How to Calculate Percentage Increase (with Formula)

Whether you are trying to figure out if your recent salary bump was actually a good deal, tracking the inflation of your grocery bills, or analyzing data in Excel, knowing how to calculate percentage increase is a fundamental life skill.

You can either use the exact mathematical formula below to do it by hand, or you can use the rapid interactive calculator below to do it for you instantly.

The Percentage Increase Formula

The formula for finding the percentage increase (or decrease) between two numbers is very simple. It requires just three steps:

1. Find the difference: Subtract the original value from the new value.
2. Divide by the original: Take that difference and divide it by the original value.
3. Convert to a percentage: Multiply the result by 100.

Written mathematically, the formula looks like this:

Percentage Increase = [ (New Value - Original Value) / Original Value ] × 100

Example: Salary Increase

Let's say you were making $60,000 last year, and your boss just gave you a raise to $65,000. What is the percentage increase?

1. Difference: 65,000 - 60,000 = 5,000
2. Divide: 5,000 / 60,000 = 0.0833
3. Convert: 0.0833 × 100 = 8.33%

You received an 8.33% raise.

The Interactive Calculator

If you don't want to break out the scratchpad or write Excel formulas every time you need to find a percentage shift, just plug your numbers into the engine below. It will automatically determine if the change is an increase or a decrease and give you the exact percentage.

How to Calculate Percentage Increase in Excel

If you are working with large spreadsheets, you don't need to multiply by 100 manually. Excel has built-in formatting that handles that for you.

Assume your Original Value is in cell A2, and your New Value is in cell B2.

1. Click on cell C2 (where you want the answer to appear).
2. Type the formula: =(B2-A2)/A2
3. Hit Enter. You will likely see a decimal (like 0.0833).
4. With cell C2 selected, click the % (Percent Style) button on the Home tab of the Excel ribbon (or press Ctrl+Shift+%).

The decimal will instantly be converted into a perfectly formatted percentage.