Working with percentages in Excel? Instead of changing the number format manually, you can use a simple keyboard shortcut.
Ctrl + Shift + % lets you apply Percentage format to selected cells in seconds. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use this shortcut with simple examples and how to display percentages correctly.
What Does Ctrl + Shift + % Do in Excel?
The Ctrl + Shift + % shortcut applies Percentage format to the selected cells. By default, Excel displays percentages without decimal places.
For example, if a cell contains `0.25`, applying this shortcut displays it as `25%`.
Here are a few more examples:
| Before formatting | After formatting |
| 0.25 | 25% |
| 0.5 | 50% |
| 0.75 | 75% |
| 1 | 100% |
Note: Percentage formatting changes how Excel displays a number. It does not change the underlying value.
For example, if a cell contains `25`, applying Percentage format displays it as `2500%`, not `25%`.
How to Apply Percentage Format Using Ctrl + Shift + %?
Follow these steps to apply Percentage format in Excel.
1. Enter your numbers in a worksheet.
2. Select the cell or range of cells you want to format.
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + % on your keyboard.
4. Excel applies Percentage format to the selected cells.
Your selected numbers will now appear as percentages without decimal places.
Example: Apply Percentage Format to Sales Data
Suppose you are preparing a sales report and want to display the growth rate for different products.
| Product | Growth rate before formatting | Growth rate after formatting |
| Laptop | 0.15 | 15% |
| Mouse | 0.08 | 8% |
| Keyboard | 0.125 | 13% |
| Monitor | 0.2 | 20% |
To format the growth rates:
1. Enter the decimal values in cells B2:B5.
2. Select the range B2:B5.
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + %.
4. Excel displays the values as percentages.
For example, `0.125` appears as `13%` because the default Percentage format rounds it to a whole percentage. The underlying value remains `0.125`.
How to Press Ctrl + Shift + % on Your Keyboard?
On a standard US keyboard, the percent symbol (%) is typed using Shift + 5.
To apply the shortcut:
1. Hold down Ctrl.
2. Hold down Shift.
3. Press 5 while holding both keys.
The shortcut is commonly written as Ctrl + Shift + 5.
The exact key may vary depending on your keyboard layout.
How to Apply Percentage Format Without a Keyboard Shortcut?
You can also apply Percentage format using Excel’s Ribbon.
1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. In the Number group, click the Percent Style (%) button.
Excel applies Percentage format to the selected cells.
If you want to display decimal places, you can use the Increase Decimal button in the Number group or open the Format Cells dialog box.
Related Article:
The Ultimate Guide to Percentage Formatting in Excel
How to Display Percentages With Decimal Places?
The Ctrl + Shift + % shortcut displays percentages without decimal places by default. If you need more precision, you can change the number format.
For example, the value `0.2567` may display as `26%` after applying the shortcut. You can change the format to display `25.67%` instead.
To do this:
1. Select the formatted cells.
2. Press Ctrl + 1 to open the Format Cells dialog box.
3. Select Percentage from the Category list.
4. Enter the number of decimal places you want, such as `2`.
5. Click OK.
Excel now displays the percentage with two decimal places.
Percentage Format vs. Entering the % Symbol:
Typing a percentage and applying Percentage format are related, but they are not exactly the same.
https://excellopedia.com/how-to-use-comma-style-in-excel.html
| Action | Result |
| Enter 25% in a cell | Excel stores the value as 0.25 and displays 25% |
| Enter 0.25 and apply Percentage format | Excel displays 25% |
| Enter 25 and apply Percentage format | Excel displays 2500% |
| Apply Ctrl + Shift + % to 0.5 | Excel displays 50% |
Always check the original value before applying Percentage format, especially when working with data that already contains whole numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Does Ctrl + Shift + % change the actual value?
No. The shortcut changes the number format, not the underlying value. For example, `0.5` remains `0.5` even though Excel displays it as `50%`.
2. Can I apply Percentage format to multiple cells?
Yes. Select a range of cells, a complete column, or multiple selected cells, and then press Ctrl + Shift + %.
3. Why does 25 become 2500%?
Excel interprets `25` as twenty-five whole units. When you apply Percentage format, Excel displays it as a percentage of 100, resulting in `2500%`.
If you want to display `25%`, enter `25%` or enter `0.25` and apply Percentage format.
4. How do I display percentages with two decimal places?
Press Ctrl + 1, select Percentage, set Decimal places to `2`, and click OK.
5. Can I remove Percentage format?
Yes. Select the cells, go to Home > Number Format, and choose General. Excel removes the Percentage display format, although the underlying values remain unchanged.
6. Does the shortcut work with formulas?
Yes. You can apply Percentage format to cells containing formulas. For example, if a formula returns `0.2`, applying Percentage format displays the result as `20%`.
Final Thoughts:
The Ctrl + Shift + % shortcut is a quick way to display numbers as percentages in Excel. It is useful when formatting discounts, growth rates, profit margins, and other percentage-based calculations.
Remember to check your original values before applying the shortcut. A decimal such as `0.25` becomes `25%`, while a whole number such as `25` becomes `2500%`.
Explore more useful shortcuts in our Excel Keyboard Shortcuts guide.
Related Articles:
The Ultimate Guide to Percentage Formatting in Excel
How to Use Comma Style in Excel?
Ctrl + Shift + @ in Excel: Apply Time Format
Ctrl + Shift + # in Excel: Apply Date Format
Ctrl + Shift + $ in Excel: Apply Currency Format
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