Select the cells and press Ctrl + Shift + % (on a US or UK keyboard that is Ctrl + Shift + 5). Excel applies the Percentage format with no decimal places, so 0.25 shows as 25%.
The format shows the value multiplied by 100; it does not change the value itself. That is right for results such as =B2/C2, but a cell holding 25 turns into 2500%. If your numbers are already whole percentages, divide them by 100 first: type 100 in a spare cell, copy it, select the numbers and use Paste Special → Divide.
Because the shortcut shows no decimals, 0.125 appears as 13% even though the stored value is unchanged. Add places with Home → Increase Decimal, or press Ctrl + 1, choose Number → Percentage and set Decimal places.
The mouse route is Home → Percent Style (the % button in the Number group). To remove the format, press Ctrl + Shift + ~ to return the cells to General.
Typing into a cell that is already formatted as a percentage behaves differently: 25 is stored as 0.25 and shows as 25%, because automatic percent entry is on by default (File → Options → Advanced).
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In Excel, while working with data, many times you want to show the results in percentage format instead of number format, and you can do this by applying the percentage format to the range of cells where you want to show the numbers as percentages.
Users can apply the percentage format manually or very quickly using the keyboard shortcut, and in this tutorial, we have explained the keyboard shortcut to apply the percentage format.
Keyboard Shortcut to Apply Percentage Format in Excel
The keyboard shortcut to apply the percentage format is mentioned below:
Ctrl + Shift + %
Steps to Apply Percentage Format Using Keyboard Shortcut
- First, select the cells, column(s) or the range of cells where you want to apply the percentage format.
- Once selected, simply press the Ctrl + Shift + % keys together, and your values will be shown in percentage format.
Why 25 Becomes 2500%
The percentage format multiplies the value by 100 for display. So, 0.25 shows as 25%, but 25 shows as 2500%. If your cells already hold whole numbers like 25, divide them by 100 first (or type the values with the % sign, like 25%, and Excel stores them as 0.25).
Change the Decimal Places
- No decimals: Ctrl + Shift + % always shows the percentage with no decimal places, so 12.5% shows as 13%.
- Increase or decrease decimals: press Alt → H → 0 to add a decimal place, or Alt → H → 9 to remove one.
- Exact format: press Ctrl + 1, choose Percentage and set the number of decimal places.
- Back to normal: Ctrl + Shift + ~ applies the General format again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the percentage shortcut on a Mac?
Press Control + Shift + %. You can also use the % button on the Home tab.
Does the percentage format change the value?
No. It only changes how the value is shown. The cell still holds 0.25 for 25%, which is what formulas use.
How do I show a percentage in a formula result as text?
Use the TEXT function, like =TEXT(A1,”0.0%”). The result is text, so use it only for labels, not for further calculations.