Select the cells and press Ctrl + Shift + 5 to apply percentage formatting in Google Sheets. On Mac, Google also lists Control + Shift + 5.
Apply percentage formatting
The underlying fraction 0.25 displays as 25.00% in our shortcut test. A value of 0.075 displays as 7.50%.
- Select the numeric cells, such as B2:B4.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + 5. Use Control on Mac too.
- Check that the displayed percentages match the intended scale.
Why 25 becomes 2500%
Percent formatting displays a value multiplied by one hundred, followed by a percent sign. If you want twenty-five percent, enter 25% or the fraction 0.25.
Format a calculated ratio
Divide the completed amount by the total, then format the result as a percentage. With a completed value of 25 and total of 100, the ratio is 0.25. Avoid multiplying by 100 again.
Use the menu or percent button
Format > Number > Percent applies a percent display. The toolbar percent button is another route. Decimal buttons change the visible precision without changing the fraction used in calculations.
Handle text and zero totals
Formatting does not turn arbitrary text into a usable number. If a ratio divides by zero, decide what that missing denominator means before adding a fallback; percent formatting cannot repair the calculation.
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