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How to work out what percentage one number is of another in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:PercentagesExcel & Google Sheets
=B2/B3✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Description | Value |
| Part | 45 |
| Whole | 180 |
=B2/B3→0.25
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Step by step
- 1Put the 'part' value in one cell (e.g. B2) and the 'whole' value in another (e.g. B3).
- 2In a result cell, type =B2/B3.
- 3Press Enter, then format the result cell as a Percentage (Home > % or Format > Number > Percent).
Tips
- Format the result as a percentage to see 25% instead of 0.25. The formula result is always a decimal — formatting just changes the display.
- To get a percentage out of 100 as a plain number (e.g. 25 instead of 0.25), multiply by 100: =B2/B3*100.
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Frequently asked
What if the whole value is zero?
Division by zero produces #DIV/0!. Guard with IFERROR: =IFERROR(B2/B3,0).
How is this different from percentage change?
This formula finds the share of a whole (part/whole). Percentage change measures growth between two values ((new-old)/old).
More on Percentages
See all →How-to
How to calculate a percentage
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.
How-toHow to calculate attendance percentage
Divide attended sessions by total sessions and multiply by 100 to get attendance percentage in Excel or Google Sheets.