 4: Calculate the difference between the two values
The next step is to calculate the difference between the two values. This can be done in Excel by subtracting the starting value from the ending value. For example, if your starting value is in cell A1 and your ending value is in cell A2, you would enter the formula =A2-A1 into cell A3. This will give you the difference between the two values.
Step 5: Determine the percentage increase or decrease
Once you have calculated the difference between the two values, you can determine the percentage increase or decrease. In Excel, you can do this by dividing the difference by the starting value and multiplying by 100. For example, if your starting value is in cell A1 and your ending value is in cell A2, and you have calculated the difference in cell A3, you would enter the formula =(A3/A1)*100 into cell A4. This will give you the percentage change between the two values.
Step 6: Format the cell as a percentage
To display the percentage as a percentage rather than a decimal, you need to format the cell. In Excel, you can do this by selecting the cell containing the percentage and clicking on the ‘Percentage’ button in the ‘Number’ group on the ‘Home’ tab. This will convert the decimal to a percentage.
Step 7: Round the percentage to the desired number of decimal places
If you want to round the percentage to the desired number of decimal places, you can do this in Excel by using the ‘ROUND’ function. For example, if you want to round the percentage in cell A4 to two decimal places, you would enter the formula =ROUND(A4,2) into cell A5. This will round the percentage to two decimal places.
Step 8: Use conditional formatting to highlight positive or negative changes
Conditional formatting is a useful tool in Excel that allows you to highlight cells based on specific criteria. In this case, you could use conditional formatting to highlight cells with positive or negative percentage changes. To do this, select the cells containing the percentages and click on ‘Conditional Formatting’ in the ‘Styles’ group on the ‘Home’ tab. Then select ‘Highlight Cells Rules’ and choose either ‘Greater Than’ or ‘Less Than’ to highlight cells with positive or negative changes, respectively.
Step 9: Use a bar chart to visualize the data
Excel also allows you to create charts to visualize your data. A bar chart is a useful tool for displaying percentage changes. To create a bar chart, select the cells containing the percentages and the corresponding labels, then click on the ‘Insert’ tab and select ‘Bar Chart’ from the ‘Charts’ group. Choose the appropriate type of bar chart and customize the chart as desired.
Step 10: Use pivot tables to analyze the data
Pivot tables are another useful tool in Excel for analyzing data. A pivot table allows you to summarize and analyze large amounts of data quickly and easily. To create a pivot table, select the cells containing the data you want to analyze and click on ‘PivotTable’ in the ‘Tables’ group on the ‘Insert’ tab. Follow the instructions to create a pivot table and customize it as desired.
Conclusion
Calculating percentage changes between two numbers in Excel is a useful skill for anyone who works with numerical data. By following these simple steps and using some basic formulas, you can quickly and easily determine the percentage increase or decrease in your data. By visualizing your data with charts and using pivot tables to analyze it, you can gain even deeper insights into your data and make more informed decisions.
