How to subtract a percentage from a number in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=B2*(1-$F$1)Multiply by 1 minus the percentage: =B2*(1-$F$1). A 15% discount is 85% of the price.
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
C2, filled down toC5 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in C2, filled down to C5. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
Taking 15% off leaves 85% of the price, so the formula multiplies by 1-$F$1. Keeping the discount in one locked cell lets you try 10% or 20% by changing a single number.
=B2*(1-$F$1)Result33.9915
B2$39.99The value in B2.
$F$115%The value in F1.
1-$F$10.85The - operator subtracts.
B2*(1-$F$133.9915The * operator multiplies.
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =B2*(1-$F$1). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =B2-B2*$F$1 | $33.99, $211.65, $381.65… | Spells out "price minus 15% of price"; same result. |
Common mistakes
=B2-$F$1subtracts 0.15 from the price, not 15%.- Two discounts multiply, they don't add: 10% then 20% off is 72% of the price, not 70%.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Subtract a percentage from a number
C2, apply the discount in F1 to the list price, then fill down to C5.Questions
How do I calculate the discount amount?
Multiply by the rate: =B2*$F$1.
How do I find the discount percentage from two prices?
=1-C2/B2, formatted as a percentage.
Checked by running on 2026-10-29: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.