How to Multiply a Column of Numbers Times a Percentage in Excel

Microsoft Excel 2010 simplifies repetitive calculations, such as multiplying a column of numbers times a specific percentage. For example, multiplying a list of product prices times a specific markup percentage by hand for hundreds of products takes a considerable amount of time, but Excel produces the results almost instantaneously. Although you can use a specific percentage in a formula, it’s more helpful to refer to another cell that contains the percentage. Doing so allows you to easily change the percentage at a later time, if needed.

List your numbers down column A in Excel. As an example, you might list 200 prices from cells A1 to A200. By listing the numbers with a dollar sign in front of them, they are automatically formatted as currency.

Enter "=A1_[percentage]" (without quotes) in cell B1. When substituting "[percentage]" with the actual figure, include the percent sign, so Excel knows it's a percentage. As an example, to multiply by 150 percent, enter "=A1_150%" in cell B1. Alternatively, enter "150%" in cell C1 and refer to that cell by entering "=A1*$C$1" in cell B1. In this case, the dollar signs keep the column and row references from changing when you copy the formula.

Click cell "B1" again, and then press "Ctrl-C" to copy it.

Hold the "Shift" key and click the last cell in column B that corresponds to the last number in column A. In the example, hold the "Shift" key and click cell "B200" to select cells B1 through B200.

Press "Ctrl-V" to copy the formula and multiple all numbers in column A times the percentage.