Table of Contents
Percentage in Excel
Understanding Percentages in Excel
When you are working with numbers, the best tool that helps you to input data and get accurate results will always be Excel. Excel lets you calculate the percentage of a number, or even add, subtract, or multiply a percentage to a value. It is very helpful in different tasks like budgeting, planning, and data analysis.
Practical Application of adding a percentage
Adding 15% to a value can be used in numerous situations, like:
- Increasing product prices to add more profit
- Increase employees’ salaries
- Showing growth in sales or investment.
By using Excel formulas, you can quickly convert values, get accurate results, and take action accordingly.
Steps to Add 15 percent in Excel
Method 1: Using Excel Formula
Using an Excel formula for a 15% increase in a value is a straightforward method that provides instant results without any complex calculations. Here’s how you can add a 15% increase to any number in Excel. Suppose you have the original value mentioned in cell A1.
STEP 1: Click on an empty cell where you want the increased price.
STEP 2: Enter the following formula to calculate a 15% increase: =A*1.15
STEP 3: Press Enter.
Excel will show the value after the 15% has been added.
This approach is the reason why Excel is a widely used tool for professionals across disciplines.
Method 2: Use Paste Special
Excel’s Paste Special feature is a powerful tool for adding percentages in Excel. You can quickly add a percentage to a range of values in your spreadsheet using this method. This method will provide an accurate result and will require minimal effort. Follow the steps below to get the results:
STEP 1: List the original values in one column (e.g., column A).
STEP 2: Enter 1.15 in a blank cell. Press Ctrl + C to copy the value.
STEP 3: Select the range of cells where you want to add this percentage increase.
STEP 4: Press Alt + E + S to open the paste special dialog box.
STEP 5: In the Paste Special dialog, select Multiply. Click OK.
Excel multiplies each selected value by 1.15, effectively increasing each by 15%. This method prevents the need to create additional columns, thus maintaining a tidy worksheet.
Additionally, Paste Special works not only for adding a specified percentage but also for other mathematical operations such as subtracting, dividing, or adding a value to your selected range of cells. This makes Paste Special a versatile tool suitable for a variety of scenarios.
Tricks and Tips
In this fast-paced world, being able to easily use keyboard shortcuts will be very helpful as it will increase speed and productivity. The following are the Excel shortcuts that can be used:
- Use Ctrl + Shift + % to convert a number to a percentage.
- To add
1.15to an adjacent cell, copy it, select the data range, and then pressAlt + E, S, D, followed byEnter - For formatting numbers as percentages, press
Ctrl + 1to open the Format Cells dialog, where you can select the Percentage.
Using keyboard shortcuts in Excel will save a significant amount of time compared to navigating through menus with a mouse.
FAQs
What is the formula for a 15% increase in Excel?
The formula to add 15 percent to a value is straightforward. Firstly, convert the percentage increase into decimal form, i.e., convert 15% to 0.15. Then, add 1 to that value and simply multiply it by the original value.
Here’s the formula: =OriginalNumber * (1 + PercentageIncrease)
How to make sure that the result is correct?
To get the correct result, make sure that the percentage increase value is properly formatted as a decimal. For example, to increase the number by 15%, you can multiply the original number by 1.5. Be sure to double-check the formula and validate the result.
How to use Paste Special to add a percentage to a value?
Paste special is a quick and easy way to add a percentage to a value. Simply, convert the percentage to a decimal format, i.e., 15% to 1.15. Now, copy this value and select the range where you want to add 15%. Press Alt + E + S + M and click OK. The values will be increased by the percentage mentioned.
How to subtract a percentage from a number?
To reduce a value by a specific percentage in Excel, you can use this formula: =OriginalNumber * (1 - PercentageDecrease).The percentage decrease should be expressed in decimal format.
John Michaloudis is a former accountant and finance analyst at General Electric, a Microsoft MVP since 2020, an Amazon #1 bestselling author of 4 Microsoft Excel books and teacher of Microsoft Excel & Office over at his flagship MyExcelOnline Academy Online Course.







