# Why percentages show 100 times too big in Excel

The cells hold 15 instead of 0.15. Divide by 100 before formatting as a percentage: `=B2/100`.

**Excel:** `=B2/100` (Every current version)

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

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Product | Rate (imported) | Fixed |
| Basic | 15 |  |
| Plus | 7.5 |  |
| Pro | 22 |  |
| Team | 3 |  |
| Enterprise | 100 |  |

Formula in C2, filled to C6: `=B2/100`

Result: 15%; 7.5%; 22%; 3%; 100%

## How it works

The Percent format multiplies the stored value by 100 for display, so 15 shows as 1500%. The data meant 15%, which is stored as 0.15. Dividing by 100 gives the right value, and the same format then shows 15%.

## Other ways

- `=B2%`: The % sign after a reference divides it by 100, the same as /100.

## Common mistakes

- Typing 15 into a cell that is already formatted as Percent stores 0.15 (Excel converts as you type), but formatting existing numbers doesn't. That is why imported or pasted values come out 100 times too big.
- Don't multiply by 100 and format as a percentage too; use one or the other.

## Questions

**How do I fix the column in place?**

Type 100 in a spare cell, copy it, select the rates, then Paste Special, Divide. Format the column as Percent.

**Why does my formula like =A2/B2*100 show 4500%?**

Multiplying by 100 and then applying the Percent format doubles the scaling. Drop the *100.

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/percentages-100-times-too-big