# How to calculate a percent of a number in Excel

Multiply the number by the percentage: `=B2*$F$1`, where F1 holds 30%. 30% of 12,500 is 3,750.

**Excel:** `=B2*$F$1` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D | E | F |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Project | Contract value | Deposit |  | Deposit rate | 0.3 |
| Kitchen remodel | 12500 |  |  |  |  |
| Deck | 8400 |  |  |  |  |
| Roof | 46750 |  |  |  |  |
| Painting | 2999 |  |  |  |  |
| Addition | 150000 |  |  |  |  |

Formula in C2, filled to C6: `=B2*$F$1`

Result: $3,750.00; $2,520.00; $14,025.00; $899.70; $45,000.00

## 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.

## Other ways

- `=B2*30%`: 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.

## 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.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/calculate-a-percent-of-a-number