# How to subtract a percentage from a number in Excel

Multiply by 1 minus the percentage: =B2*(1-$F$1). A 15% discount is 85% of the price.

**Excel:** `=B2*(1-$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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Item | List price | Sale price |  | Discount | 0.15 |
| Lamp | 39.99 |  |  |  |  |
| Chair | 249 |  |  |  |  |
| Desk | 449 |  |  |  |  |
| Monitor | 189.5 |  |  |  |  |

Formula in C2, filled to C5: `=B2*(1-$F$1)`

Result: $33.99; $211.65; $381.65; $161.08

## 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.

## Other ways

- `=B2-B2*$F$1`: Spells out "price minus 15% of price"; same result.

## Common mistakes

- `=B2-$F$1` subtracts 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%.

## 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.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-29.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/subtract-a-percentage