Excel Percentage Increase Calculator Made Easy

Calculating percentage increase in Excel can seem daunting, but with the right formulas and techniques, it's a breeze. Whether you're a student, a business owner, or a data analyst, understanding how to calculate percentage increase in Excel is an essential skill that can save you time and effort.

In this article, we'll explore the different ways to calculate percentage increase in Excel, including using formulas, formatting, and shortcuts. We'll also provide practical examples and tips to help you master this skill.

Understanding Percentage Increase

Before we dive into the calculations, let's quickly review what percentage increase means. Percentage increase is a measure of the change in a value over time, expressed as a percentage. For example, if a product's price increases from $100 to $120, the percentage increase is 20%.

Why Calculate Percentage Increase in Excel?

Calculating percentage increase in Excel is useful in various scenarios, such as:

Analyzing sales growth or decline
Evaluating investment returns
Tracking changes in stock prices
Understanding population growth or decline
Identifying trends in data

Calculating Percentage Increase using Formulas

There are several formulas you can use to calculate percentage increase in Excel, depending on the data you have. Here are a few common ones:

Simple Percentage Increase Formula: =(New Value - Old Value) / Old Value
Percentage Increase Formula with Multiple Values: =((New Value - Old Value) / Old Value) * 100
Percentage Increase Formula with Negative Values: =((New Value - Old Value) / ABS(Old Value)) * 100

Examples of Calculating Percentage Increase using Formulas

If a product's price increases from $100 to $120, the percentage increase is =((120 - 100) / 100) * 100 = 20%
If a company's sales grow from $100,000 to $120,000, the percentage increase is =((120,000 - 100,000) / 100,000) * 100 = 20%

Calculating Percentage Increase using Formatting

Another way to calculate percentage increase in Excel is by using formatting. You can use the built-in formatting options to display percentage changes.

Format Cells as Percentage: Select the cell with the data, go to the Home tab, and click on the Number group. Select Percentage from the dropdown menu.
Use the Percentage Format Button: Select the cell with the data, go to the Home tab, and click on the Percentage Format button.

Examples of Calculating Percentage Increase using Formatting

If a product's price increases from $100 to $120, format the cell with the new value as a percentage to display the percentage increase.
If a company's sales grow from $100,000 to $120,000, format the cell with the new value as a percentage to display the percentage increase.

Calculating Percentage Increase using Shortcuts

If you need to calculate percentage increase frequently, you can use Excel shortcuts to save time.

Select the Cell with the Old Value: Press Ctrl + C to copy the value.
Select the Cell with the New Value: Press Ctrl + V to paste the value.
Type the Percentage Increase Formula: Type =((New Value - Old Value) / Old Value) * 100 and press Enter.

Examples of Calculating Percentage Increase using Shortcuts

If a product's price increases from $100 to $120, use the shortcuts to calculate the percentage increase.
If a company's sales grow from $100,000 to $120,000, use the shortcuts to calculate the percentage increase.

Conclusion

Calculating percentage increase in Excel is a simple yet powerful skill that can help you analyze and understand data more effectively. Whether you use formulas, formatting, or shortcuts, Excel makes it easy to calculate percentage increase. With practice, you'll become proficient in using these techniques to make informed decisions and drive business growth.