Percent Change in Excel and Google Sheets
On this page
Direct answer
If A2 contains the old value and B2 the new value, use =(B2-A2)/A2 and format the result as a percentage.
Formula and method
=(B2-A2)/A2
The calculation keeps full precision through the formula and rounds only the displayed answer.
Step-by-step calculation
- Place old in A2 and new in B2.
- Enter =(B2-A2)/A2.
- Apply percentage formatting.
- Use =IF(A2=0,NA(),(B2-A2)/A2) to make the zero-baseline limitation explicit.
Worked examples
Increase
A2=80 and B2=100 returns 0.25, displayed as 25%.
Decrease
A2=100 and B2=80 returns −0.20.
Magnitude-normalized negative baseline
Only if your policy requires it: =(B2-A2)/ABS(A2), with a visible convention note.
Interpretation and edge cases
- Do not multiply by 100 and also apply percentage formatting.
- Lock references only when copying formulas requires it.
- Avoid silently converting undefined cases to zero.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work in Sheets?
Yes.
How do I show one decimal place?
Change the cell number format; do not round the stored value unless needed.
Why do I see DIV/0?
The old value is zero.
Sources and transparency
The formulas and examples were evidence-checked on 2026-09-10. This is educational mathematical content. It does not replace a field-specific standard, accounting policy, laboratory method, contractual definition or professional judgment.
Use this resource
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