# How to show percentage change with up and down arrows in Excel

Give TEXT a format with an arrow for each sign: `=TEXT(C2/B2-1,"▲0.0%;▼0.0%;0.0%")`.

**Excel:** `=TEXT(C2/B2-1,"▲0.0%;▼0.0%;0.0%")` (Every current version)

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

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Metric | Last month | This month | Change |
| Visitors | 1200 | 1380 |  |
| Sign-ups | 540 | 486 |  |
| Refunds | 75 | 69 |  |
| Avg. rating | 3.2 | 4 |  |
| Orders | 980 | 931 |  |

Formula in D2, filled to D6: `=TEXT(C2/B2-1,"▲0.0%;▼0.0%;0.0%")`

Result: ▲15.0%; ▼10.0%; ▼8.0%; ▲25.0%; ▼5.0%

## How it works

A number format can have three sections separated by semicolons: for positive values, negative values and zero. The negative section shows the value without its minus sign, so "▼0.0%" turns -0.1 into ▼10.0%. TEXT applies that format and returns the label.

## Other ways

- `=IF(C2>=B2,"▲","▼")&TEXT(ABS(C2/B2-1),"0.0%")`: Builds the label with IF; easier to extend, but it shows ▲0.0% when nothing changed, where the TEXT version uses its third section and shows 0.0%.

## Common mistakes

- TEXT returns text, so the result can't be summed or charted. To keep a number, put the same code in a custom number format (Format Cells, Custom) on a cell with `=C2/B2-1`.
- Rounding can show ▲0.0% for a tiny rise. Round the change first if that confuses readers.

## Questions

**How do I color the arrows green and red?**

Use a custom number format with colors: `[Color10]▲0.0%;[Red]▼0.0%;0.0%` on the numeric change.

**Can I use other symbols?**

Yes, any character works, such as ↑ and ↓ or + and −.

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/show-percentage-change-with-arrows