How to create a random percentage generator in Excel

Microsoft Excel provides us with a lot of tools and functions for handling and performing various calculations on the data. It also provides various methods of generating numbers both in sequential and random manner. Sometimes we need to generate a list of random numbers in Excel for our task and that can be done using the RAND function or RANDBETWEEN easily. However, if we have to create a random percentage then we have to do some tweaking in these two functions and then we can create random percentages as well.

In this tutorial we’ll learn how to create random percentages in Microsoft Excel, by following the steps below.

Method 1: Use simple RAND function 

We can generate the random percentages using RAND. However, in this case we’ll be limited to define only the upper boundary as RAND generates a number between 0 and 1 only. So, if we multiply the output of RAND with a number then RAND will generate a random number between 0 and that number e.g., 10. Then RAND’s output will be between 0 and 10. Let’s see how we can use this information to generate random percentages as well. 

Step 1 – Select an upper boundary for percentage generator

• First, we’ll select the upper boundary for the percentage generator. This could be any number between –100 and 100, because percentages more than 100 don’t make sense. In our case we’ll start with 10 and then we’ll change it according to the requirements.
• Write this number in an appropriate cell as shown below, because we’ll use this number in our random generator formula.

Step 2 – Change the cell format to accommodate percentage 

• Select the cell where we wish to get the random percentage and press CTRL+1.
• This will open up the Format Cells options. Choose Percentage.
• Choose the appropriate decimal places as per your requirements. We’ll choose 2 for our example

Step 3 – Create the Random Percentage Generator with RAND

• Now we’ll use the following formula to create a random percentage generator with a specific upper boundary.

• Cell B11 in our formula represents the upper boundary of the Random Percentage generator. We’ve divided by 100 to convert the output of the formula to proper percentage.

Step 4 – Implement the Random Percentage Generator Formula

• Now we’ll implement the random percentage generator to create random percentages with a specific upper boundary.
• We’ll start with the default upper boundary which we choose to be 10 and then we’ll change it to 50  and -15 to see the effects of changing the upper boundary. We’ll have to press F9 to generate a new percentage every time as shown below.

Method 2: Use simple RANDBETWEEN function 

We can generate the random percentages using RANDBETWEEN. However, in this case we can define both upper and lower boundaries as RANDBETWEEN generates an integer between lower and upper boundary. Let’s see how we can use this information to generate random percentages as well. 

Step 1 – Select lower and upper boundaries for percentage generator

• First, we’ll select the lower and upper boundaries for the percentage generator. These could be any numbers between –100 and 100, because percentages more than 100 don’t make sense. In our case we’ll start with –10 for lower boundary and 10 for upper boundary then we’ll change it according to the requirements.
• Write this number in an appropriate cell as shown below, because we’ll use this number in our random generator formula.

Step 2 – Change the cell format to accommodate percentage 

• Select the cell where we wish to get the random percentage and press CTRL+1.
• This will open up the Format Cells options. Choose Percentage.
• Choose the appropriate decimal places as per your requirements. We’ll choose 2 for our example

Step 3 – Create the Random Percentage Generator with RANDBETWEEN

• Now we’ll use the following formula to create a random percentage generator with a specific upper boundary.

• Cell B2 represents the lower boundary and B3 in our formula represents the upper boundary of the Random Percentage generator. We’ve divided by 100 to convert the output of the formula to proper percentage.

Step 4 – Implement the Random Percentage Generator Formula

• Now we’ll implement the random percentage generator to create random percentages with a specific upper boundary.
• We’ll start with the upper limit of 10 and lower limit of –10. Then we’ll change these values to see the effect of changing the boundaries. We’ll have to press F9 to generate a new percentage every time as shown below.