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How to calculate year-over-year growth in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:PercentagesExcel & Google Sheets
=(B3-B2)/B2✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Year | Revenue |
| 2021 | 150000 |
| 2022 | 172500 |
| 2023 | 198375 |
| 2024 | 225000 |
=(B3-B2)/B2→0.15
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Step by step
- 1Arrange your data with years in one column and values in the next.
- 2In a YoY Growth column, leave the first year blank (there is no prior year to compare).
- 3In the second year row (e.g. C3), type =(B3-B2)/B2.
- 4Format the result as a percentage and copy the formula down for remaining years.
Tips
- If comparing the same month across years, make sure your data is sorted chronologically and the prior year's row is always exactly one row above.
- Use conditional formatting with a colour scale on the YoY column to instantly visualise acceleration and deceleration.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
How is YoY different from the overall growth rate?
YoY measures growth from one specific year to the next. Overall growth rate (or CAGR) measures growth across the entire span of years.
What if the prior year value is zero or negative?
The formula becomes meaningless or misleading. Flag those rows with IFERROR and investigate the data separately.
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