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Percentage Difference in Excel and Google Sheets

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Direct answer

With values in A2 and B2, use =IF(AND(A2=0,B2=0),0,ABS(A2-B2)/((ABS(A2)+ABS(B2))/2)) and format the result as a percentage.

Formula and method

=IF(AND(A2=0,B2=0),0,ABS(A2-B2)/((ABS(A2)+ABS(B2))/2))

This page must show the formula exactly as the calculator or worked method uses it. Inputs remain unrounded during the calculation; rounding applies only to the displayed answer unless a domain-specific rule requires otherwise.

Step-by-step calculation

  1. Enter comparable values in A2 and B2.
  2. Use ABS for the gap and magnitudes.
  3. Branch the identical-zero case explicitly.
  4. Format the result cell as a percentage.

Worked examples

48 and 60

The formula returns 0.222222…, displayed as 22.22%.

−10 and −12

It returns 0.181818…, displayed as 18.18%.

0 and 0

The IF branch returns 0 instead of DIV/0.

Interpretation and edge cases

  • Do not multiply by 100 if using percentage formatting.
  • If your organization uses a different denominator, encode and document that policy instead.
  • The zero branch is a convention and should be visible in methodology.

Frequently asked questions

Does the formula work in Sheets?

Yes.

Can I omit ABS around A2 and B2?

Not if you want CalculatorGeek's average-magnitude convention for negative values.

Why use an IF branch?

The raw formula is 0/0 when both inputs are 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. CalculatorGeek should display a named human reviewer only after a real reviewer has completed and documented that review.

Use this resource

1 available tool
Open the Percentage Difference CalculatorRun the calculation with your own inputs, then return here to interpret it.

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