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How to subtract a percentage from a number in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:PercentagesExcel & Google Sheets
=B2*(1-C2)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Item | Price | Discount |
| Widget | 120 | 0.15 |
| Gadget | 250 | 0.2 |
| Doohickey | 80 | 0.1 |
=B2*(1-C2)→102
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Step by step
- 1Place the original value in one cell (e.g. B2) and the percentage to subtract in another (e.g. C2, formatted as a percentage).
- 2In a result cell, type =B2*(1-C2).
- 3Press Enter. The result is the original value after the percentage has been subtracted.
Tips
- Make sure the percentage cell (C2) is stored as a decimal (e.g. 0.2 for 20%) or formatted as a percentage. If you type 20 instead of 20%, the formula becomes =B2*(1-20) which gives a wrong answer.
- To subtract a hardcoded percentage, write =B2*(1-20%) or =B2*0.8 for a 20% reduction.
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Frequently asked
What is the difference between subtracting a percentage and subtracting a percentage amount?
They are mathematically the same. =B2*(1-0.2) and =B2-B2*0.2 both give the same result; the first form is just cleaner.
Can I subtract multiple percentages (e.g. two discounts)?
Yes — chain them: =B2*(1-C2)*(1-D2). Note this is a compound discount, not the same as adding the two percentages together.
More on Percentages
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Work out what percentage one number is of another with a simple division, then format the result as a percent. Same in Excel and Google Sheets.
Error fixFix Wrong %
Fix wrong percentage results in Excel and Google Sheets — caused by conflating the percentage symbol with the decimal value or double-applying the % format.
How-toHow to calculate percentage change
Find the percentage increase or decrease between two numbers with (new − old) / old, then format as a percent. Works in Excel and Sheets.
How-toHow to add a percentage to a number
Increase a number by a percentage with number × (1 + rate) — handy for tax, markup, or raises. Same in both apps.
How-toHow to calculate a cumulative percentage
Use a running SUM divided by the total SUM to build a cumulative percentage column in Excel or Google Sheets.
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Divide attended sessions by total sessions and multiply by 100 to get attendance percentage in Excel or Google Sheets.