How to calculate a percent of a number in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=B2*$F$1Multiply the number by the percentage: =B2*$F$1, where F1 holds 30%. 30% of 12,500 is 3,750.
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
C2, filled down toC6 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in C2, filled down to C6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
30% is the number 0.3, so "30% of" means "multiply by 0.3". The rate sits in one cell, locked with $, so every row uses it and you can change it once.
=B2*$F$1Result3750
B2$12,500.00The value in B2.
$F$130%The value in F1.
B2*$F$13750The * operator multiplies.
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =B2*$F$1. We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =B2*30% | $3,750.00, $2,520.00, $14,025.00… | With the percentage typed into the formula; fine for a one-off. |
Common mistakes
- Multiplying by 30 instead of 30% (or 0.3) gives a result 100 times too big.
- Typing 30 into F1 and formatting it as a percentage afterwards shows 3000%. Type 30% so Excel stores 0.3.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Calculate a percent of a number
C2, calculate the deposit as the percentage in F1 of the contract value, then fill down to C6.Questions
How do I calculate what is left after the deposit?
Multiply by 1 minus the rate: =B2*(1-$F$1).
How do I find what percentage one number is of another?
Divide: =C2/B2, formatted as a percentage.
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.